[BlindTlk] [BlTlk] Question about societal attitudes toward blindness

[Ericka]

Congrats on the retirement and new adventures it will bring.

Ericka Nelson

> On Feb 22, 2020, at 10:28 AM, Catherine Clegg via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Thanks for sharing your story.  I just joined the list.  I am retiring soon and thought I would join a few lists.  I will be moving from PA to a senior living facility in Marylan.  I will be closer to my two daughters.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Feb 21, 2020, at 12:51 PM, Chaim B. Segal via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>>  Hi Mike and All:
>> 
>> Chaim Segal here. I am nearly a year overdue to respond to this message land thread. Long story, I have been lurking on the list, but too busy to keep  up with E-mail listserves.  I still have quite a way to go, however, I feel I need to jump in on this one. By the way, I think  you know my wife Brooke, alias Hava. 
>> 
>> Maybe I sing a different tune than others on here-especially those who lost their sight later in life or have more residual vision than I have. I am proud to say that my brother and I, who are both blind from birth, are happily married to two unique women who are also blind from birth. Before you ask, the answer is, yes, my wife and I both dated sighted people in the past. In her case, the gentleman was in bad health and passed away before the marriage could take place. In my case, the woman I dated was extremely mentally ill, and, as affectionate and caring as she was, I realized in time that a marital relationship would not work and broke it off literally two weeks before the wedding. When I first met my ex-fiaccé, she was rather shy about asking me questions about my blindness, and I figured it out and was patient with her. I'd rather not ramble on, but will get to the point.
>> 
>> 
>> The blind community in it of itself is like the general world community, inasmuch as we have different preferences and want different things from life. Many of us on this list are either highly educated, or are in school pursuing a higher education. Since my graduation from high school in 1988, I have attended college here and there, but have found it a rather isolating experience. I am 51 years old at this time, and am considering someday obtaining a bachelor's in Rehab services or something related. However, I seem to have better self-confidence  when I am out there working a job. Thus, at this time, I am content to work as a Collections Representative with Synchrony Bank. My job takes up most usable time during the day, and I will have to figure out a way that any more education can be worked in over the course of time. At some other point, I will address the subject of online education on this list.
>> 
>> Getting back to the subject at hand, I strongly feel that the general world out there is becoming increasingly visually-oriented-not that it ever wasn't.  While I share interests with some members of the sighted community, I feel as a blind adult that we have unique challenges and situations that many sighted  folks just don't fully understand, except for professionals in the field.  I found when dating blind versus sighted, that we both  had a better understanding of each other and could better relate and empathize together. Unfortunately, through a stroke of bad luck, my wife and I have not been able to conceive. We have talked about possibly adopting a  child some day. If we do, we are thinking in the direction of adopting a blind child as we feel we can possibly be better role-models than many sighted parents. 
>> 
>> From what my oldest brother (sighted) told me, the biggest problem we face in social situations is the inability to make that first eye contact with sighted people. Apparently, when our eyes don't look back it causes uneasiness, unless the sightty in question knows what they are looking at. 
>> Despite my choice and preference, I am all for all of us participating in and taking part in events, activities, and recreation with sighted people. Just know that it is only the very special among them who know where to look that we have the best chance of long-lasting friendships. 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Chaim and Nolan, my brand new Seeing Eye Dog
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Chaim B. Segal
>> 
>> Sent From My HIMS Braille Sense U2 Mini 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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