[nabs-l] graduation ceremony

[Serena]

Hi Ashley

Let me first say I absolutely don't use or condone sighted guide, unless 
it's absolutely necessary!  I used a sighted guide at my graduation.  I 
don't really think it took much away from my moment, but more power to you 
if you think you don't need one.  I think sighted guide is all right, as 
long as you ask for it and think it's really necessary.  I also think it's 
ok if you think that, if you don't use it in a particular situation, the 
powers that be may ask you to do something else that's really inappropriate. 
In my case, the DSS person wanted me to sit in a separate location reserved 
for people with disabilities.  I refused!  Even if I didn't need a guide for 
assistance, which I really did, I still would've used it, sacrificing my 
independence, as a compromise, so the DSS person wouldn't win, as far as 
making me sit in a separate location.

One last instance in which sighted guide is ok is in a crowded place and 
when the person who suggests that you use it is acting in good faith, E.G. 
your friend from college who may just so happen to have a disability of 
his/her own, who knows you don't want to use it, but suggests it cuz of the 
crowd.

Serena


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 3:08 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] graduation ceremony


> Hi all,
> I think this has been discussed before, but don't know when.  I will go to 
> my college's graduation ceremony to recieve my diploma.  As you know 
> normally you walk single file and sit down in some order and graduates 
> line up by the stage and walk as their name is called.
> What accomodations did you have?  I am debating whether to have a guide. 
> Its a big stage and I'll be nervous but I think a guide will take away 
> from my moment.
>
> In high school I used the student beside me as a guide to and from the 
> stage.  The time I was walking, I did so alone.  They offered me a guide 
> but I felt I did not need it.
> What did you do?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ashley
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