[Blindtlk] Visually Impaired/ Living in the middle?

[Judy Jones]

Hi, Mary,

I can identify with your feeling on a different level.  Having grown up in 
an Air Force family that traveled, I felt I had 2 identities, one as a 
military brat, the other pretending to be a civilian when in the states.  I 
never felt badly about this, it was just that I'd lived through things only 
an MB knew about.  The civilian kids didn't understand what a TDY really 
was, nor did they understand what your dad did when you said he was with Tac 
Eval, or Plans And Ops.  It was having a group of friends that understood 
those life aspects.

Later in life as I came to identify with more blind people and really saw 
myself as the blind person I am, that is one of the characteristics that is 
part of me, just like my short hair.

Growing up, my blindness didn't make me feel separate, probably because my 
folks made sure I had the access I needed and encouraged my interaction with 
others. The really big thing for me living in a foreign country was being 
able to hook up with other Americans, and it was the same for the other 
kids.  We could communicate in the same language, English, and came from the 
same background of being American.  The blindness issue wasn't as big a 
thing that really presented a barrier in having other friends while growing 
up.

When we lived in Colorado Springs, I did attend the blind school there and 
loved it, got involved in athletics, and met other kids in the district 
schools that way.

The identity thing is real, though, and I think Ariel said it best.  If the 
sight you have now is an imposition, if it should become harder to work with 
the adaptive technology and skills you have now, that's the time to start 
upping the blindness skaills.


Judy
-----Original Message----- 
From: Mari Hunziker
Sent: Saturday, February 8, 2014 11:11 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: [Blindtlk] Visually Impaired/ Living in the middle?

Do any of you visual impaired folks out there ever feel like your living a
life ~ half in the sighted world and half in the blind world?

I don't mean to offend anyone with this question. I merely want to know how
to understand what I am feeling. I am visually impaired and I function like
a sighted person except for a few exceptions. I can ride a bike, not on a
main road but I do enjoy riding with my children in our neighborhood and
around the lake. I read with a CCTV and use a magnifier when I am shopping
to look at price tags, labels, and ingredients. I don't use a cane unless I
am in an unfamiliar place or by myself. I did not learn braille as a youth
but am trying to learn it now. I want to see it instead of feel it (I'm
working on it). In my situation do you think it is necessary to attend a
program that will improve my blindness skills? I don't even know what they
would be?

What would you do?

Thanks,
Mari Hunziker






*"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".
Philippians 4:13Have A Blessed Day!Mari Hunziker *
*Super Spark Your Life!!!*



*http://www.supersparked.com <http://www.supersparked.com>512-670-9950
home512-587-1463  cell*
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