[nabs-l] Body language and facial expressions

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Patrick,

True, some expressions like smiling tend to be a natural expression for
anyone, and yet I've met many blind people who tend to have stoic
expressions, and they don't smile naturally. They have no condition such
as facial paralysis explaining the lack of expressions. They don't smile
even when laughing. So obviously smiling isn't always a naturally
occurring expression.

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: 12
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:59:53 -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] Body language and facial expressions
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Bridgit,
I liked what you said, but I think you should know that there are some
facial expressions that blind people don't have to learn. For
instance, a smile is genetically encoded in everybody. We don't need
sighted people to tell us how to do that. I think it's best to start
with what blind people already know, then find a trusted sighted
friend or family member and talk to them about nonverbal
communication. As I say, we really don't have far to go, because there
are genetic codes for a lot of these facial expressions. It's just a
matter of learning to use them and practicing them.
Patrick