[nabs-l] Freshman year

[Arielle Silverman]

Hi Brandon,
I don't like having my cane grabbed either, not only because it is
insulting but also because it is dangerous. If someone is holding my
cane tip up in the air I cannot detect obstacles around me and I have
to rely on their judgment to ensure I don't run into something. It is
also very disorienting. If the cane-grabber is a stranger, it's simply
unsafe to relinquish my judgment and orientation to them.
I respond in the same manner you described, by pulling out of their
grip and saying "Please don't grab my cane; I need to be able to use
it" and most of the time they get it. If someone persisted I would
simply plant my feet and not move forward until they had let go.
I think some sighted people correctly understand that we use our canes
as orientation devices but then mistakenly think they can use our
canes as pointers when giving directions or sighted guide. If possible
I try to give them an alternative, like asking to grab their arm or to
give verbal instructions.
Arielle

On 7/17/12, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Katie,
> Firstly welcome to the list. My name is Arielle Silverman and I am a
> blind graduate student in Boulder, CO. I was a freshman nine years ago
> so longer ago than for some of the other listers here, but I can still
> answer any questions you may have about college or grad school.
> If you use a cane or guide dog then you won't usuallly need to
> explicitly tell anyone that you can't see. However, from your question
> I gather that you might not use a cane or guide dog since you have
> some vision. Is that the case? If so, then I can understand how it
> might be awkward if people don't immediately figure out that you can't
> see and you have to explain it to them. If you're in that situation,
> you might want to think a little bit about whether using a cane would
> make things go more smoothly for you or if it would give you more
> independence. If you do decide to use a cane, it will be obvious to
> others that you are blind and then you won't need to discuss it much
> with them. It will also mean people should be more understanding if
> you accidentally bump into them or if you don't make eye contact.
> Finally, a cane allows many visually impaired people to get from one
> place to another faster and more safely since you won't need to worry
> as much about obstacles or steps that you have trouble seeing. I am
> totally blind myself and always use a cane, so I haven't been in your
> exact situation, but I know there are several people here who have
> situations more similar to what I have described who could share their
> experiences and thoughts.
> Best,
> Arielle
>
> On 7/17/12, Brandon Keith Biggs <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hello,
>> I only told my professors. I would send them an email about 2 weeks
>> before
>> the quarter started, letting them know that I was blind and asking them
>> if
>> they could please send any handouts or worksheets to the disability
>> center.
>>
>> I also asked them if they had any questions, then ended with I'm super
>> excited to be in your class!
>> If I'm asked: "Are you blind?" I reply by saying yes, but that doesn't
>> stop
>>
>> me from doing what I want to do."
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Brandon Keith Biggs
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Katie Cl
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 3:16 PM
>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> 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
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>