[nabs-l] Dealing with Independence in other cultures

[Sophie Trist]

Just out of curiosity, what items are sold in these "blind stores?"

Sophie Trist
Sent from my iPhone

> On May 15, 2015, at 10:23 PM, Karl Martin Adam via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Yes, Europe (or at least the German speaking parts I'm familiar with) has much that same attitude towards blind people.  The idea is that blind people and people with disabilities more generally need to be taken care of by the state.  There are very comprehensive services for blind people including government orientation and mobility orientations whenever someone moves and government provided sheltered workshop jobs in places like call centers.  Blind people aren't really expected to be around in the community though.  For instance, I've been told that the stares I get walking down the street as a blind person are much more significant than they are here.  The tactile paths are not just to the blind store in Switzerland or to other blind stores but are in most public places.  For instance there are tactile lines on the floor to follow at all airports and train stations even in impoverished parts of the EU like Greece.  Blind people also have free public transportation and can bring a cited person with them for free since they are not expected to travel independently.  In some situations, governments and random people get very pushy about this.  For instance, my dad got yelled at in Heathrow because I and another blind person we were traveling with were at the top of an escalator while he was still at the bottom and a random airport employee took it upon himself to yell at my dad for "letting his blind people get away."  I also know that in England they are very keen on modifying the environment to meet the bureaucracy's conception of what is safe for blind people.  For instance, there are government inspectors that come to investigate schools where a blind child attends and make them get rid of such things as sharp corners and steps that they think are too dangerous for blind children to be around.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kaiti Shelton via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Fri, 15 May 2015 22:35:35 -0400
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Dealing with Independence in other cultures
> 
> My parents are both from the US, but I know a few things from around
> the world.  My research on Jamaica tells me that similar to Trinidad
> people with disabilities are pretty sheltered.  Jamaica is very
> religious so the belief is that families have the responsibility for
> taking care of sick or disabled relatives.  I'll be going there in a
> few weeks so I'll have to see how they treat someone hoping to give
> help rather than take it.
> 
> I also have it on good word that there is a place in Switzerland where
> there is a "Blind store" (Yes, they call it that) near the train
> station, and there is a specially marked tactile path that blind
> people can follow all the way from the train station to the front door
> of the blind store.  Neat concept, but just a bit unnecessary.
> 
> On 5/15/15, Roanna Bacchus via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Dear Students,
> 
> I hope each of you had a wonderful semester.  Independence is
> important in different cultures and can mean different things.
> In Trinidad where my parents are from blind people are sheltered
> and protected from certain things.  How do people from other
> cultures on this list deal with independence and pursuing daily
> living skills? I have a friend who was on this list at one time.
> He just comppleted his independence training at World Services
> For The Blind.  Before this his family had a hard time allowing
> him to go visit some other friends, but since receiving his
> independence they are ok with it now.
> 
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> 
> --
> Kaiti
> 
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