[nabs-l] Freshman year

Wed Jul 18 06:00:03 UTC 2012

Some people choose to remain ignorant, even after I try to tell them.
I can't stand those kinds of people!
Blessings, Joshua

On 7/18/12, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi, Josh,
>
> Don't you believe it more productive all around to dispell people's
> ignorance, rather than getting up tight about it?At 09:59 PM
> 7/17/2012, you wrote:
>>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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>> >> >> mail.com
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
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