[il-talk] Proving your blindness

[Harris Singer]

Hi Leslie
Nice and intriguing question. For me living in a world not designed
logistically for people without sight calls me to be creative in how I
navigate the ins and outs of life inside and outside my home. On
occasion I'm accused of “proving something" and when I am I tell
people it's not about proving something, it’s about me expressing my
creativity in doing things non-visually. When I frame it this way
people seem to respect that and give me my space. I don’t’ think I’ve
ever been accused of having an attitude, but I have been accused of
being stubborn. I don’t mind these accusations either way. It does
sometimes create an awkward moment when my insistence, or perceived
insistence, of doing things my way creates tension with sighted
people. I do live the life I want, but I’m not an island either. I
have heard stories for years from sighted people of how blind people
create very poor impressions of blindness and these stories make me
cringe, especially when the blind person is clearly in the wrong.
There is a diplomatic balance in doing things my way and not being
labeled as difficult to work or interact with. Some in our community
care about striking this balance more than others and fortunately
there’s room for all of us.




On 2/16/16, pattischang--- via il-talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> 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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>>
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