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

Mon Jun 13 16:10:39 UTC 2016

When it comes to taking tests in college, I always have taken extended
time on tests.  I had a geometry test that took me 4 hours to do.
That wasn't fun.  I had a reader who was reading me the test and
taking down my answers.  I personally see nothing wrong with getting
longer time to take tests.

On 6/13/16, KENNEDY STOMBERG via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hahaha! I think you are right. I use a computer with refreshable braille, or
> readers, so I use extended test time. But I remember people getting quite
> upset about it at my NFB state convention, so I just wondered how people
> felt about it. :)
>
> Kennedy Stomberg
> (218)295-2391
>
>> On Jun 12, 2016, at 10:13 AM, justin via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I used necessary accommodations in college which were related to
>> blindness,
>> but I don't do that in social situations.  It is very important to avoid
>> cutting  the line, or using my visual disability to gain an unfair social
>> advantage in a social situation.  I can't think of many social situations
>> for me where blindness is something that should be accommodated for
>> outside
>> of a movie or something like that in a theater.  I'm sure they exist, and
>> I
>> just am not pulling them up right now.
>> I avoid using ramps, and other accommodations related to other
>> disabilities,
>> or even blindness accommodations I don't need so everyone who needs them
>> can
>> have fair resources.
>> Ps.
>> Some of you folks tried to give me a hard time when I was using some of
>> my
>> accommodations in college.  Do any of you remember that?
>> It was about extended test times which I used anytime I took a test.
>> Kenedy, use that extended time....
>> LOL
>> Justin
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Karl Martin
>> Adam via NABS-L
>> Sent: Monday, June 13, 2016 10:13 AM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Karl Martin Adam <kmaent1 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] My Blindness Philosophy is Better than Yours
>>
>> 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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