[Community-service] How do you deal with doubt when performing Community service?

[jonathan franks]

Hello all,
One thing I commonly do  when performing community services is to
demonstrate my capabilities that typically society would not view a
blind person could do. For example, I have taught a class of 3rd
graders, offered to give visitors a tour of the place I am
volunteering, created and implemented accessible games for the blind
to the sighted community as well as helped coordinate and participated
in a birthday party event for homeless children.

Actions definitely speak louder than words, it is a good practice to
be able to advocate for yourself vocally, however demonstrating these
actions will help at least a small subset of the population realize
that we can defy expectations. The more occurences that we perform
these actions will increase awareness and start to dissipate the
stigma attached to the capabilities of blind people.

I hope this helps

Best

Jonathan Franks
Board Member
national Federation of the Blind of Texas
1st Vice President
National Federation of the Blind of Texas- Austin Chapter



On 2/2/15, Marianne Denning via Community-service
<community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I believe a part of the problem is that we are considered one of the
> groups people volunteer to "help" so it can be disconcerting to the
> general public when we want to volunteer.  I am also looking forward
> to answers to this question.
>
> On 2/2/15, Hindley Williams via Community-service
> <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>  Hi All:
>>  I am certain that many of us have encountered our sighted
>> counterparts underestimating our abilities at service sites. As a
>> division of the National Federation of the Blind, we know that we have
>> the ability to serve and to teach others about our abilities. But
>> dealing with others doubting our abilities is quite common at service
>> sites, as well as other places. What are some ways that we as blind
>> people can show the community as a whole that we are competent and
>> able to serve? Or, in other words, what are some techniques that we
>> can use when dealing with doubt from others?
>>  I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
>>  Best,
>>  Hindley
>>
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>
>
> --
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
>
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