[nabs-l] Personal characteristics and traits of successful blind people

Thu Mar 27 21:00:05 UTC 2014

What ever you say it is for you.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brice Smith
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 4:57 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Personal characteristics and traits of successful
blind people

This entire discussion is pointless because no one has defined successful.
What is it? Is it getting a master's degree and job in your field? Climbing
a tall mountain? Working as a garbage collector to feed and protect your
husband and children? If I travel solo around the world would you call me
successful despite my disability, or laugh at me because I don't have a job?
If I have an expensive English degree and work as a receptionist at an
engineering firm am I now considered "successful" even if I'm miserable and
hate my job? If I work at Target because I've got bills and
responsibilities, am I successful for getting a job or a failure for not
having the curiosity, intellect, training, adaptability -- or whatever other
characteristics you have identified in this thread?

We go on and on with these useless terms and buzzwords without defining them
or considering that success to one person might be failure to another.

Brice

On 3/27/14, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> You do have to be better than the majority; it is not fair, but you 
> do. At times, you will get a little bit of a break, but to be really 
> successful, you have to be better than average to make people decide 
> that hiring you befriending you, or loving you, or what-evering you is 
> worth stepping outside of their comfort zone.  While I won't dare hold 
> everyone to my personal opinion and say it is gospel, if you are just 
> average run of the mill, technically, you would be counted as less 
> than your counterparts, because they have nothing as a barrier for the 
> boss, friend, or lover to access their averageness. Spin it anyway you 
> want, but you've got to be better than average and a little unique to 
> really find the success you want.
> If you and a sighted person go for the same job with the same 
> credentials, we'll use an undergrad degree in sociology, the sighted 
> person is probably going to get the entry level job.  Get your 
> master's degree in counseling, and stand out.  There is less 
> competition, and you are seen as an expert, or something close. 
> Average, or below average may get you the pity treatment, or you may 
> even get the customer service job in the call center, but it is a dead 
> end job for sure.  You don't want to just be the token; you want to be 
> a real contributor.  Not that everyone has to get a master's degree, 
> but you got my drift.  You want people to respect you.  Admiration is 
> alright, but that does not get you hired, dated, or anything else you 
> really want. It is merely the gateway to respect, and respect of your 
> piers is what helps catapult you to actual success.  Okay, I'm leaving 
> out spirituality for purposes of this conversation, but once again, 
> you got my drift.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie 
> McGinnity
> Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 2:26 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Personal characteristics and traits of 
> successful blind people
>
> This brings up another discussion entirely: do we need to be better 
> than our sighted colleagues to make it in the world?  Do we need to 
> make ourselves look particularly successful so that others will not 
> overlook us because we are blind?
>
> Here's one idea...  I feel like blind people who are successful don't 
> over emphasize their blindness.  It is one of many characteristics 
> that define them(us).  We are blind, and we need to deal with it, 
> learn necessary skills, and continue to develop our talents and skills 
> in other areas.  We are not just blind; we are people.
>
> A counter argument would assert that due to the widespread 
> misconception of blindness, we need to be constantly on our gard and 
> focusing on educating and advocating.  Personally, I think this is no 
> way to live our lives, but I bet that I am not the only one who 
> worries about how certain activities will work for me or whether a 
> certain professor will treat me differently because of my blindness.
> Maybe it's reality...  What do you guys think?
>
> On 3/27/14, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hard down skill.  All the other intangibles are nice, but if you 
>> aren't good at something, then they don't count for as much; you have 
>> to make yourself useful to folks, and try to have a little bit more 
>> knowledge than everyone else around you.  Understanding the value of 
>> good training, personal development, a wealth of knowledge, and great 
>> technique.  Learn any thing you can.  Learn also how to interweave 
>> your blindness skills into the normal skills of what you as a person 
>> need to no.  Learn what you do, and what you don't do.  Also, be 
>> willing to explore, and adapt.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Phil
>> Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 6:29 AM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: [nabs-l] Personal characteristics and traits of successful 
>> blind people
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I'm working on a research paper, and would like to hear what you think.
>> Obviously there are external factors such as accessibility barriers, 
>> social and attitudinal barriers and so on that affect a blind 
>> person's likelihood of success in life.  But if we focus on personal 
>> characteristics for a moment, what do you think are some personal 
>> characteristics that can help a blind person succeed, or ask in a 
>> different way, what characteristics and behavior traits do successful 
>> blind people around you exhibit? And what makes you cite these traits?
>> For example, some have rightly pointed out that a sense of curiosity 
>> and exploration is key, both curiosity to explore one's physical 
>> surrounding, intellectual curiosity to explore different subjects and 
>> career possibilities, and so on. Others have also pointed out having 
>> the courage to be different is important as a blind person.
>> What else do you think are important characteristics or behavior traits?
>> Hope to hear lots of diverse views on this.
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Best,
>> Phil
>>
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>
>
> --
> Julie McG
> National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National 
> Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary, Missouri 
> Association of Guide dog Users President, and Guiding Eyes for the 
> Blind graduate 2008 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only 
> Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have 
> eternal life."
> John 3:16
>
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