[nabs-l] Freshman year

Tue Jul 17 23:34:00 UTC 2012

Thank you Josh.  And blessings to you as well!

On 7/17/12, Cynthia Bennett <clb5590 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I think it depends on the situation. If you are talking to a faculty
> member because you need accommodations, you don't necessarily have to
> go into what you can and cannot see. Just explain that you are blind
> and what accommodations you do need. If you have some vision and if
> you can successfully use that vision, then you could maybe explain
> that, but all the professor really needs to know is the accommodations
> you need. They might ask questions, and a lot of people will. I prefer
> to just answer them honestly and use the opportunities as educating
> experiences. I had a lot of good experiences with higher Ed faculty,
> but I will have to say that although you will not receive the direct
> joking and making-fun in college that you necessarily would in middle
> and high school, I repeatedly overheard people talking about me as I
> passed by on campus, and I often ran into ignorant people. I do not
> believe this is any different from the real world though. I think that
> if you overhear people talking about you, you should ignore them. They
> aren't inviting you into the conversation. One thing my friends with
> vision do is make eye contact if they can. Some of my sighted friends
> did this if they noticed people staring at me when we walked together.
> If people are asking you ignorant questions, give them educational
> answers. I have also found that asking questions about them can show
> that you are more than just blind. If I am walking down the street and
> someone makes a derogatory comment and says something that is truly
> ignorant, I often just keep walking. But, if I am at a light or
> something and someone nicely asks how I cross the street, I take it as
> an educational opportunity. So as you can see, it is all case by case
> combined with your comfort level. I would encourage you to be
> comfortable though, because that means people will be comfortable
> around you. It is unfortunate that you had a bad experience, but
> everyone has bad experiences getting to know others. You will meet
> some people that just don't get it in college, and I hate to be the
> cynic, but if you can't maintain a mutually beneficial friendship,
> then move on. People giving you bad experiences because you are blind
> aren't worth your time if you make an honest effort that is fruitless.
>
> We are always here to answer questions, so if you encounter a
> situation that is particularly difficult in approaching because you
> are blind, then you are welcome to ask. Some ways to mitigate the
> nervousness are to get involved with clubs and activities that are of
> interest to you, because then you know that you will have something in
> common with the people you meet at these activities. But overall, just
> show up to things. Go to architectural presentations and dorm events.
> Ask people on your hall if you want to eat together, and if you need
> assistance in the dining hall, just ask for assistance and ask if one
> of the students can look out for you and show you where they are
> sitting. Or, you might meet some friends who are nice enough to assist
> you. But be sure that if they are concentrating on blindness or just
> helping you to be a Good Samaritan that you prove that you are
> independent and can do it if they are not there, and that you are more
> than just blindness by bringing up what you like to do. But by just
> showing up and interacting with people, you are proving that you are
> just like all of the other freshmen.
>
> Cindy
>
>
> On 7/17/12, Katie Cl <katminecce at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> I am going to Southern Illinois University and am majoring in
>> Architecture.
>> I have some vision.  I am the first person to ever major in Architecture
>> so
>> the professors have bees worked about me in the class. With other people
>> on
>> my floor should I just tell them that I can't see or just if they ask? I
>> will most defiantly use humor, that sounds good.
>>
>> <3 Princess Cy-I <3
>>
>> On Jul 17, 2012, at 5:46 PM, David Dodge <daviddod at buffalo.edu> wrote:
>>
>>> Katie,
>>> Like Beth, I am excited to hear what college you are going to. However,
>>> I
>>> would not nececcerily choose your college on how accessible it is. I
>>> would
>>> make choices based on academics and teach them how to become more
>>> accessible if need be.
>>>
>>> In general, college students are more accepting than high school
>>> students
>>> because institutions of higher learning are very into diversity.
>>>
>>> Honesty, humor, and letting them know that there is more to you then
>>> sight
>>> or the lack thereof is the beat thing you can do.
>>>
>>> David
>>>
>>> On Tuesday, July 17, 2012, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Katie,
>>>> Hi, my name is Beth.  I did not graduate college yet, but I'm going
>>>> back
>>> in a major of women's studies.  I had bad experiences in high school as
>>> well.  You are welcome to write me off list if you need something or
>>> whautever it is you want to talk about.  Whuaft college are you going
>>> to?
>>> My old university recently had to settle a lawsuit with a friend of mine
>>> or two over its math department inaccessibility.  So I'd be careful
>>> whaut
>>> college you are going on to.  As for approaching the subject of someone
>>> who
>>> can see learning about your blindness, I'd put a little humor in it.
>>> I'm
>>> not sure, but first, I'd write down whaut you want to say, read that out
>>> loud to yourself, and then decide for yourself whether you want to say
>>> it
>>> or not.  Sometimes a littel humor gets people disarmed much quicker than
>>> just saying, "I'm blind.  I can't see.  I have to be accommodated." etc.
>>>> Beth
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: Katie Cl <katminecce at yahoo.com
>>>> To: "nabs-l at nfbnet.org" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Date sent: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:16:33 -0500
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Freshman year
>>>>
>>>> Hi my name is Katie and I am going to be a freshman in college this
>>>> fall.
>>> I was wondering how other people handled telling others they couldn't
>>> see.
>>> In high school I had a bad experience and don't want it to happen again.
>>> Any advice would be helpful.
>>>> THANKS
>>>>
>>>> <3 Princess Cy-I <3
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/thebluesisloo
>>>> se%40gmail.com
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/daviddod%40buffalo.edu
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ----------------------------------
>>> David Dodge
>>> Diversity in Disability Planning Committee Chairperson
>>> English Major
>>> University at Buffalo
>>> 306 Clemens Hall
>>> Buffalo, NY 14260
>>> daviddod at buffalo.edu
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/katminecce%40yahoo.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/clb5590%40gmail.com
>>
>
>
> --
> Cynthia Bennett
> B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington
>
> clb5590 at gmail.com
> 828.989.5383
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/lily2011a%40gmail.com
>