[BlindTlk] Question about societal attitudes toward blindness

[Sherri]

I don't know!  I've been hanging around this one particular sighted person for over a year and he still has many really false ideas about blind people.  Just one example.  He says we never go out, because he never sees any of us!  I tell him he just does not notice and that many blind people refuse to acknowledge their blindness so might not carry a cane, use a guide dog and also many blind people have some useable vision so might not "look blind".  I say this because some people who are congenitally blind have eyes that do not look functional.  Some people's eyes are closed.  Lso, it is difficult to control the eyes.  Sighted people often notice this stuff.
Sherri

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindTlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark Tardif via BlindTlk
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2019 1:21 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Mark Tardif <markspark at roadrunner.com>
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] Question about societal attitudes toward blindness

Three words, education, education and more education.  It will probably be a lifetime process for you.  It can be frustrating at times because you would think we would have made much more progress in this area by now.  I think putting yourself out there and just meeting people and engaging them is an excellent start.  Most people never expect to meet a blind person so it's easy to understand the lack of education among the public regarding blindness and the fact that blindness is a characteristic, but it is not what defines us.



Mark Tardif
Nuclear arms will not hold you.
-----Original Message-----
From: Walker, Michael E. (UMSL-Student) via BlindTlk
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2019 6:13 AM
To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Walker, Michael E. (UMSL-Student)
Subject: [BlindTlk] Question about societal attitudes toward blindness

Good morning,

Something I have been troubled by for a long time is why society sees blind people differently from people who can see. For example, I often find that when the topic of friendship or dating comes up, I still get asked questions like whether or not I have considered dating a blind person. It tells me that society still has a ways to go in learning that blindness is an inconvenience rather than something that defines us. We like to participate in the same venues as everyone else, without being seen differently. How do we overcome these challenges? The only thing I know to do is to keep doing what I’m doing: putting myself out there and meeting people. What do you guys do to overcome these challenges? How do you feel about being seen differently because you’re blind?

Thank you,
Mike
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