[nabs-l] Blindness versus other minority groups

[Tara Annis]

I think the first step in helping blind people to get their feelings across to the sighted is  to understand what is considered ignorance and what is considered outright teasing and cruelty in public.  Many of the meanest things are just said with one word    and a lot of body language.  Many people who hate blind people speak in a nice manner, but  exhibit cruelty in their body language. I do think a lot of blind people, not all, but some, do lack discernment in this area, especially if they are blind from birth and a sighted person  does not take the time to explain nonverbal communication.  I think the first step would be for an honest sighted person to follow a blind person around and interpret the visual elements to the blind person, so that the entire picture can be analyzed for both parties.  I think one of the best ways to respond to those who are ignorant, who are not attempting to be mean, but make offensive remarks is through body language, like rolling one's eyes.  Most sighted people use   nonverbal communication to show  when they are irritated by another person.  If the person continues to  be annoying, the person will then use verbal communication.  That is why sighted people think blind are mean for actually verbally stating their anger, instead of visually displaying it.  I would like to see a class where advanced nonverbal communication is explained, since    currently it seems there are just the basics  taught, like  facing the person you are talking to and shaking hands. There is not a class in how to display   the various  ways of shooing levels of discomfort, from   annoyed, slightly irritated, somewhat irritated, to angry. Blind people need to know that sometimes it is necessary to actively create facial expressions and body movements, as opposed to letting one's body language depict their true feelings.  Personally, I was surprised at the amount of communication that is displayed nonverbally, that sighted people watch me from across a large college campus, or from way down the street, and are making judgments about me from my appearance. Once this was explained to me, I do feel that I am more comfortable around sighted people, and am  in   control of  getting my feelings across.  The great thing about learning all this stuff is that I have seen the amount of ignorance I faced by sighted people diminish significantly.  It is a 50/50 situation: blind people need to do their half of    helping get rid of ignorance  and sighted people need to be willing to do their half.