[nabs-l] Sex Education Curriculum

Thu Jul 12 21:19:37 UTC 2012

I believe the point Brandon was trying to make is that if you were sighted you would see those people making out in front of you. If you don't want to live in the real world and you can actually stay in your own world of fantasy where people don't ever make out then you can do it just because you're blind, but that's not the way things usually work…
Of course people can be a bit inappropriate sometimes and I'm not trying to defend such behaviors. What's clear is that sex and sex-related topics are around us all the time, and I don't think it makes sense to use blindness as an excuse to stay away from them.
On Jul 12, 2012, at 4:39 PM, Sophie Trist wrote:

> Brandon, it's not that we're not tought how to be happy, give pleasure, and all that other stuff. It's just that... well, no offense, but most of that stuff you said was a little gross. I mean, I reeeeeeeeally don't need to know if there's a couple making out in front of me on the bus. I can get descriptions of that stuff from books. And those are plenty descriptive enough for me, thanks. Of course, this is just my humble opinion.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brandon Keith Biggs" <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Thu, 12 Jul 2012 12:46:05 -0700
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Sex Education Curriculum
> 
> Hello,
> Sighted people are exposed to sex all the time, haven't you heard of playboy
> or penthouse? Also, what about those people making out on the bus? Or the
> gay couple walking down the sidewalk in skirts and bikini? All that we miss
> because we're blind.
> Books are grate, but you can only learn so much from a manual. Sighted kids
> get pictures, we should get to feel. Also, how is a blind person supposed to
> know they have an STD if they have never felt one? How do they know it's not
> just a cut or dehydration?
> Sighted people are given extensive viewings of the peaness and vagina in
> class or in pictures, why can't blind people get the same?
> Frankly I believe that the art of giving pleasure has become such a
> suppressed skill that people have even resorted to substance abuse to obtain
> pleasure. Our bodies were meant to give us pleasure, why aren't we taught to
> utilize these pleasure factories? What's the meaning of life? To love and be
> happy! Why aren't we taught to be happy, to give pleasure, to love our
> selves in school?
> It's a fundamental wrong that I find is a crime against the words human
> beings, but that's kind of a different issue.
> But if this curriculum is any bit good, teachers will adopt it instead of
> the droll thing they have now.
> 
> btw what about feeling a condom, diaphragm or dental dam? How is a blind
> person supposed to know what one looks like if they haven't felt one or
> tried it on? Also, how does a blind person shop for contraception's?
> Me: "Next on my list is condoms." Walgreens guy: "OK, what brand do you
> want? Durex, Trojan, Crown, Kimono..." Me: "Uh, what's your favorite?"
> Walgreens guy: "Most people get Trojan, what size do you want? We've got
> small, medium, large and extra large. We've also got narrow and wide. Here
> are some flavors as well..."
> 
> That's just a wall greens guy who is comfortable, what if it's one of the
> really shy ladies who doesn't speak English? Sighted people can be
> unobtrusive and just buy the condom or diaphragm along with their lube where
> as a blind person has to know what questions to ask and know what brands to
> get. I learned what questions to ask when shopping by watching my parents,
> but I've never seen my parents buy condoms.
> It's a serious issue and this program will help address those problems. And
> what about masturbation? I've rarely read a book where masturbation is
> talked about and I've read a lot of books! How does a guy masturbate without
> making a mess?
> Sex Ed is not just about a sperm and an egg get together to form a baby,
> that's more science.
> Sex Ed is about sex and it's an issue that blind people fall way short in
> when it comes to being educated along with their fellow students.
> Thanks,
> 
> Brandon Keith Biggs
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Herrin, Amber R.
> Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 6:40 AM
> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Sex Education Curriculum
> 
> Dear Joshua,
> 
> I have to agree with you here!  For me, the idea of knowing about sex,
> before I'm sharing it with my husband, is kind of...unnecessary, I guess?
> Maybe the wrong answer, and I understand that not everyone believes you
> should wait until marriage as I do, but I think that being blind doesn't
> prevent us from finding out about it the same way sighted people
> do-experiment (isn't that what most people do anyway?) or read books written
> on the topic (how confusing can text be?)
> 
> Amber R. Herrin
> Assistive Technology Trainer in Training: 2012
> Mobile: (513) 593-5855
> E-mail: herrinar at muohio.edu
> "It doesn't matter what you've heard
> Impossible is not a word
> It's just a reason
> For someone not to try
> 
> Everybody's scared to death
> When they decide to take that step
> Out on the water
> It'll be alright
> 
> Life is so much more
> Than what your eyes are seeing
> You will find your way
> If you keep believing"
> -Kutless "What Faith Can Do"
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Joshua Lester
> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 9:35 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Sex Education Curriculum
> 
> I personally did fine, in those courses, in school, without the new proposed
> curriculum, that they're wanting.
> I don't see the need for one, because who really wants to know, what's being
> shown, in those slides?
> Good grief!
> Blessings, Joshua
> 
> On 7/11/12, David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com> wrote:
> 
> I have been asked to circulate the following:
> 
> 
> Dave
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Dear NFB Member,
> The National Federation of the Blind has been gracious enough to help
> us with a current project.
> 
> We are currently seeking your opinion in a survey that will help us
> write a curriculum for students with low vision and blindness in the
> area of sex education.  Currently no curriculum exists for students
> with low vision and blindness that reflect current education
> standards.  Young people, educators, and professionals have all
> indicated that there is a desperate need for such a curriculum.
> We want your voice to impact our work!
> Please take the time to fill out the survey at the link found below:
> <https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sexeducationsurvey>https://www.su
> rveym
> onkey.com/s/sexeducationsurvey
> 
> <https://maverick.hec.ohio-state.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=ht
> tps:/
> /www.surveymonkey.com/s/sexeducationsurvey
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you for your time and consideration of this project!
> Tiffany Wild, Mollie Blackburn, Stacy Kelly, and Caitlin Ryan
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you,
> Mika Baugh
> National Federation of the Blind
> 200 East Wells Street
>     at Jernigan Place
> Baltimore, MD 21230
> P: (410) 659 9314 ext. 2371
> E: <mailto:mbaugh at nfb.org>mbaugh at nfb.org
> W: <http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org
> 
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