[nabs-l] Blindness versus other minority groups

[Ashley Bramlett]

Tara, great post. And yes if that class in nonverbals was taught, it would 
help.
That is true, did not think of that; sighted people first show
annoyance or irritation via body language.

It sure is fifty - fifty. We have to educate but they need to be able to 
learn

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tara Annis
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 10:20 AM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] Blindness versus other minority groups

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.
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