[nabs-l] establishing expectations

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hi Jim,

If you've had accidents running into people or furniture, you might consider 
carrying a white cane.  The public will know you're visually impaired then 
and you won't run into many things.  The cane will identify you so you don't 
have to explain so much.  You can even get small ID canes that are not meant 
for travel but to identify you.

Generally if questions arise, I have conversations and explain blindness 
related things on an as-needed basis.
I regularly interact with sighted people.  I am the only legally blind 
student at campus .
I try to act regularly and fit in talking about other interests and don't 
say much about blindness unless I need to.  I am fine with questions, but 
there is so much to me than the condition of a severe visual impairment.

You said
"When you meet a new person (either in your personal or proffessional life), 
and you expect to have multiple encounters/interactions with this person, 
how do you approach letting this person know what to expect from you? In 
other words, to compensate for my blindness, I have developed certian 
behavioral tendancies that may seem odd to the "normal" person (dragging a 
hand along the wall, and following people (rather than walking next to 
them)."

Jim, I contend we should be as normal as possible and not seem odd. 
Dragging your hand along the wall
is socially inappropriate.  That trailing technique is taught by many 
university trained OM instructors still.  I have never agreed with it. 
Maybe at home touch the wall, but not in public.  There are other ways to 
get the information, mainly using a cane.
I don't see why you can't walk next to someone.    What is your vision like? 
If you have perpheral vision this should be easy.  I have only central 
vision.  I either
walk beside someone and they verbally direct me or walk sighted guide.  I 
have also followed people, but more often walked next to them and did not 
think much of it.


Still I know what you mean about behavioral
tendencies that may seem odd.  Two of mine are these.  One is touching 
things instead or addition to using my vision to find items or understand 
them more.
For instance I'll feel for a dropped paperclip or shoe.  This may seem odd 
to the sighted since they only use vision.  Second, I tilt my head toward a 
noise to better hear something sometimes.

I use a cane but still some things need to be explained.  So what do I do?

If its in my personal life, I'll informally chat with them.  I'll explain 
sighted guide so they don't grab my hand to lead me.  I might explain what 
my cane does and does not do.  For instance it cannot detect overhead things 
so
I might run into them.
I will ask them to identify themselves since it takes a while to learn 
voices.

I have only worked a little in internships.  But here is what I do for 
professional life.
In the first week you will meet the professionals you'll interact with.  As 
we get to know each other I will educate them I will tell them what to 
expect from me.
For instance they might want to always guide me to the restroom, I politely 
decline saying I've learned my way and can go alone.
I might state a sentence or two about my limited vision and say I use it in 
combo with my sense of touch to gain access to space liked dropped objects 
or reading braille.
I explain sighted guide in a sentence or two.  This is never a big deal. 
When we walk together I just say something like
"Can I take your arm?  Its easier to follow this way."

Some of them offer to describe my food and the positions if we go out to 
eat.  I use my vision and utensils to identify food.  So I politely decline 
the explanation.

Your question is very general so hope this is what you wanted.

Take care.
Ashley