[nabs-l] Spacial Awareness as a Totally Blind Person

[Jedi]

J.J.,

First of all, I want to say that, as I see it, you do just fine. I know 
I've only seen you at Federation functions, but it seems to me that you 
have little to worry about in terms of spacial awkwardness or 
awkwardness in general. Even so, I do feel it useful to comment on your 
post since I think it brings up an interesting issue that has nothing 
to do with spacial awareness and everything to do with howothers see us 
and how we see ourselves.

Dr. Jernigan once said that we accept the public image of ourselves as 
blind people and do much to make that public image a reality. it's 
amazing how true this is. You'd actually be remarkably surprised at how 
few differences there really are between people with some and no 
vision. Many low vision people I know (including myself) have the same 
questions about how to handle conferences with ccrowds, especially 
since we blind people are seldom allowed to simply wander aimlessly as 
the sighted do.

Getting back to your question about spacial awareness. From your post, 
it sounds to me that you're proposing a significant difference between 
how those with some vision and those with no vision navigate and handle 
space. First of all, it's important to understand that spacial 
awareness, contrary to popular belief, has nothing to do with visual 
perception except to say that vision is one way to cue and activate 
spacial abilities. Sound cues are another, tactile and other clues are 
still others. We blind often absorb eht false notion that we're 
handicapped spacially since that's why we grow up believing from 
blindness professionals who almost always happen to be sighted. For 
many sighted people, they're not actually aware of the fact that they 
even have spacial abilities. They, in a way, see a series of images 
that exist in their minds to guide them from point A to point B. When 
those images appear in real life outside their heads, it's like 
receiving a visual instruction to turn left or right. We blind do this 
too with other non-visual objects, especially those of us trained to 
use routes only. I can certainly say I did the same, especially before 
my blindfold training at LCB. That's why so many learning under 
blindfold for the first time get so messed up; they're relying on those 
visual instructions rather than paying attention to where they've been 
and where they're going. Is any of this making any sense?

In all reality, what I'm saying here is that you may have unconsciously 
absorbed the belief that spacial awareness should be more difficult for 
you because you have no vision. That's not at all true. However, if 
spacial awareness truly is a difficulty for you, keep in mind that 
sighted people often have difficulty with it as well; we weren't all 
born with every talent and intelligence out there. As to personal space 
issues, much of the rules regarding proxemics vary depending on who 
you're talking to and the various parts of the overall context of the 
situation. but if it helps, I don't recall ever thinking or feeling 
spacially uncomfortable in your presence even though you and I only 
spent so much time together at National Headquarters in March. does that help?

Respectfully,
Jedi
Original message:
> I've learned over the years that being totally blind presents a unique 
> set of challenges not seen by thsoe with some vision. Of course the 
> converse is true as well. For me, one of my biggest places where I feel 
> I could improve involves spacial awareness. I'm curious to hear from 
> others with any tips on ways to be better aware of their surroundings. 
> How do you effectively and consciously avoid other people's personal 
> space when talking or walking from place to place?
> A lot of these situations seems to come up at parties, also, when it's 
> sometimes difficult to figure out the best place to stand or sit and 
> hold a conversation without looking awkward. And of course, as a blind 
> person, if you try to walk around and talk to people, some sighted 
> people will just start asking you where you are going or if you are 
> looking for something. Surely there must be ways to just fit into the group.

> Finally, some of these challenges apply when trying to network at a 
> conference with unknown people. Does anyone have any tips for how to 
> politely but effectively start a conversation or break into a group 
> conversation between others which has already started?
> I'm talking about the various networking receptions which are held by 
> companies or take place at conventions and other events.

> Thanks for any help.


> J.J.
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