[nabs-l] My Blindness Philosophy is Better than Yours
Karl Martin Adam
kmaent1 at gmail.com
Mon Jun 13 14:12:38 UTC 2016
Kennedy,
I think extended testing time is related to blindness depending
on how you're taking the test. I took most of my tests with
readers, and it just takes longer to have a reader read the
question then tell them your answer make sure they heard you
correctly (my first ever exam at college I got one question wrong
because the reader heard B instead of D, so I've been very
careful about this since) etc. And of course it takes even
longer if you're say dictating short answers to a reader instead
of just having them fill out a scantron.
Best,
Karl
----- Original Message -----
From: KENNEDY STOMBERG via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Mon, 13 Jun 2016 08:24:08 -0500
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] My Blindness Philosophy is Better than
Yours
I think you bring up a very good point. When are acomidations
offerred as a result of blindness, and when are they offred
because of steriotypes.
For example, I think many of us have had the experience of being
offerred a wheelchair at an airport. This is something I always
refuse. But I don't know that it's a distinction that I make
often enough... Definitely something to think about.
However, some would argue that taking accomidations such as
extended testing time are not related to blindness. (Though, I
happen to think they are, and that is something I take advantage
of.) Definitely a very enteristing discussion.
Kennedy Stomberg
(218)295-2391
On Jun 13, 2016, at 8:00 AM, Arielle Silverman via NABS-L
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
Hi Joe and all,
This is a great topic, and one that I have some strong feelings
about.
Generally, as a blind person, I use accommodations that are
related to
my blindness. I turn down accommodations that are meant for
people
with other disabilities. These include cuts in lines, priority
seating, ramps and accessible restroom stalls. Although cuts in
lines
and priority seating are offered to me as a blind person, my
blindness
doesn't create a need for those accommodations. I recognize that
there
are individuals with other disabilities who actually benefit
from, and
sometimes require, such accommodations. The only reason I am
offered
such accommodations is because of stereotypes linking blindness
with
physical weakness. So, I turn these accommodations down. I do it
quietly, don't make a scene, but I do turn them down. I know
people
with these other disabilities who say they are glad that I turn
such
accommodations down so that they can use them. Of course, if I
have a
temporary issue that limits my ability to stand or walk, such as
when
I had a bad allergic blister on my foot a few years ago, then I
will
accept such accommodations. I also recognize that for some blind
individuals other than me, such as those who use guide dogs,
accommodations like priority seating or a larger bathroom stall
might
be useful.
The other piece of this, for me, involves following social rules
of
fairness. I believe in taking my proper turn in line. If
something is
first-come, first-served, and I get there first, I'll take it.
If I
get to the gate first, of course I'll board first. But if I get
to the
gate in the middle, I will board in the middle, and not cut to
the
front even if permitted to do so. For me this is a simple matter
of
politeness. It is also a matter of integrity. If I am going to
say
that I am equal to sighted people, then I need to behave that
way.
Again, I do it quietly. For me, it's not a matter of proving a
point
or convincing others of anything. It's a matter of living up to
my
personal values and allowing everyone around me to have fair
access to
resources. I am very fortunate to have a sighted spouse who gets
this,
and defends me when I turn down unneeded cutsin lines and other
special treatment.
This is just my opinion and I welcome other views on this.
Best, Arielle
On 6/13/16, Joshua Hendrickson via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
I agree. I'd say if you were able to board a bus before others
would
be a good thing whether you were blind or not. I certainly
would have
gotten on the bus first. When I used to take the Van Gelder bus
from
Rockford to Chicago, the driver would help me find a seat on the
bus.
I never thought anything about it. It was just nice to get my
seat,
turn on my NLS player and listen to a book while the bus was on
its
way to Chicago.
On 6/13/16, Joe Orozco via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
Should a blind person use their disability to take advantage of
social
perks?
I briefly touched on the following story elsewhere in these
pages. It
has bearing on the current point though, so hang in there for a
moment.
Back in college I was once traveling with a fellow blind friend
on
Greyhound. We happened to arrive at the gate before anyone else,
but
because my traveling companion was, probably still is, an ultra
independent blind person, they refused to board the bus first.
The bus
driver was confused. Why would this person want to let other
passengers skip ahead when we'd beaten everyone else to the
gate? The
bus driver couldn't understand my companion was refusing to get
on the
bus ahead of everyone else on principle. Allowing persons with
disabilities to skip ahead in line is just something society
expects,
and my companion, following their own philosophy of
independence, was
not going to feed into that presumptive notion.
I have always wondered about the rationale to this way of
thinking.
What is it about using certain social perks directly linked to
disabilities that inspire such delicate feelings of inferiority?
Perhaps we are afraid to look inept by jumping to the front of a
line.
That speaks to perception, and just as laws do not change minds
overnight, your position in line is not likely to automatically
make
someone think you are any more or less capable by standing ahead
or
behind. Do we really believe standing in the middle of the crowd
will
somehow make us more a part of the people? Will that translate
to
making us more approachable? More datable? More employable? Your
subsequent words and actions after getting in line are more
likely to
have an influence over someone's opinion of you as a blind
individual.
Making a scene to be treated as an equal does not create
equality. It
creates a spectacle.
Read the rest of the article at:
http://joeorozco.com/blog_my_blindness_philosophy_is_better_than_
yours
Joe
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