[nabs-l] advice

[Darian Smith]

 Hi all,
  Much like Maryann, I've  just been  reading and thinking.  and I
find that    issues  of cane usage and brail reading become rather
lively subjects amungst  us.  while I understand that this  string is
more so about the  first and not the second, I just felt a urge to
point out how  these matters tend to have you picking sides on
something that I feel has no easy answer.
   I tend to believe that you have  a comfort level as it relates to
identifying with  any part of yourself.  This can be concerning
gender,  sexuality, ethnicity or disability.  I feel  that it's very
important to  find your comfort level and  be ok  with it;  otherwise,
you run the risk of finding yourself  conforming to a standerd that
just   doesn't feel right for you.
 As I hinted to earlier in this message, this does not have to  be
linked to blindness, if you can identify with it, it applies (so I
think).
  I know people who are  perfectly fine considering themselves blind,
they so  happen to use some of  the non visual techniques that we
have grown  to know and  use  as effortlessly as we breathe, but they
may not use a cane  all of the time.  For those people, I would not
be ready to make the judgement that they   are in some way hiding
their blindness.  In the situation that Kathryn  poses to us, I think
I might keep a cane on hand and use it insituations  like this.   The
reason i would is  to possibly save the potential multiple
explainations that I would have otherwise had to give.   I should
close by saying that this  is  coming from a person who once had
rather  functional vision and  could see well enough to get    around
just fine with out a cane, should he had wanted to, but   chose  for
himself to use a cane.
 respectfully,
  Darian

On 3/23/10, Maryann Migliorelli <mrsmigs at migliorelli.org> wrote:
> Hello,  I didn't respond to this for a while but hope that you will consider
> this thought.  I know plenty of folks who do consider themselves blind but
> don't carry a cane openly when they aren't using it.  They do, however, keep
> one in their bag or purse for convenient use when they do need it.  That
> being said, they are very comfortable with their blindness and have no
> problems asking for visual help when it's needed.  If you are comfortable
> enough with your blindness and don't wish to carry a cane with you at these
> meetings, you might just get comfortable saying, "Hello, I'm (blind,
> visually impaired, not seeing well today, pick something that works for you)
> and can't read your name tag.  Will you please share your information with
> me/"
> 	Sometimes we have to ask this question even with the obvious signs
> such as canes or guide dogs because people just don't think about it.  Let's
> face it, we're an anomaly to most people in these situations.  Generally
> people just take it for granted that everyone there will read their name
> tag, and that they will do the same.  It's just something to keep in the
> back of your mind going in so that you can be conscious of it and get
> comfortable asking for the information you want.  I've been having to do
> this at networking events for years.  It does get easier with time and as
> you become more comfortable with talking openly about your blindness.
> I hope this helps.
> Maryann Migliorelli
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Darian Smith
Skype: The_Blind_Truth
Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
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