[nabs-l] Freshman year

Wed Jul 18 04:59:09 UTC 2012

LOL!
It annoys me when someone calls my cane my "pole," "stick," etc.
Here's a funny story, that actually happened at church!
I had a straight cane, (not an NFB cane,) but a graphite cane.
I had a roller tip on it, so one of the teenage boys who wasn't all
there mentally asked this question about my cane.
"What's that, a ping-pong paddle?"
Good grief!
Blessings, Joshua

On 7/17/12, Brandon Keith Biggs <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hahahaha! I need to have them walk off with my cane! How do you feel having
>
> your stick touched? XD
> Most of the time it happens while I'm going sighted guide with a store
> person, someone in the airport or something like that.
> So I'm already holding their arm. I 'm fine if people grab my cane on the
> bus, because they can excuse their grabbing as an accident, but people
> grabbing the cane to guide me is a no no!
> I'm asked if the cane helps me get around and I say yes, it's like my eyes,
>
> so possibly people maybe think that my cane guides me. I have no idea. I
> feel so horrible without my cane, I don't know how sighted people stand
> it... I don't know a comparison other than saying that they're touching my
> stick, can they please get their hands off...
> I once said that the guide was blinding me, but he didn't get it.
> Thanks,
>
> Brandon Keith Biggs
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ashley Bramlett
> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 9:19 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Freshman year
>
> Brandon,
> I just ask them not to grab my cane. I say I'd rather take their arm. If
> they persist, it depends on my mood; I either again insist that they leave
> the cane alone or I simply decline their assistance and walk off elsewhere
> and get someone else's help.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brandon Keith Biggs
> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 10:37 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Freshman year
>
> Hello,
> This will also happen, especially when you go shopping, but I haven't found
> a way to prevent it.
> When people want me to follow them, they grab my cane. Even when I'm
> holding
> their arm, I often have people grab my cane when we're approaching stairs.
> I feel really offended and defensive when people touch my cane, and it's on
> the top of my least favorite things. It is probably about as offensive to
> me
> as if someone randomly started touching me inappropriately on purpose.
> Has anyone figured out a way to keep people from touching our canes?
> Because
> it's really an insult along with everything else. I can't cuss them out,
> because it wouldn't do good for the blindness image. I ask them nicely to
> please not touch my cane and pull it out of their grip, but I still feel
> violated and some people will grab it again after I asked them not to.
> I feel this is one of the more cereous misconceptions about blindness, but
> I
> really have no idea how to prevent it.
> If anyone has any idea, please let me know!
> Thanks,
>
> Brandon Keith Biggs
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carly Mihalakis
> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 6:14 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list ; National
> Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Freshman year
>
> Evening, Katie,
>
> Remember that most folks don't actually get to see blind people
> functioning in person. By demonstrating what we are and yes, are not
> capable of is a great means of educating. Thus, I believe it pretty
> counterproductive to get up tight about being stared at. As much as
> people wrap about blindness being an "inconvenience" a truth is
> that,, blindness remains an enigma to most and you could be educating
> the unsuspecting sighted person  by means of not objecting to a
> little staring wich, I remind is not at all intrusive. What do people
> think of this?
> At 05:39 PM 7/17/2012, Patrick Molloy wrote:
>>Katie,
>>Having just finished my freshman year this past May, I can tell you
>>that people are very accepting for the most part. Once you show people
>>that you're just as capable as they are, your actions will speak for
>>themselves. True, people will be watching you more than they would a
>>person with sight. But you have to use that as a way to educate them.
>>When people ask you questions on campus about how you do this or that,
>>take it in stride. That's actually how I met my best friend: I was
>>walking down campus going to a building and he came up and asked me
>>how I knew where I was or something like that. We had a great
>>conversation and things just rolled from there. Feel free to send me
>>an e-mail off list if you have any questions as things come up.
>>Patrick
>>
>>On 7/17/12, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
>> > LOL!
>> > That's a good one!
>> > I also quote Fanny Crosby and tell them that one good thing about
>> > blindness, is that I never have to see the clouds in the sky.
>> > Blessings, Joshua
>> >
>> > On 7/17/12, Sophie Trist <sweetpeareader at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> When people first find out about my blindness, I always point out
>> >> that I will never have to pay a speeding ticket. I also joke that
>> >> God short-changed me in the vision department, but I won't be
>> >> asking for a refund any time soon. Haha. I find that if you act
>> >> like it's no big deal, other people will feel that way too.
>> >>  ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: Liliya Asadullina <lily2011a at gmail.com
>> >> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> >> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> >> Date sent: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 19:21:08 -0400
>> >> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Freshman year
>> >>
>> >> And I agree about adding in humour.
>> >>
>> >> On 7/17/12, Liliya Asadullina <lily2011a at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>  Hi Katie,
>> >>  My name is Lily and I am going to be a freshmen in college as
>> >> well.  I
>> >>  understand you have had bad experiences in high school, after
>> >> telling
>> >>  people that you are blind.  I have dealt with a few myself.  As
>> >> far as
>> >>  I have heard from some of my blind and sighted friends who are
>> >> already
>> >>  in college, they say that people are more accepting in college.
>> >> It's
>> >>  more of a time when people our age or around our age learn to
>> >> grow up.
>> >>   Of course you will not meet all mature people, but just be
>> >> yourself
>> >>  and tell them that you can't see.  Express to them that even
>> >> though
>> >>  you are blind, you can still accomplish as much as they can.
>> >> Get
>> >>  involved with a few extra curricular activities and prove to
>> >> them that
>> >>  you are an independent, and smart individual.  The most you can
>> >> do is
>> >>  educate them about blindness and be outspoken.  You will have to
>> >> get
>> >>  out of your comfort level, but I am sure by the end of your 1st
>> >>  semester you wil have a good sullection of caring friends.
>> >>  Another thing, make sure you advicate for yourself in class and
>> >> where
>> >>  ever you choose to go outside of the academic area.  For
>> >> example, I am
>> >>  emailing my professors ahead of time and letting them know that
>> >> I am
>> >>  blind, but that I have the capability just like anyone else to
>> >> get my
>> >>  work done and learn.  I will explain to them how I will be
>> >> taking
>> >>  notes in class and what kind of tecchnology I'll be bringing
>> >> with me.
>> >>  I will be meeting with my professors a week before classes
>> >> begin, and
>> >>  will be asking them if they have any questions for me.
>> >>  Outside of class, just reassure your peers if they have any
>> >> questions
>> >>  for you about blindness to feel free to ask.
>> >>  Like I said, just be yourself and make the most out of your
>> >> year.
>> >>  Be confident in you!  You've got this!
>> >>  College is full of diversity and if someone does not accept you
>> >> for
>> >>  who you are and because of your blindness or lack of some
>> >> vision, then
>> >>  they aren't worth being friends with...
>> >>  People come to college from all different areas around the world
>> >> and
>> >>  each student has something unique about them.   So just reach
>> >> out to
>> >>  those around you and show them that no matter what, you can
>> >> succeed.
>> >>  I understand what you are going through in your mind though.
>> >>  I am saying this to you, but at the same time I am nervous for
>> >> college as
>> >>  well.
>> >>  Beeing that I had some blind skills training at the Colorado
>> >> Center
>> >>  For The blind though, I do feel more confident about going to
>> >> college
>> >>  and in myself too.
>> >>  Also, I am not as nervous to be dorming with a random room mate
>> >> away
>> >>  from my home town and family.
>> >>  Good luck with starting this fall, I believe that you will do
>> >> well!
>> >>  If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me any
>> >> time
>> >>  at: Lily2011a at gmail.com.
>> >>  Or my school email: lasadull at masonlive.GMU.edu
>> >>  Cheers!
>> >>  Liliya
>> >>
>> >>  On 7/17/12, Katie Cl <katminecce at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> >>  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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>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
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