[nabs-l] condoms and Sexual Health

Thu Sep 13 05:19:54 UTC 2012

It would be awesome to have a break out session about this subject.  I
also think that there should be a break out session on Blind dating.

On 9/10/12, Littlefield, Tyler <tyler at tysdomain.com> wrote:
> Yes, carly. But we kind of differ here. I'd kind of like to quickly do a
> self checkout, especially if it could be made accesible.
> On 9/10/2012 12:51 AM, Carly Mihalakis wrote:
>> Guys, ask the folks in the store, or at the touch screens! 'ts why
>> they're there, is it not?
>> for todyatoday, Car9/2012, Ashley Bramlett wrote:
>>> Arielle,
>>> Thanks. I think discussing access to information on
>>> sexual health is fine as long as its not too graphic. You definitely
>>> also tied it to blindness too! As with many things, people learn via
>>> observation where as we depend on someone else for such info.
>>> We cannot just go in and browse a store for such private stuff and as
>>> you said we often depend on a parent or someone else for transportation.
>>> I know I do because where I live there is no sidewalk to walk to a
>>> bus, or I can get paratransit.
>>>
>>> I was also going to suggest buying condoms online or with a trusted
>>> friend. Thanks also for the websites on preventing
>>> pregnancy and STDS as this is something I wanted to research.
>>>
>>> Also, regarding medical appointments, I struggled there too. I was
>>> driven there and had a parent assist me in filling out forms there. I
>>> am still fine with that.
>>> Oh on another note, with touch screens now, its nearly impossible to
>>> walk into a clinic alone. In my area, the walk in clinics at the
>>> pharmacy have you sign in via a touch screen with personal information.
>>> I want a trusted person such as a family member taking me there
>>> because there is no way I'd want to reveal such private info such as
>>> date of birth or social security number or the name of my insurance
>>> provider to a stranger!
>>> I also had a parent take me into the doctors for a long time. Finally
>>> I insisted as you did that they wait for me. I felt as you do that I
>>> have a right to
>>> medical privacy and that there was no need for them to discuss such
>>> info with them. Besides I am pretty healthy and only take one med and
>>> over the counter stuff on occasion, so
>>> there really isn't much for them to know about.
>>>
>>> Good to know. I'm not the only one that had to assert some independence.
>>>
>>> Ashley
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message----- From: Arielle Silverman
>>> Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2012 1:00 PM
>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] condoms and Sexual Health
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>> I know the recent discussions about sex and dating are kind of in a
>>> gray area as to whether or not they're on-topic for this list, since
>>> most of the issues Koby brought up are not really unique to blindness.
>>> So if the moderators or Dave feel this is getting too far afield, I
>>> will happily respect your judgment. However, I also think that
>>> Brandon's question about where to get condoms is a legitimate one and
>>> that there might be other blind people out here, including teenagers,
>>> who have similar concerns about how to get condoms, birth control or
>>> sexual health information without a lot of awkwardness or
>>> embarrassment. It can be particularly difficult if you have to depend
>>> on someone else (especially parents) for transportation which can make
>>> going to a clinic or drugstore difficult.
>>> There are a few places to buy condoms online, including
>>> www.condomania.com
>>> www.undercovercondoms.com
>>> and
>>> www.condomdepot.com
>>> Believe it or not, they also have some condom choices at
>>> www.amazon.com
>>> If you go to your health center on campus for any reason, it shouldn't
>>> be a problem  to ask a doctor or nurse there about condoms.
>>> I cannot answer the questions about when to begin having sex with a
>>> partner because that is a highly individual decision. However, I feel
>>> it important that anyone who is considering having sex for the first
>>> time ensure you understand what all of your options are for preventing
>>> pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, the advantages and
>>> disadvantages of each option, and the proper way to use condoms and
>>> birth control. There are  a couple different websites with this kind
>>> of information:
>>> www.plannedparenthood.org
>>> (includes live chat with a sexual health educator) or
>>> www.scarleteen.com
>>> This issue is particularly close to my heart at the moment because my
>>> boyfriend's sister just had an unintended pregnancy at a very
>>> inopportune time (while still in college, with a guy she had only
>>> known for a few months) and was apparently taking birth control pills,
>>> but had not been taking them consistently. While I don't believe that
>>> sex  should be feared, it is something that takes some responsibility,
>>> planning and foresight to ensure it is enjoyable while minimizing the
>>> risks. Also, while I won't go into details here, there are other ways
>>> to be physically intimate with someone that are less risky, which
>>> these online forums will talk about.
>>> I also want to bring up  an issue that is somewhat relevant to sexual
>>> health, which I experienced and I think that some of you might also be
>>> struggling with. This is the issue of having your parents drive you to
>>> doctors' appointments and then having them want to sit in or even
>>> participate in your appointments. Since I attended college in my home
>>> city, my mother always wanted to drive me to my doctors' appointments
>>> and would then want to come in and chat with the doctor while he/she
>>> was examining me. This was partly because my parents and I saw many of
>>> the same doctors and she often thought it was a good opportunity to
>>> ask the doctor a quick question about her own health while she was
>>> there, or because she was curious to see what the doctor recommended
>>> to me about a particular issue. I eventually realized that while it
>>> wasn't ill-intentioned, it was a violation of my privacy as an adult
>>> patient and I asked her to wait in the waiting room while I was seeing
>>> the doctor. I didn't actually take this stand until I was 21 and in
>>> hindsight I wish I had done  it much earlier. By the time you are 18,
>>> unless you have a serious cognitive disability, you have a right to
>>> privacy of your medical information and it is important to establish a
>>> good doctor-patient relationship without a third person interfering.
>>> This is especially true when it comes to sexual health and by the time
>>> you are 18 or even 16, you will want to start discussing your sexual
>>> activities or questions with your doctors without your parents being
>>> around. You might also want to consider getting a driver or even
>>> taking the bus to medical appointments to avoid this problem.
>>> On a related note, by the time you are in high school, you should know
>>> the names of all medications you take on  a regular basis and any
>>> chronic medical conditions you may have. If you ever have to go to the
>>> emergency room, this kind  of information may be requested of you.
>>> Best,
>>> Arielle
>>>
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>
>
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> Ty
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