[Blindtlk] Non 24, Sleep Problems, and how our blindness weighs in

Wed Jan 13 11:43:09 UTC 2016

Wonderful news!

Ericka Short
"Friends are like flowers in the garden of life"

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jan 12, 2016, at 11:49 PM, Michael via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I have been a gym rat for my entire life and, after losing my sight eight years ago, I became a slob toward my fitness.  But once I began to plug myself back into life, I called the gym where I had worked out as a sighted fitness junkie.  The manager was positive toward my return, and I called rehab to get with me to learn the gym orientation.  Most of the cardio machines have a quick start mode so that you don't have to put in all the detailed info, and you simply press the start function and level of resistance.  The manager placed bump dots on the totally flush buttons of several of the machines I might use.  I now work out at Planet Fitness, and the gym membership is $10 per month.  It isn't the hard core type gym I used in the past, but as I age I am more interested in total fitness.  The manager told me that they had discussed several unique needs of members at a national meeting of Planet Fitness managers and were generally enthusiastic toward blind members.
> 
> Michael-----Original Message----- From: Mark Tardif via blindtlk
> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 8:40 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Cc: Mark Tardif
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Non 24, Sleep Problems,and how our blindness weighs in
> 
> I think one needs to remember that touch screen fitness equipment is often
> not readily workable with Braille, unless you write down on sheets of paper
> all possible prompts the computerized machine might ask you.  For example,
> if you want to use a stairmaster, the machine, once you start it, might ask
> you questions like, how much do you weigh or enter your weight.  You have to
> press flat numbers, then it might ask you to enter which program you want to
> use and you might have a number of choices.  Then you might have questions
> about how long you want to work out, and you have to enter those numbers,
> again using the flat screen.  Then finally you might get to actually start
> exercising.  I'm not saying it's impossible, but it is much more complicated
> than you seem to think.  Yes, I think we blind people need to work together
> with the gymn to make things workable, but yes, pardon me for saying so, but
> the tone of your message suggests that you might do well to learn more about
> how this kind of thing works.  Your tone, to me, does sound a bit harsh.  On
> the other hand, I do agree with you that in some senior complexes, there are
> exercise groups that can be quite welcoming.  And, living in the northern
> states as we both do, at this time of year it is much more preferable to
> work out inside if you can, as I do.  I also remember being a member of the
> YMCA in Hartford, Connecticut, and the staff were extremely willing to work
> with me and welcomed me into exercise programs.
> 
> 
> 
> Mark Tardif
> Nuclear arms will not hold you.
> -----Original Message----- From: Ericka via blindtlk
> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 2:36 PM
> To: S L Johnson ; Blind Talk Mailing List
> Cc: Ericka
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Non 24, Sleep Problems,and how our blindness weighs
> in
> 
> I would think a Lions Club would help with at least finding a gym membership
> they could assist in paying. If nothing else I don't understand why you
> don't bring someone with you to the complex to get assistance. Once you
> figure things out you can do it on your own. My boyfriend has a similar
> complex that I can't figure out with some of the usable vision but he
> figures it all out he helps me not get lost. He also goes to and from a
> local place similar to the YMCA .  For roughly $35 a month he has access to
> absolutely everything in the building and he takes his cane on the walking
> track. He attends water aerobics regularly three times a week. The staff are
> wonderful and supportive of him. The water aerobics instructor and a couple
> of guys are really good about making sure he knows what's going on and give
> great directions so he can participate. I don't think it's impossible to get
> exercise. Try living in the northern states of United States and you soon
> find that being indoors during the winter walking the halls with the
> pedometer that talks is much preferable to walking anywhere else! Some
> senior citizen centers in communities also have exercise programs. If you
> volunteer there then you get access to things while helping the others.
> There's no reason someone with no vision can't volunteer and it's good to
> get out.
> 
> I'm sorry they are being difficult at your complex, but then again rather
> than asking for them to fully accomodate you,do you have access to Brailling
> equipment and a sighted  friend who's willing to help.couldn't you get
> permission to have the club notebook photocopied? Then you and a friend
> could braille the notebook information for yourself. It is very costly for
> the complex. As far as not being able to navigate things, get someone cited
> to help or an o & m instructor to help you familiarize yourself. In my
> state, Wisconsin, rehabilitation teachers come out and do this if you call
> the office and explain your need.
> 
> Realize this kind of comes off as grumpiness on my part. Not intended to be
> so at all. Just trying to use my frozen brain to come up with some ideas to
> help. Sometimes when you push people to make all the accommodations you seem
> expensive and time-consuming plus not really appreciate to go that's not the
> intent at all. Going halfway to accommodate some things on your own with
> permission makes it more like a partnership. I think they respect us better
> too. I wish you the best and trying to take better care of yourself and to
> all listening/reading this. For goodness sake I'm not much better. I got gym
> class and hated every minute of it!
> 
> Ericka Short
> "Friends are like flowers in the garden of life"
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jan 11, 2016, at 7:29 PM, S L Johnson via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Bob,
>> 
>> I suppose a good exercise program could help regulate sleep.  You were very
>> lucky to have been exposed to physical activity.  I know I was not given the
>> chance once I lost all my vision.  I fought at least I could do gymnastics
>> and other things that could be done without sight but, my public school
>> refused.  After high school, I was not given access to the gym at my
>> college.  As many other blind adults, I cannot afford a gym membership.
>> Even if we do go to a gym, most of the equipment have touch screens and are
>> not accessible to the blind.  I live in a senior citizen housing
>> development.  We have an exercise room in the clubhouse.  Although when I
>> rented my house, I paid for the key card to allow me to enter, I have not
>> been able to operate any of the equipment.  The instructions are in a big
>> large print notebook for the low vision seniors and the equipment is all
>> touch screens.  I've tried to talk to management and the owners but they say
>> they do not have any way to give any access to anyone with no vision.  Oh,
>> by the way, all the house numbers and signs are in huge print and that is
>> supposed to meet accessibility requirements.  What about someone like me who
>> is totally blind?  There are not any tactile landmarks even allowing me to
>> know where I am in a maze of twisting winding sidewalks with no regular
>> corners or street crossings.  They even refused to obtain a talking sign so
>> I could find the crosswalk leading to the clubhouse.  So, now people can
>> stop wondering why so many blind people don't get enough exercise.  Now to
>> bring this back to sleep disorders, I know that a good exercise program
>> might help better regulate sleep but, it just isn't possible for most of us.
>> Sandra
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message----- From: Bob Hachey via blindtlk
>> Sent: Monday, January 11, 2016 8:00 PM
>> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>> Cc: Bob Hachey
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Non 24, Sleep Problems,and how our blindness weighs
>> in
>> 
>> Hello Chaim,
>> I hear you loud and clear about how badly the medical profession is in need
>> of educating when it come to dealing with us blind folks.
>> That is a shame about no gym class for something like two years of school. I
>> was very fortunate living in Reading Massachusetts. Our public school gym
>> teachers were very good about including me in gym classes. When the class
>> did things like Soccer, I lifted weights and ran the ttrakc with a student
>> volunteer. IN flag football, I played center, though it was hard to get the
>> hang of blocking an opponent. They put sounders on the basketball hoops and
>> I tried using a beep basketball but I had trouble trying to get the hang of
>> both sounds at once and tracking the ball.
>> I did calesthenics, gymnastics and wrestiling along with the group.
>> WE must be ever vigilant so as to ensure that all of our brothers and
>> sisters get proper physical education.
>> Bob Hachey
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chaim B.
>> Segal via blindtlk
>> Sent: Monday, January 11, 2016 6:54 PM
>> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Chaim B. Segal
>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Non 24, Sleep Problems, and how our blindness weighs in
>> 
>> Hi Folks:
>> 
>> I have not posted on this list in a great number of months, as work duties
>> circumvented my opportunity to read as many messages from listserves as
>> before. I decided to start receiving mail from these nfbnet.org lists again,
>> because I think there is pertinent information out there I should be aware
>> of. Even if I end up running behind on digests, better to be informed.
>> 
>> When I think of the Non 24 issue, something entirely different comes to
>> mind. As was stated on this list a few days ago, many sighted people also
>> have sleep-related difficulties, which have nothing to do with blindness. My
>> own father, bless his memory, lost a job in his later days because he kept
>> falling asleep. Falling asleep on the job was the last straw which caused my
>> release from my previous job, but that was largely caused by stress on
>> account of a new order of rules-entirely different subject.
>> 
>> A good number of years ago, my older blind brother was diagnosed with sleep
>> apnea. To make a long story short, his doctor-ordered sleep study led to his
>> being prescribed a C-pap. Parenthetically, he was extremely overweight,
>> which may have been part of the cause of the sleep apnea.
>> 
>> I have been married, thank-God for six years and counting. Early on, I
>> discovered that my wife had an extremely serious problem with narcolepsy. I
>> don't want to make myself a laughing stock, but I'll say that she and I are
>> not exactly thin. I will spare unnecessary detail. I discovered on my own
>> that she had serious trouble breathing throughout the night, and was often
>> awaken by her gasping for air in her sleep. Recalling these symptoms from my
>> older brother, I took it upon myself to engineer her getting a referral for
>> a sleep study. Turned out, she also had sleep apnea. Like my brother, she
>> uses a C-pap, and has much more energy during the day. The sleep doctor (who
>> just retired) nearly insisted that she try Non 24. She and I were adamant
>> that this was not a matter of interest. Like a number of unfortunate sighted
>> folks out there, the guy was under the impression that blind people cannot
>> really move comfortably beyond their own space. He was, in fact, surprised
>> to find out how many  blind couples exist.  I am glad we had the opportunity
>> to set him straight. It bothers me that there is not a mandatory course in
>> disability awareness for doctors and nurses in medical and nursing school. I
>> think that anybody entering the medical field who may, at any point in their
>> career, treat a disabled person be notified concerning appropriate personal
>> etiquette in dealing with us.
>> 
>> I know that some of us bld do exercise and try to watch what we eat. Sadly,
>> a number of blind people don't. There are a number of reasons for this,
>> including in some cases fear among gym staff that we will get hurt on their
>> equipment, or their insurance does not allow it. My oldest (sighted) brother
>> pointed out that with a number of us not being able to see our own body
>> profile in the mirror, we don't realize how unhealthy we look in comparison
>> to other people around us. While he may have a valid point, my argument to
>> him is that from what I have heard, the majority of the US population is
>> indeed overweight. Be that as it may, you don't have to be overweight to
>> have sleep apnea. Maybe, a number of blind and sighted people alike have
>> sleep apnea, but are not being treated for it. Maybe a number of blind and
>> sighted people are not getting adequate exercise throughout the day and are
>> not eating right. Maybe, there are many factors involved.
>> 
>> I think that before doctors prescribe this "antidote", they ought to take a
>> person's daily factors into account. I also think that gyms, spas, and the
>> like, should be encouraged to run specials which encourage blind and
>> disabled folks to come and work out. I'll take it a step further. For those
>> blind people who attend regular mainstream school classes, there should be a
>> law which demands that any physical fitness instructor in a public
>> institution be given the means to include a blind or disabled student along
>> with the rest of the class.
>> 
>> On this note, I'll add one more comment. From mid way through my seventh
>> grade year through my freshman year, I received no gym instruction in my
>> local public school. Indeed, one reason I decided to attend the Ohio State
>> School For The Blind for high school was that I was told physical
>> instruction was taught there. During my sophomore year there, they did some
>> repairs on their gymnasium and there was a big ribbon-cutting ceremony. We
>> had been swimming in their pool in place of gym instruction. What happened
>> after the big fanfare? Some well-meaning folks decided that we had to have a
>> similar experience as sighted folks. So, they decided to teach us how to hit
>> a tennis ball with a tennis racket. It flopped! As soon as we were shown how
>> to do it and commanded to do so, the teacher(s) had to go show another blind
>> person the same thing. So, A would shove the ball out of his hand with the
>> racket, and have nothing to do until it could be retrieved. I felt it was a
>> complete waste. And, as  Mr. Robert Mills, one of the  best o&m instructors
>> in the country said, "This is a blind school! You students are blind! They
>> have a g d big beautiful gym! They should use it for what it is supposed to
>> be used for!"
>> 
>> Anyway, I'll be back tomorrow or next day on an entirely different subject.
>> 
>> Chaim
>> 
>> Chaim B. Segal
>> Contact Marketing Representative
>> Sinclair Community College
>> Dayton, Ohio
>> 
>> Every Man, woman, every boy and girl,
>> Let your love light shine, make a better world.
>> 
>> Daryl Hall And John Oates
>> 
>> Sent from my Braille Sense U2 Mini
>> 
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>> 
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>> 
>> 
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