[Ct-nfb] Braille Monitor
Suzanne Westhaver
swesthaver at comcast.net
Thu Oct 18 23:19:32 UTC 2012
I won't hog the group too much but I want to say that one of the things that
struck me in this article- besides the right to live in the world- was the
mobility instructor. I had a similar experience when I first went blind and
learned to cane travel. I lost my sight when I was twenty and my mobility
instructor got to a street I wanted to cross and he didn't want me to cross
it. He was very discouraging and he said, "Do you really have to cross this
street?" I said, "I do if I want to get to the other side."
There was no way around it.
His discouragement was something I really didn't need at that time in my
life and now when I wonder if I can do something- I think about that street.
I think about the discussion that took place- alternatives and there were no
alternatives. I did cross it- I couldn't get where I wanted to go without
doing it, but that discouragement was damaging in some way because I always
crossed that street. To be told I should question it- that was negative.
I knew I was blind but I was young and I didn't want to stop crossing
streets.
It's one of the things I like about NFB centers. You have blind mobility
instructors. No sighted fear involved- just support to get to the other
side of the street and the belief that it's a valid thing- that wanting to
get to the other side isn't wrong and it's possible.
State agencies should consider hiring blind mobility instructors. I think
it's psychologically empowering to learn from someone in your shoes how to
do it. No safety net- no eyes to call out in fear or impose their doubts on
you.
-----Original Message-----
From: Justin Salisbury
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 6:54 PM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Braille Monitor
Hi Suzanne,
Here's a link to the article you're referencing:
https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm12/bm1209/bm120909.htm
It is a very good one, indeed.
Justin
Justin M. Salisbury
B.A. in Mathematics
Class of 2012
East Carolina University
president at alumni.ecu.edu
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” —MARGARET MEAD
________________________________________
From: Ct-nfb [ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Suzanne Westhaver
[swesthaver at comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 4:35 AM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Braille Monitor
Justin, I saw your article in October’s issue. Congradulations on your
publication. I found the following article of particular interest in the
same issue of BM. It really reached out to me and said things I needed to
hear at this time in my life.
I hope this posts as a live link. IF not, it's on www.nfb.org under
publications.
tenBroek and the Beach Blanket
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