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

Sat Feb 22 18:25:20 UTC 2020

as a daddy of 2daughters. I have a new additude!

On 2/22/20, Ericka via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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>>
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