[nabs-l] Grabbing and streetcrossing help

[Jedi]

Bridgit,

I'm with you entirely on the idea that a person, of any sort, walking 
alone should indicate that help is not needed. But I think those 
blindness attitudes tend to erode good sense. And I'm with you that our 
actions mean a lot; we can't claim that we want to be independent 
travelers and ask for a sighted guide everywhere we go. I'm sorry to 
say that this is one of the few situations in which we can't have our 
cake and eat it, too.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> I can kind of understand how those with little to no exposure to
> blindness may be concerned and curious as to how we do something like
> cross a street, but, and this may be my naivety talking, when a person
> sees a grown person walking about on their own, does common sense not
> dictate that perhaps, while not fully understanding it, that person is
> probably okay? Maybe they can ask if we need anything, but it's a little
> difficult for me to understand how we can obviously be doing things with
> no help, but when a sighted person is around we suddenly need their
> help? I guess I'm still acclimating to stuff like this.

> In crowded situations, I'll take sighted guide sometimes, more so, so I
> don't lose whoever I'm with, but I think it helps when we do as much as
> possible independently. I also suffer episodes of extremely low blood
> pressure which makes me dizzy, weak and can affect my balance. On days
> like these, depending on what I need to do, I may take more assistance
> than on good days, but I try to be as independent as possible even on
> these days, but this also is just because of my personality as much as
> it is related to blindness! Smile. While going to school, classmates
> became accustomed to me doing things and getting around without help,
> and I led the way when it came to when and if I needed assistance. When
> classmates would see me around campus, they eventually stopped asking if
> I needed help and would just approach me like they would anyone else.
> They let me do the asking, and instead, we were able to cultivate
> relationships.

> The positive energy and confidence we put off helps as much as our
> actions. If we present ourselves in as confident of a manner as possible
> in any given situation, people will pick up on this and respect us as
> people. The more we work on our confidence, the more people will take
> note, and more importantly, the better off we feel about our
> independence and capabilities.

> Sincerely,
> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Read my blog at:
> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

> "History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
> The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

> Message: 21
> Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 23:10:14 -0500
> From: Patrick Molloy <ptrck.molloy at gmail.com>
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>         <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Grabbing etc.
> Message-ID:

> <CAN+-G_CeC3zdSdX+TEE1od6936YObAZRvSXG9KXQg2eKU2Ba+g at mail.gmail.com>
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> I find it quite ironic that, in trying to help us, sighted people
> often cause more of a problem with regard to street crossing. Again,
> they really do mean well, but their method of help still leaves a lot
> to be desired (if desired at all.)
> Patrick


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