[nabs-l] My Blindness Philosophy is Better than Yours

[Karl Martin Adam]

Hi=20Marc,

Regarding=20standing=20in=20lines,=20as=20a=20totally=20blind=20person,=20I=
've=20
never=20had=20a=20problem=20putting=20my=20cane=20on=20the=20shoe=20of=20th=
e=20person=20in=20
front=20of=20me.=20=20Being=20totally=20blind,=20I=20of=20course=20have=20n=
o=20idea=20how=20
this=20looks,=20but=20at=20least=20for=20me=20what=20matters=20is=20not=20h=
ow=20it=20looks=20
but=20that=20it's=20an=20efficient=20way=20of=20going=20through=20the=20lin=
e.=20=20I=20also=20
don't=20need=20to=20do=20this=20at=20all=20if=20the=20people=20in=20front=20=
of=20me=20are=20
talking=20or=20otherwise=20make=20a=20sound=20when=20they=20move=20up=20(by=
=20wheeling=20
one=20of=20the=20noisy=20carryons=20for=20instance).=20=20I=20don't=20consi=
der=20
touching=20the=20heel=20of=20someone's=20shoe=20with=20the=20tip=20of=20my=
=20cane=20an=20
invasion=20of=20personal=20space,=20and=20I've=20never=20had=20anyone=20obj=
ect=20to=20
me=20doing=20that,=20though=20I=20of=20course=20understand=20how=20you=20mi=
ght=20have=20a=20
problem=20if=20you=20do.

Best,
Karl

=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
From:=20Marc=20Workman=20via=20NABS-L=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To:=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list=20
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date=20sent:=20Mon,=2013=20Jun=202016=2010:42:33=20-0600
Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20My=20Blindness=20Philosophy=20is=20Better=20tha=
n=20
Yours

I=20think=20what=E2=80=99s=20missing=20from=20this=20discussion=20is=20that=
=20some=20of=20
these=20so
called=20perks,=20and=20I=20don=E2=80=99t=20think=20that=E2=80=99s=20the=20=
best=20term,=20are=20
meant=20more
to=20make=20things=20run=20smoothly=20than=20to=20make=20your=20life=20easi=
er.

Pre-boarding=20is=20done=20to=20give=20those=20who=20take=20a=20little=20lo=
nger=20to=20
get
settled=20a=20chance=20to=20get=20on=20the=20plane=20when=20it=20is=20less=
=20crowded.=20The
result=20is=20that=20everyone=20gets=20settled=20faster=20than=20they=20wou=
ld=20if
pre-boarding=20did=20not=20exist=20or=20if=20no=20one=20took=20advantage=20=
of=20it.=20You
could=20argue=20that=20blind=20people=20don=E2=80=99t=20take=20any=20longer=
=20to=20get=20
settled.=20I
think=20you=E2=80=99d=20be=20wrong,=20and=20I=E2=80=99d=20be=20willing=20to=
=20bet=20a=20large=20sum=20
of=20money
that=20in=20a=20controlled=20experiment,=20you=20would=20find=20that=20blin=
d=20
people,=20on
average,=20take=20longer=20than=20sighted=20people,=20on=20average,=20to=20=
find=20a=20
seat,
store=20luggage,=20and=20get=20settled=20on=20a=20crowded=20plane.=20Note=20=
the=20words=20
=E2=80=9Con
average=E2=80=9D.=20Certainly=20some=20blind=20people=20are=20faster=20than=
=20some=20
sighted
people.=20Overall,=20though,=20pre-boarding=20gets=20everyone=20on=20the=20=
plane
faster,=20saving=20everyone=E2=80=99s=20time=20and=20the=20airline=E2=80=99=
s=20money.

Same=20goes=20for=20buses,=20trains,=20etc.

I=20think=20something=20similar=20is=20true=20of=20priority=20seating=20and=
=20lineup
arrangements,=20though=20there=20are=20other=20reasons=20why=20a=20blind=20=
person=20
might
choose=20to=20take=20advantage=20of=20these=20accommodations.=20Consider=20=

lineups,
with=20very=20little=20vision,=20it=20is=20possible=20to=20comfortably=20an=
d=20
efficiently
navigate=20a=20lineup=20on=20your=20own.=20As=20long=20as=20you=20can=20mak=
e=20out=20
whether
someone=20is=20standing=20two=20feet=20in=20front=20of=20you,=20you=E2=80=99=
re=20good=20to=20
go.=20If
you=20cannot=20see=20the=20person=20in=20front=20of=20you=20though,=20lineu=
ps=20can=20be=20
very
awkward.=20I=E2=80=99d=20be=20interested=20in=20the=20strategies=20of=20the=
=20totally=20
blind.
I=E2=80=99ve=20heard=20it=20suggested=20that=20you=20can=20gently=20rest=20=
your=20cane=20
against=20the
foot=20of=20the=20person=20in=20front=20of=20you.=20Sorry,=20but=20I=20thin=
k=20if=20the=20
goal=20is
to=20avoid=20having=20blind=20people=20look=20strange=20or=20awkward,=20the=
n=20this
technique,=20which=20I=20would=20argue=20requires=20an=20invasion=20of=20so=
meone=20
else=E2=80=99s
space,=20is=20probably=20not=20the=20best=20approach.=20In=20some=20cases,=
=20avoiding=20
the
lineup=20altogether=20is=20probably=20the=20more=20graceful=20approach.

As=20for=20seating,=20it=E2=80=99s=20not=20unusual=20for=20someone=20to=20s=
tand=20and=20offer=20
me=20a
seat=20on=20city=20buses.=20When=20the=20bus=20is=20very=20crowded=20and=20=
I=E2=80=99m=20not=20
going=20a
long=20distance,=20I=20may=20politely=20decline=20the=20offer.=20After=20al=
l,=20my=20
legs
are=20fine.=20Things=20are=20slightly=20more=20complicated=20with=20the=20d=
og=20now,=20
but
in=20general=20I=20have=20no=20problem=20with=20standing=20on=20a=20moving=
=20bus.=20The
challenge=20is=20knowing=20when=20a=20seat=20has=20opened=20up.=20For=20exa=
mple,=20
there=20may
be=20no=20open=20seats=20when=20I=20board=20a=20bus,=20I=20decline=20the=20=
offered=20seat
because=20I=20can=20stand=20like=20anyone=20else,=20but=20then=20two=20stop=
s=20later=20a=20
seat
opens=20up=20six=20rows=20back.=20I=20of=20course=20don=E2=80=99t=20have=20=
any=20way=20of=20
knowing=20this
short=20of=20regularly=20asking=20those=20around=20me.=20So=20I=20continue=
=20to=20stand=20
as
seats=20become=20available=20around=20me.=20Not=20only=20is=20this=20sort=20=
of=20
strange
looking,=20it=20actually=20does=20interfere=20with=20how=20efficiently=20ot=
her
passengers=20are=20able=20to=20get=20on=20and=20off=20the=20bus.=20So=20as=
=20I=20said,=20in=20
some
cases=20I=E2=80=99ll=20decline=20the=20offer,=20but=20for=20the=20most=20pa=
rt,=20I=E2=80=99ll=20
accept,
knowing=20that=20the=20other=20person=20is=20likely=20going=20to=20have=20a=
n=20easier=20
time
finding=20another=20seat,=20and=20that=20this=20arrangement=20is=20not=20on=
ly=20
easier=20for
me,=20but=20it=20generally=20improves=20how=20smoothly=20the=20trip=20goes=
=20for=20all
passengers.

One=20caveat=20to=20all=20of=20this,=20if=20you=20want=20to=20do=20things=20=
on=20your=20own,=20
even
if=20it=20means=20slowing=20things=20down=20a=20bit,=20of=20course=20you=20=
should=20be=20
able=20to
do=20that.=20So=20I=E2=80=99m=20not=20saying=20blind=20people=20should=20be=
=20forced=20to=20
pre-board,
avoid=20lineups,=20and=20take=20the=20offered=20seat.=20Just=20like=20the=20=
person=20in=20
the
grocery=20store=20who=20insists=20on=20digging=20through=20pockets=20or=20p=
urses=20to=20
come
up=20with=20exact=20change=20has=20a=20right=20to=20take=20longer=20than=20=
I=20do=20by=20
simply
tapping=20my=20credit=20card.=20If=20you=20want=20to=20do=20things=20your=20=
way,=20all=20
the
power=20to=20you.=20I=20would=20just=20say=20that=20this=20does=20not=20nec=
essarily=20
lead=20to
better=20perceptions=20of=20blind=20people,=20and=20that=20there=20are=20go=
od=20
reasons
why=20someone=20might=20opt=20to=20take=20advantage=20of=20something=20offe=
red,=20
even
though=20the=20accommodation=20isn=E2=80=99t=20required=20in=20the=20strict=
est=20sense.

Marc


On=206/13/16,=20Julie=20McGinnity=20via=20NABS-L=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>=20wr=
ote:
=20Hi=20all,

=20I=20agree=20with=20Arielle.=20=20If=20I=20do=20not=20need=20the=20accomm=
odation,=20then=20
I=20will
=20do=20my=20best=20not=20to=20take=20it.

=20First=20of=20all,=20we=20should=20probably=20call=20these=20things=20wha=
t=20they=20
are:
=20accommodations.=20=20Shorter=20lines,=20priority=20boarding,=20and=20the=
=20like=20
are
=20accommodations=20for=20people=20with=20disabilities.=20=20Were=20they=20=
meant
=20specifically=20for=20blind=20people?=20=20Not=20necessarily.=20=20Callin=
g=20them=20
social
=20perks=20not=20only=20buys=20into=20the=20general=20idea=20that=20we=20sh=
ould=20take
=20advantage=20of=20accommodations=20simply=20because=20we=20can,=20but=20i=
t=20is=20
also
=20misleading.

=20It=20is=20illegal=20to=20force=20someone=20into=20taking=20an=20accommod=
ation=20they=20
do
=20not=20need.=20=20I=20recently=20had=20an=20experience=20at=20an=20airpor=
t=20and=20
learned
=20about=20this=20part=20of=20the=20law=20because=20of=20it.=20=20The=20des=
k=20attendant=20
told=20me
=20that=20I=20could=20not=20take=20my=20dog=20on=20the=20escalator=20and=20=
had=20to=20use=20the
=20elevator.=20=20In=20this=20instance,=20he=20and=20I=20had=20a=20discussi=
on=20that=20led=20
to=20my
=20discovery=20that=20this=20"rule"=20was=20not=20an=20airport=20policy.=20=
=20If=20it=20had=20
been
=20policy,=20it=20would=20have=20violated=20the=20law.

=20Let's=20look=20at=20another=20angle.=20=20When=20I=20flew=20to=20Colorad=
o,=20I=20refused=20
to=20go
=20to=20the=20shorter=20line=20for=20people=20with=20disabilities.=20=20I=20=
can=20walk=20
and
=20stand=20just=20fine=20and=20didn't=20feel=20that=20I=20needed=20to=20be=
=20in=20the=20other=20
line.
=20I=20didn't=20have=20a=20problem=20with=20being=20asked=20to=20step=20in=
=20that=20line,=20
but=20I
=20did=20say=20no.=20=20The=20problem=20was=20that=20the=20airport=20worker=
=20person=20did=20
not
=20take=20no=20for=20an=20answer.=20=20He=20decided=20what=20I=20needed=20a=
nd=20did=20not=20
listen=20to
=20my=20refusal=20of=20the=20accommodation.=20=20I=20dislike=20the=20custod=
ial=20
attitude
=20that=20those=20without=20disabilities=20know=20exactly=20what=20accommod=
ations=20
we
=20require.=20=20Furthermore,=20I=20believe=20my=20yes=20should=20be=20take=
n=20as=20a=20yes=20
and
=20my=20no=20as=20a=20no.=20=20I=20would=20assert=20that=20this=20is=20the=
=20real=20problem=20
here.

=20This=20does=20not=20happen=20to=20me=20all=20the=20time.=20=20Sometimes,=
=20my=20"no=20
thank=20you"
=20is=20enough.=20=20But=20enough=20people=20have=20decided=20what=20I=20ma=
y=20need=20
enough
=20times=20that=20I=20believe=20it=20is=20a=20problem.=20=20And=20no=20matt=
er=20the=20
philosophy=20on
=20taking=20accommodations=20that=20do=20not=20necessarily=20belong=20to=20=
us,=20we=20
can=20all
=20agree=20that=20we=20want=20our=20responses=20respected.=20=20We=20do=20n=
ot=20want=20to=20
be
=20treated=20like=20second=20class=20citizens,=20who=20accept=20what=20is=20=
given=20to=20
us
=20without=20question=20because=20that's=20all=20we=20deserve.=20=20Right?

=20So=20then=20here=20we=20are.=20=20Does=20someone's=20acceptance=20of=20t=
hese
=20accommodations=20hurt=20me=20if=20I=20choose=20to=20refuse=20them?=20=20=
Well,=20no,=20
except
=20that=20when=20I=20am=20advocating=20for=20myself,=20I=20have=20to=20resp=
ond=20that=20not=20
every
=20blind=20person=20is=20the=20same.=20=20Blind=20dude=20yesterday=20may=20=
have=20gone=20to=20
the
=20shorter=20line,=20but=20I=20am=20not=20that=20person,=20and=20I=20would=
=20like=20to=20
decline
=20this=20accommodation.=20=20I=20believe=20that=20this=20would=20cause=20m=
ore=20of=20a=20
sceen,
=20more=20of=20a=20spectical,=20to=20use=20the=20author's=20words.=20=20I=20=
would=20prefer=20
no=20one
=20compare=20me=20to=20the=20blind=20person=20yesterday=20who=20stood=20in=
=20the=20
shorter
=20line,=20but=20that's=20not=20reality.=20=20Sometimes=20people=20with=20
disabilities=20are
=20seen=20as=20all=20the=20same.=20=20Talk=20about=20misconceptions=20of=20=
the=20public=20
that
=20need=20changing...=20=20Again,=20I=20assert=20that=20this=20is=20the=20r=
eal=20problem.

=20So,=20should=20we=20condemn=20someone=20for=20a=20different=20philosophy=
?=20=20No,=20
but=20we
=20should=20share=20our=20experiences,=20discuss=20with=20them=20the=20atti=
tudes=20of=20
the
=20public,=20and=20remind=20them=20that=20these=20are=20the=20choices=20we=
=20have.

=20Finally,=20I=20believe=20that=20the=20argument=20supporting=20the=20use=
=20of=20these
=20accommodations=20to=20make=20our=20day=20a=20little=20easier=20is=20illo=
gical.=20=20We=20
can't
=20read=20signs;=20getting=20in=20a=20shorter=20line=20will=20not=20solve=20=
this.=20=20And=20
that
=20does=20not=20make=20a=20plausible=20excuse.=20=20Blindness=20certainly=20=
can=20be=20an
=20inconvenience,=20but=20do=20those=20accommodations=20lessen=20the
=20blindness-related=20inconveniences?=20=20Sometimes,=20maybe=20they=20do,=
=20but=20
when
=20they=20don't,=20should=20we=20take=20them?=20=20Or=20should=20we=20exami=
ne=20why=20we're
=20taking=20them=20and=20think=20critically=20about=20what=20effect=20our=20=
actions=20
will
=20have=20upon=20society?

=20Interesting=20topic...=20=20Sorry=20for=20the=20lengthy=20response...=20=
=20:)

=20On=206/12/16,=20justin=20via=20NABS-L=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>=20wrote:
=20I=20used=20necessary=20accommodations=20in=20college=20which=20were=20re=
lated=20to
=20blindness,
=20but=20I=20don't=20do=20that=20in=20social=20situations.=20=20It=20is=20v=
ery=20important=20
to=20avoid
=20cutting=20=20the=20line,=20or=20using=20my=20visual=20disability=20to=20=
gain=20an=20
unfair=20social
=20advantage=20in=20a=20social=20situation.=20=20I=20can't=20think=20of=20m=
any=20social=20
situations
=20for=20me=20where=20blindness=20is=20something=20that=20should=20be=20acc=
ommodated=20
for
=20outside
=20of=20a=20movie=20or=20something=20like=20that=20in=20a=20theater.=20=20I=
'm=20sure=20they=20
exist,=20and
=20I
=20just=20am=20not=20pulling=20them=20up=20right=20now.
=20I=20avoid=20using=20ramps,=20and=20other=20accommodations=20related=20to=
=20other
=20disabilities,
=20or=20even=20blindness=20accommodations=20I=20don't=20need=20so=20everyon=
e=20who=20
needs=20them
=20can
=20have=20fair=20resources.
=20Ps.
=20=20Some=20of=20you=20folks=20tried=20to=20give=20me=20a=20hard=20time=20=
when=20I=20was=20using=20
some=20of
=20my
=20accommodations=20in=20college.=20=20Do=20any=20of=20you=20remember=20tha=
t?
=20It=20was=20about=20extended=20test=20times=20which=20I=20used=20anytime=
=20I=20took=20a=20
test.
=20Kenedy,=20use=20that=20extended=20time....
=20LOL
=20Justin


=20-----Original=20Message-----
=20From:=20NABS-L=20[mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org]=20On=20Behalf=20Of=20=

Karl=20Martin
=20Adam=20via=20NABS-L
=20Sent:=20Monday,=20June=2013,=202016=2010:13=20AM
=20To:=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list
=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20Cc:=20Karl=20Martin=20Adam=20<kmaent1 at gmail.com
=20Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20My=20Blindness=20Philosophy=20is=20Better=20=
than=20
Yours

=20Kennedy,

=20I=20think=20extended=20testing=20time=20is=20related=20to=20blindness=20=
depending=20
on=20how
=20you're=20taking=20the=20test.=20=20I=20took=20most=20of=20my=20tests=20w=
ith=20readers,=20
and=20it
=20just
=20takes=20longer=20to=20have=20a=20reader=20read=20the=20question=20then=20=
tell=20them=20
your
=20answer
=20make=20sure=20they=20heard=20you=20correctly=20(my=20first=20ever=20exam=
=20at=20
college=20I=20got
=20one
=20question=20wrong=20because=20the=20reader=20heard=20B=20instead=20of=20D=
,=20so=20I've=20
been=20very
=20careful=20about=20this=20since)=20etc.=20=20And=20of=20course=20it=20tak=
es=20even=20
longer=20if
=20you're
=20say=20dictating=20short=20answers=20to=20a=20reader=20instead=20of=20jus=
t=20having=20
them=20fill
=20out
=20a=20scantron.

=20Best,
=20Karl

=20=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
=20From:=20KENNEDY=20STOMBERG=20via=20NABS-L=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20To:=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list
=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20Date=20sent:=20Mon,=2013=20Jun=202016=2008:24:08=20-0500
=20Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20My=20Blindness=20Philosophy=20is=20Better=20=
than=20
Yours

=20I=20think=20you=20bring=20up=20a=20very=20good=20point.=20When=20are=20a=
comidations=20
offerred=20as
=20a
=20result=20of=20blindness,=20and=20when=20are=20they=20offred=20because=20=
of=20
steriotypes.
=20For=20example,=20I=20think=20many=20of=20us=20have=20had=20the=20experie=
nce=20of=20being=20
offerred
=20a
=20wheelchair=20at=20an=20airport.=20This=20is=20something=20I=20always=20r=
efuse.=20But=20
I=20don't
=20know=20that=20it's=20a=20distinction=20that=20I=20make=20often=20enough.=
.=20
Definitely
=20something=20to=20think=20about.
=20However,=20some=20would=20=20argue=20that=20taking=20accomidations=20suc=
h=20as=20
extended
=20testing=20time=20are=20not=20related=20to=20blindness.=20(Though,=20I=20=
happen=20to=20
think
=20they
=20are,=20and=20that=20is=20something=20I=20take=20advantage
=20of.)=20Definitely=20a=20very=20enteristing=20discussion.

=20Kennedy=20Stomberg
=20(218)295-2391

=20=20On=20Jun=2013,=202016,=20at=208:00=20AM,=20Arielle=20Silverman=20via=
=20NABS-L
=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>=20wrote:

=20=20Hi=20Joe=20and=20all,
=20=20This=20is=20a=20great=20topic,=20and=20one=20that=20I=20have=20some=20=
strong=20feelings=20
about.
=20=20Generally,=20as=20a=20blind=20person,=20I=20use=20accommodations=20th=
at=20are=20
related=20to
=20my
=20blindness.=20I=20turn=20down=20accommodations=20that=20are=20meant=20for=
=20people=20=20
with
=20other
=20disabilities.=20These=20include=20cuts=20in=20lines,=20priority=20=20sea=
ting,=20
ramps=20and
=20accessible=20restroom=20stalls.=20Although=20cuts=20in=20lines=20=20and=
=20priority=20
seating
=20are
=20offered=20to=20me=20as=20a=20blind=20person,=20my=20blindness=20=20doesn=
't=20create=20a=20
need=20for
=20those=20accommodations.=20I=20recognize=20that=20there=20=20are=20indivi=
duals=20
with=20other
=20disabilities=20who=20actually=20benefit=20from,=20and=20=20sometimes=20r=
equire,=20
such
=20accommodations.=20The=20only=20reason=20I=20am=20offered=20=20such=20
accommodations=20is
=20because
=20of=20stereotypes=20linking=20blindness=20with=20=20physical=20weakness.=
=20So,=20I=20
turn
=20these
=20accommodations=20down.=20I=20do=20it=20=20quietly,=20don't=20make=20a=20=
scene,=20but=20I=20
do=20turn
=20them=20down.=20I=20know=20people=20=20with=20these=20other=20disabilitie=
s=20who=20say=20
they=20are
=20glad=20that=20I=20turn=20such=20=20accommodations=20down=20so=20that=20t=
hey=20can=20use=20
them.=20Of
=20course,=20if=20I=20have=20a=20=20temporary=20issue=20that=20limits=20my=
=20ability=20to=20
stand=20or
=20walk,=20such=20as=20when=20=20I=20had=20a=20bad=20allergic=20blister=20o=
n=20my=20foot=20a=20
few=20years
=20ago,
=20then=20I=20will=20=20accept=20such=20accommodations.=20I=20also=20recogn=
ize=20that=20
for=20some
=20blind=20=20individuals=20other=20than=20me,=20such=20as=20those=20who=20=
use=20guide=20
dogs,
=20accommodations=20like=20priority=20seating=20or=20a=20larger=20bathroom=
=20stall=20
might=20=20be
=20useful.
=20=20The=20other=20piece=20of=20this,=20for=20me,=20involves=20following=20=
social=20
rules=20of
=20fairness.=20I=20believe=20in=20taking=20my=20proper=20turn=20in=20line.=
=20If=20
something=20is
=20first-come,=20first-served,=20and=20I=20get=20there=20first,=20I'll=20ta=
ke=20it.
=20If=20I
=20=20get=20to=20the=20gate=20first,=20of=20course=20I'll=20board=20first.=
=20But=20if=20I=20get=20
to=20the
=20gate=20in=20the=20middle,=20I=20will=20board=20in=20the=20middle,=20and=
=20not=20cut=20to=20
the=20=20front
=20even=20if=20permitted=20to=20do=20so.=20For=20me=20this=20is=20a=20simpl=
e=20matter=20of
=20politeness.
=20It=20is=20also=20a=20matter=20of=20integrity.=20If=20I=20am=20going=20to=
=20say=20=20that=20I=20
am=20equal
=20to
=20sighted=20people,=20then=20I=20need=20to=20behave=20that=20way.
=20=20Again,=20I=20do=20it=20quietly.=20For=20me,=20it's=20not=20a=20matter=
=20of=20proving=20a=20
point=20=20or
=20convincing=20others=20of=20anything.=20It's=20a=20matter=20of=20living=20=
up=20to=20my=20=20
personal
=20values=20and=20allowing=20everyone=20around=20me=20to=20have=20fair=20ac=
cess=20to=20=20
resources.
=20I
=20am=20very=20fortunate=20to=20have=20a=20sighted=20spouse=20who=20gets=20=
this,=20=20and=20
defends=20me
=20when=20I=20turn=20down=20unneeded=20cutsin=20lines=20and=20other=20=20sp=
ecial=20
treatment.
=20=20This=20is=20just=20my=20opinion=20and=20I=20welcome=20other=20views=20=
on=20this.
=20=20Best,=20Arielle

=20=20On=206/13/16,=20Joshua=20Hendrickson=20via=20NABS-L=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.=
org
=20wrote:
=20=20I=20agree.=20=20I'd=20say=20if=20you=20were=20able=20to=20board=20a=20=
bus=20before=20others=20
would
=20be
=20a
=20good=20thing=20whether=20you=20were=20blind=20or=20not.=20=20I=20certain=
ly=20would=20
have=20=20gotten
=20on
=20the=20bus=20first.=20=20When=20I=20used=20to=20take=20the=20Van=20Gelder=
=20bus=20from=20=20
Rockford=20to
=20Chicago,=20the=20driver=20would=20help=20me=20find=20a=20seat=20on=20the=
=20bus.
=20=20I=20never=20thought=20anything=20about=20it.=20=20It=20was=20just=20n=
ice=20to=20get=20my=20
seat,
=20turn
=20on=20my=20NLS=20player=20and=20listen=20to=20a=20book=20while=20the=20bu=
s=20was=20on=20its=20=20
way=20to
=20Chicago.

=20=20On=206/13/16,=20Joe=20Orozco=20via=20NABS-L=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>=20w=
rote:
=20=20Should=20a=20blind=20person=20use=20their=20disability=20to=20take=20=
advantage=20of=20
social
=20perks?
=20=20I=20briefly=20touched=20on=20the=20following=20story=20elsewhere=20in=
=20these=20
pages.=20It
=20has
=20bearing=20on=20the=20current=20point=20though,=20so=20hang=20in=20there=
=20for=20a=20=20
moment.
=20=20Back=20in=20college=20I=20was=20once=20traveling=20with=20a=20fellow=
=20blind=20friend=20
on
=20Greyhound.=20We=20happened=20to=20arrive=20at=20the=20gate=20before=20an=
yone=20else,=20
but
=20because=20my=20traveling=20companion=20was,=20probably=20still=20is,=20a=
n=20ultra
=20independent
=20blind=20person,=20they=20refused=20to=20board=20the=20bus=20first.
=20The=20bus
=20=20driver=20was=20confused.=20Why=20would=20this=20person=20want=20to=20=
let=20other=20=20
passengers
=20skip=20ahead=20when=20we'd=20beaten=20everyone=20else=20to=20the=20gate?=
=20The=20=20bus=20
driver
=20couldn't=20understand=20my=20companion=20was=20refusing=20to=20get=20on=
=20the=20=20bus=20
ahead=20of
=20everyone=20else=20on=20principle.=20Allowing=20persons=20with=20=20disab=
ilities=20
to=20skip
=20ahead=20in=20line=20is=20just=20something=20society=20expects,=20=20and=
=20my=20
companion,
=20following=20their=20own=20philosophy=20of=20independence,=20was=20=20not=
=20going=20
to=20feed
=20into
=20that=20presumptive=20notion.
=20=20I=20have=20always=20wondered=20about=20the=20rationale=20to=20this=20=
way=20of=20
thinking.
=20=20What=20is=20it=20about=20using=20certain=20social=20perks=20directly=
=20linked=20to
=20disabilities=20that=20inspire=20such=20delicate=20feelings=20of=20inferi=
ority?
=20=20Perhaps=20we=20are=20afraid=20to=20look=20inept=20by=20jumping=20to=20=
the=20front=20of=20
a=20line.
=20=20That=20speaks=20to=20perception,=20and=20just=20as=20laws=20do=20not=
=20change=20minds
=20overnight,
=20your=20position=20in=20line=20is=20not=20likely=20to=20automatically=20m=
ake=20=20
someone=20think
=20you
=20are=20any=20more=20or=20less=20capable=20by=20standing=20ahead=20or=20=20=
behind.=20Do=20we=20
really
=20believe=20standing=20in=20the=20middle=20of=20the=20crowd=20will=20=20so=
mehow=20make=20
us=20more=20a
=20part=20of=20the=20people?=20Will=20that=20translate=20to=20=20making=20u=
s=20more=20
approachable?
=20More=20datable?=20More=20employable?=20Your=20=20subsequent=20words=20an=
d=20
actions=20after
=20getting=20in=20line=20are=20more=20likely=20to=20=20have=20an=20influenc=
e=20over=20
someone's
=20opinion
=20of=20you=20as=20a=20blind=20individual.
=20=20Making=20a=20scene=20to=20be=20treated=20as=20an=20equal=20does=20not=
=20create=20
equality.=20It
=20creates=20a=20spectacle.

=20=20Read=20the=20rest=20of=20the=20article=20at:


=20
http://joeorozco.com/blog_my_blindness_philosophy_is_better_than_
=20yours

=20=20Joe

=20=20_______________________________________________
=20=20NABS-L=20mailing=20list
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=20=20NABS-L:

=20
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=20il.com

=20=20_______________________________________________
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=20
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=20mail.com

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=20coe.edu

=20_______________________________________________
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ms2%40gmail
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=20_______________________________________________
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=20--
=20Julie=20A.=20McGinnity
=20President,=20National=20Federation=20of=20the=20Blind=20Performing=20Art=
s=20
Division,
=20Second=20Vice=20President,=20National=20Federation=20of=20the=20Blind=20=
of=20
Missouri
=20"For=20we=20walk=20by=20faith,=20not=20by=20sight"
=202=20Cor.=207

=20_______________________________________________
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=20NABS-L at nfbnet.org
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ccount=20
info=20for
=20NABS-L:
=20
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s%40gmail.com


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