[nabs-l] Help-Philosophy Question

Arielle Silverman nabs.president at gmail.com
Wed Apr 21 03:18:21 UTC 2010


Hi all,

Like others I often fly with a straight cane and stow it against the
window, and almost always, it's no problem. I did have one stubborn
flight attendant who wanted to put it in a closet at the front of the
plane. I compromised with her and we decided to stow the cane in the
overhead directly above my seat. We put it up together and I made sure
I knew exactly where it was and that it was in reach of my seat in the
event that I would need it in an emergency. That's another option to
consider before resorting to battle. I agree that I'd never let
someone put my cane in a closet where I couldn't get to it, but the
overhead solution, while not ideal, was good enough.

Arielle

On 4/20/10, Mary Fernandez <trillian551 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear all,
> There is a very simple way to ensure you keep your cane in a plane.
> Book a window seat. If you book your trip online, there is usually the
> option of choosing your seat, and even if you don't do it then, you
> can change it when you are checking into your flight online. It's a
> simple option that everyone has. However, if you do find yourself in
> this situation, first of all, be aware of your surroundings. While you
> should have your cane at all times, and it is no difficulty to put it
> next to the window seat, please don't make a big scene. There are
> passengers behind you that want to settle down and get going on the
> trip. I suggest being prepared for this kind of thing, since it is
> fairly common. I usually tell the flight attendat, if they ask, that I
> will ask the passenger sitting by the window, if they would mind very
> much if I put my cane by them. No one to date has had a problem with
> that. I usually also travel with two canes, a telescopic one in my
> purse, and my straight cane, just in case.
> Someone made a comment earlier that the NFB doesn't recognize that
> there are different ways of doing things. Aside from the symbolic
> representation the straight cane has in the Federation, it is also
> highly practical. In travel and mobility, it is highly sensitive and
> pretty sturdy for the amount of feeback it gives the traveler.
> However, it is obvious that we recognize different people have
> different thoughts and needs, and of course should have different
> options. So, you can buy a straight cane from the independence market,
> as easily as you can buy a telescopic or folding cane. No one thinks
> less of you because you use a folding cane unless you are doing it to
> hide your blindness. Our philosophy is that blindness is respectable,
> and ifyou are making a choice because it helps you hide your blindness
> better, that is just demonstrating your own insecurity. We work under
> the very same theory, that there is more than one way to do things.
> That's what we call alternative methods. Learn everything you can, and
> then apply what works best for you. In the end all that matters is
> self-acceptance, competency and never being ashamed of your blindness.
> Sincerely,
> Mary
>
> On 4/20/10, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
>> Jewel,
>>
>> Just curious: have you given much thought to using a wheelchair or even
>> a support cane with the white cane?
>>
>> Respectfully,
>> Jedi
>>
>>
>> Original message:
>>> I have two cents to add to the thoughts about conforming and such...
>>
>>> I often worry about taking help that is offered because I'm blind, but
>>> that I need because of another disability. For example, I don't need a
>>> sighted guide to keep up with a nurse at the doctor's office or follow
>>> a campus tour, but I often take the assistance of a friend to walk
>>> because of my balance problems. Walking on a friend's arm (or my
>>> boyfriend's, usually) allows me to keep my balance better, and if I
>>> *do* lose my balance, s/he can catch me. I make sure to still use my
>>> cane and make it obvious that he is *not* leading me, and sometimes we
>>> make a point for him to take my arm and me lead him (he has more
>>> vision) with the cane, because him holding my arm, while not as good
>>> as me holding his, still helps my balance, as he can catch me if I
>>> stumble, and I can lean on him as needed. But I do worry that people
>>> will see me getting assistance from my boyfriend or someone else (or
>>> accepting a stranger's arm if I'm alone) and think that I can't walk
>>> on my own because I'm blind and/or that all blind people need to be
>>> walked on the person's arm. I also hold a person's arm different than
>>> I would a sighted guide, with my hand around their elbow, because that
>>> is more sturdy, and I worry that peple will think that everyone does
>>> it that way, and not know how to do sighted guide right. I also do
>>> walking behind the person different, holding their arm more than I
>>> would a sighted guide, but it means that they are not doing their arm
>>> the right way for sighted guide, because I keep my cane out to look
>>> for obstacles.
>>
>>> Another worry I have is that people will take my use of a folding cane
>>> as a sign that I am against straight canes. I'm not. I have a straight
>>> cane, in fact, that I use on the days when I know I will not have to
>>> worry about losing my balance. I *am* against telescopic canes,
>>> because they just suck, and always get stuck, but that's just personal
>>> preference. But I use a folding cane much of the time. The reason I do
>>> is that I use an aluminum folding cane. Aluminum is stronger than
>>> graphite or fibreglass, so if I am walking alone and lose my balance
>>> and fall forward on my white cane, my aluminum cane will not break
>>> under me and send me to the ground. However, I have had a fibreglass
>>> straight cane break under my weight when I stumbled and it sent me
>>> sprawling on my hands and knees. Luckily, all I got was scraps on my
>>> hands and kness and a big bone bruise on one knee, but I would not
>>> want to re-experience that, especially as a fibreglass shard could end
>>> up in my hand or leg. I plan on getting a guide dog within the year,
>>> but in the meantime, I use an aluminum folding cane or a strong
>>> graphite cane.
>>
>>> The last concern I have is that because it is so hard for me to walk a
>>> lot or even stand for long, I take advantage of people's offers to get
>>> things for me, seat me first, and sit up close. I take advantage of
>>> these accommodations for my mobility issues, not for my blindness, but
>>> I worry that people will assume that because I need the assistance,
>>> all blind ppeople need it, because you know how they tend to assume
>>> that we're all alike *eyeroll*
>>
>>> I know that my blindness is only a physical nuisance. It does not
>>> limit me anymore (it did when I first went blind, but I have learned
>>> much since then). But I have other limitations that keep me from doing
>>> things. As that disability is an invisible one and the blindness is
>>> obvious, people often assume that I am slow, clumsy, awkward, and need
>>> assistance because I am blind. I try to explain when I have the time,
>>> but I don't always have the time.
>>
>>> Does anyone have suggestions on how I can show people that blindness
>>> is not limiting me and help them understand that blindness is not
>>> limiting if you have the training and tools, but that my other
>>> disability does limit me, but not necessarily others? I have done a
>>> few things, such as cooking homemade candies to bring to my support
>>> group for adult survivors of childhood abuse, to show them what I
>>> *can* do because  they were treating me like I would break. One guy
>>> asked who made them, and when I said I did, he said "But aren't you
>>> blind? How do you cook?" And I told him that "it's easy; I listen for
>>> the boiling and roll the candy in the sugar with my fingers. It
>>> doesn't take sight to cook. I cook without looking." And I think I
>>> gained a bit of respect from the group that way. But I stil l need
>>> someone's help to get to a chair (not to find it, but to walk there),
>>> and I still don't get up during break to get a snack because it hurts
>>> to walk a lot after sitting for awhile, so I ask a friend in the group
>>> to grab an extra snack for me.
>>
>>> My two cents,
>>> Jewel
>>
>>> On 4/20/10, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Hello all,
>>>>   My feeling on the matter is that we can generally do better by
>>>> handeling things in a less confrentational manner when possible.
>>>> While  this is easier said than done,  I think it's worth taking  a
>>>> second (if possible depending on the situation)  and  try to  look at
>>>> what you need or  would like to get out of the situation you are in.
>>>>   I find it difficult to balance the  short-term solution and
>>>> long-term results of that  dicision made (example:if someone takes
>>>> one's cane on an airplane or  even in a differennt situation such as
>>>> somebody insisting  in helping  you across the street).
>>>>  Sometimes i have to ask myself, when do I make a dicision for the
>>>> good of other blind people, or for my  own good? Should I  take my
>>>> long cane  because  it somehow  better models  my comfort in blindness
>>>> to other people?    or should I take a telescoping cane because it's
>>>> easier to carry  and it  still conforms to  what is  an NFB cane?  Or,
>>>> do I use a folding cane because I'm feeling like it's  less likely  to
>>>> get broken of someone steps on it while  traveling?   The question
>>>> that I think is worth asking is- is there a "model positive image of
>>>> blindness"?  In much the same way that people tend to  look for the
>>>> ideal image of  gender or ethnicity, is there such an Ideal  for the
>>>> blind?
>>>>    if so, is that what we all  must conform to?   or is there a such a
>>>> thing as conformity in the blind community and in this case, the
>>>> Federation community/family?
>>>>   Best,
>>>>   Darian
>>
>>
>>>> On 4/20/10, Briley Pollard <brileyp at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Good morning,
>>
>>>>> I wasn't there, so I can't speak to how your friend handled the
>>>>> situation.
>>>>> The fact of the matter is though that allowing airline personel to take
>>>>> our
>>>>> mobility aids awe frm us is, A, illegal, and B, degrading. It also sets
>>>>> a
>>>>> bad precedent for blind people that may be traveling with them in the
>>>>> future. That said, it is of course better to use a calm professional
>>>>> tone
>>>>> when dealing with this kind of situation. There is a quiet way to
>>>>> insist
>>>>> that our rights as blind people be respected. Also explaining the why's
>>>>> of
>>>>> a
>>>>> certain ideal often help. This wasn't a situation where your friend
>>>>> should've just "let it go" for the sake of peace, but perhaps she
>>>>> could've
>>>>> handled it in a calmer way.
>>
>>>>> The Throw the Nickel principal applies more to accepting help I think
>>>>> than
>>>>> having our rights ignored. In that situation, it was better to accept
>>>>> the
>>>>> kindness of a stranger than to make a fuss. This has to do with the
>>>>> airplane
>>>>> rights of a lot of people, and while we should always be calm and
>>>>> professional, but sometimes confrontation is required to bring about
>>>>> change.
>>
>>>>> Just my 10 cents.
>>
>>>>> BrileyOn Apr 19, 2010, at 10:34 PM, Candice Chapman wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>>> Dear NABS members,
>>
>>>>>> I recentally was in a situation where my NFB philosophy was put to the
>>>>>> test. I was travelling with a friend who is totally blind by airplane
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> we got into a confrontational situation with the flight attendant. She
>>>>>> insisted upon taking my friend's straight cane, but didn't have a
>>>>>> problem
>>>>>> with mine since it was teloscopic. Perhaps she assumed that storing
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> straight cane would be a hazard. My friend proceeded to have a loud,
>>>>>> obnoxious verbal confrontation, that resulted in hold up of traffic
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> embarrassment on my part. Eventually the conflict, due to time
>>>>>> constraint,
>>>>>> my friend was finally mollified and allowed to keep her cane. However
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> can't help but wonder if there was a more diplomatic way to handle the
>>>>>> situation. It brings to mind an article by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan,
>>>>>> perhaps
>>>>>> you guys know it, it's in The Master, The Mission, The Movement. The
>>>>>> article is titled, "Don't Throw the Nickel."
>>
>>>>>> How do you think the confrontation could have been handled more
>>>>>> delicately? In the above article Dr.Jernigan referenced many
>>>>>> situations
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> which you could choose your battle. Perhaps it's true that you can
>>>>>> make
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> situation worse by escalating a said situation with a sighted person,
>>>>>> rather than taking the high road. What are your thoughts on the art of
>>>>>> negotiationg NFB philosophy? What might you suggest as potential
>>>>>> alternatives to the above confrontation? I would like to hear all of
>>>>>> your
>>>>>> thoughts on the importance of our philosophy in the lives of blind
>>>>>> people.
>>
>>
>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>> Candice Chapman
>>
>>>>>> P.S. The Article is attached for your convience.
>>>>>> _________________________________________________________________
>>>>>> The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your
>>>>>> inbox.
>>>>>> http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3<Don't
>>>>>> Throw The Nickel.doc>_______________________________________________
>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/brileyp%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>>>> --
>>>> Darian Smith
>>>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>>>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>>>> The National Federation of the Blind has launched a nationwide teacher
>>>> recruitment campaign to help attract energetic and passionate
>>>> individuals into the field of blindness education, and we need your
>>>> help!   To Get Involved  go to:
>>>> www.TeachBlindStudents.org
>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/loneblindjedi%40samobile.net
>>
>> --
>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
>> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/trillian551%40gmail.com
>>
>
>
> --
> Mary Fernandez
> Emory University 2012
> P.O. Box 123056
> Atlanta Ga.
> 30322
> Phone: 732-857-7004
> In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that
> greatness is never a given. It must be earned.
> President Barack Obama
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/nabs.president%40gmail.com
>


-- 
Arielle Silverman
President, National Association of Blind Students
Phone:  602-502-2255
Email:
nabs.president at gmail.com
Website:
www.nabslink.org




More information about the NABS-L mailing list