[il-talk] Proving your blindness

Tue Feb 16 23:48:39 UTC 2016

This reminds me of the security screening I went through yesterday. I was ready to go through the metal detector and the security personnel started to insist that I stick up my hand so that he could manhandle me through the system. When I refused of course I got the I was  only trying to assist. I really want to know sometimes why people think that they know better than I do how to manage my blindness.  If he wants to explain the NTSA policies that is one thing but I have a little more experience managing blindness than he does.

This is part of why I think that we get the you have too much attitude response. I honestly think that people feel they know best.

Live the life you want.  Every day we raise the expectations of blind  people in the National Federation of the Blind.

Patti S. Gregory-Chang
NFBI Treasurer
NFB Scholarship Comm. Chair
Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 16, 2016, at 5:33 PM, Leslie Hamric <lhamric930 at comcast.net> wrote:

Maybe were taught to sit back and wait because if we try to get it ourselves, we will knock stuff over. Or we might make a mess of the table because we don't know where anything is, things like that. I'll give you an example. Before I went to Northern, I was convinced that I could not defrost my own refrigerator. I was convinced by my dad that I had to wait for him to do it. It was a mini fridge like what you have in your dorm room. Will Linn Sorge got a hold of me. And she said there's absolutely no reason why I couldn't do it myself. And she told me how to defrost the fridge. I went ahead and did it and it was easier than I thought. My dad also had me convinced that I could not hook up my own computers are taking apart. Well,Linn had a talk with me again. She actually suggested I label my computer and I labeled the cord so I know what went with what. So that started the normal practice of me setting up my own computer and taking it apart. My dad was literally shocked I could do all these things by myself. And so was I. I remember thinking, what was that I shown how to do this sooner? But like most of us, I had a drummed into my head all these years that I had to ask for help for so much stuff, a lot more than what I actually needed.when I was at Northern, I insisted on Learning how to change a string on my cello so if one broke while I was practicing, I would be able to take care of it and MoveOn. My teacher was all for it. So we spent a lesson one day working on changing strings. Are your later, I noticed that one of my strings was on its way to breaking and I decided to change it during one of my practice sessions. I had the envelopes for each string came labeled in braille so I knew what was what. I was able to take care of it with no problems at all. Sure, I could've had somebody do it for me, but cited cellists  are expected to change their own strings  and why shouldn't I be expected to tdo the same? One last example, Michael had gone to preschool one day last year and unknowingly, had a rash all over his his body. I had no idea that he had a rash because it was not tactile. the school first called me, and my cell phone was in accessible of the time so then they called  my friend Sarah   and Sarah want to come pick Michael up right away they wanted my friend Sara to get him right away without consulting me that Sarah held firm. She said she wasn't going to do anything until she talk to me first. Sero-was next in line and my emergency contact list. The two of us connected and we went over to get Michael. But Sara did not go in with me. Because she wanted the nurse to deal with me directly.  Do you know what the nurse Ask me? Why didn't  your husband tell you that your son had a rash? I just said since it was not tactile, I wouldn't know because I couldn't see it. And over the years, I've also gotten the very familiar: don't be so touchy! People are just trying to help you. The problem is, they're helping me the way they think I need it not what I need.
Leslie She didn't like that answer but  I don't care.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 16, 2016, at 3:59 PM, pattischang at gmail.com wrote:
> 
> I'm not sure how to express my thoughts on this. But, I do believe that there's a basic expectation that we should be grateful for any and all assistance and we should not be assertive. This comes across in many ways. It comes across in people's comments but it also comes across every time someone says please honey you just sit and I will get it for you. I would love to hear others' thoughts on this. It might even make a good article for our newsletter.
> 
> Along similar lines, it concerns me that some of us seem to be more passive than is needed. In other words are we taught to sit back and wait?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Live the life you want.  Every day we raise the expectations of blind  people in the National Federation of the Blind.
> 
> Patti S. Gregory-Chang
> NFBI Treasurer
> NFB Scholarship Comm. Chair
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Feb 16, 2016, at 2:54 PM, Leslie Hamric via il-talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Interesting. I have been told the same thing, that  I have an attitude. And I have not gone through an nfb  training center. But if you think of it, it's that attitude that has  got me where I am today.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Feb 16, 2016, at 2:42 PM, Robert Gardner via il-talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> For me, a guy who once couldn't do much of anything for himself, then went through blindness training and learned he could do just about anything, I feel I'm proving that I can do things all the time. If I go out on a walk or travel on the bus, part of that experience is proving to myself I can do it. If someone says, "Can I help you with xxx," my basic reaction is I'm going to prove to that person I can do it myself. Maybe I have an attitude, but that's me. And I've been told those who've gone through an NFB training center come out with an attitude. All in all, I think it's a healthy attitude for a blind person.
>> 
>> Bob Gardner
>> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leslie Hamric via il-talk" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> To: "Iltalk" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: "Leslie Hamric" <lhamric930 at comcast.net>
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 7:34 AM
>> Subject: [il-talk] Proving your blindness
>> 
>> 
>>> Hey guys. I have a question. I'm sure you've all been told somewhere along the way that you spent a lot of time proving that you can do things in spite of your blindness. How do you  react to this  statement? I think this topic could start a good discussion.
>>> Leslie
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
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