[nabs-l] Blindness versus other minority groups

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Chris,

One can hear the more important body language by listening to vocal direction and resonance; this is how you hear a smile or know if someone's looking down. These are just examples. Paralanguage and other cues often supplement gestures and expressions.

As to direct eye contact, it is actually seldom done even in the States except for very brief periods. So just facing someone is quite sufficient in our culture.

Respectfully Submitted

Sent from my iPhone

On 19/11/2011, at 9:20 PM, Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Tara,
> 
> That's a good point.  However, I'm not sure if the class is needed.  I say this because, especially in the case of those of us (like myself) who are totally blind or only have light perception, we would only get one side of the body language; that is, the body language that we display to sighted people.  While this is important, especially in how we present ourselves for things like job interviews and such, we'll have no way of knowing what body language sighted people are conveying to us, no matter what classes on the subject we take.  This is because, simply, we can't see the body language! So, in short, by taking the suggested body language course, we'd only get to use half of the information taught, because we can't discern what sighted people are conveying to us via body language, and therefore can't react to it.
> 
> Chris
> 
> "The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that exists.  If a blind person has the proper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a mere physical nuisance."
> -- Kenneth Jernigan (President, National Federation of the Blind, 1968-1986
> 
> P.S.  The I C.A.N.  Foundation helps blind and visually impaired youth in Maryland say "I can," by empowering them through providing assistive technology and scholarships to camps and conventions which help them be equal with their sighted peers.  For more information about the Foundation and to support our work, visit us online at www.icanfoundation.info!
> 
> Sent from my BrailleNote Apex
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tara Annis <TAnnis at afb.net
> To: "nabs-l at nfbnet.org" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:20:31 -0500
> 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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