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

[Marc Workman]

I think what’s missing from this discussion is that some of these so
called perks, and I don’t think that’s the best term, are meant more
to make things run smoothly than to make your life easier.

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

Same goes for buses, trains, etc.

I think something similar is true of priority seating and lineup
arrangements, though there are other reasons why a blind person might
choose to take advantage of these accommodations. Consider lineups,
with very little vision, it is possible to comfortably and efficiently
navigate a lineup on your own. As long as you can make out whether
someone is standing two feet in front of you, you’re good to go. If
you cannot see the person in front of you though, lineups can be very
awkward. I’d be interested in the strategies of the totally blind.
I’ve heard it suggested that you can gently rest your cane against the
foot of the person in front of you. Sorry, but I think if the goal is
to avoid having blind people look strange or awkward, then this
technique, which I would argue requires an invasion of someone else’s
space, is probably not the best approach. In some cases, avoiding the
lineup altogether is probably the more graceful approach.

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

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

Marc


On 6/13/16, Julie McGinnity via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I agree with Arielle.  If I do not need the accommodation, then I will
> do my best not to take it.
>
> First of all, we should probably call these things what they are:
> accommodations.  Shorter lines, priority boarding, and the like are
> accommodations for people with disabilities.  Were they meant
> specifically for blind people?  Not necessarily.  Calling them social
> perks not only buys into the general idea that we should take
> advantage of accommodations simply because we can, but it is also
> misleading.
>
> It is illegal to force someone into taking an accommodation they do
> not need.  I recently had an experience at an airport and learned
> about this part of the law because of it.  The desk attendant told me
> that I could not take my dog on the escalator and had to use the
> elevator.  In this instance, he and I had a discussion that led to my
> discovery that this "rule" was not an airport policy.  If it had been
> policy, it would have violated the law.
>
> Let's look at another angle.  When I flew to Colorado, I refused to go
> to the shorter line for people with disabilities.  I can walk and
> stand just fine and didn't feel that I needed to be in the other line.
> I didn't have a problem with being asked to step in that line, but I
> did say no.  The problem was that the airport worker person did not
> take no for an answer.  He decided what I needed and did not listen to
> my refusal of the accommodation.  I dislike the custodial attitude
> that those without disabilities know exactly what accommodations we
> require.  Furthermore, I believe my yes should be taken as a yes and
> my no as a no.  I would assert that this is the real problem here.
>
> This does not happen to me all the time.  Sometimes, my "no thank you"
> is enough.  But enough people have decided what I may need enough
> times that I believe it is a problem.  And no matter the philosophy on
> taking accommodations that do not necessarily belong to us, we can all
> agree that we want our responses respected.  We do not want to be
> treated like second class citizens, who accept what is given to us
> without question because that's all we deserve.  Right?
>
> So then here we are.  Does someone's acceptance of these
> accommodations hurt me if I choose to refuse them?  Well, no, except
> that when I am advocating for myself, I have to respond that not every
> blind person is the same.  Blind dude yesterday may have gone to the
> shorter line, but I am not that person, and I would like to decline
> this accommodation.  I believe that this would cause more of a sceen,
> more of a spectical, to use the author's words.  I would prefer no one
> compare me to the blind person yesterday who stood in the shorter
> line, but that's not reality.  Sometimes people with disabilities are
> seen as all the same.  Talk about misconceptions of the public that
> need changing...  Again, I assert that this is the real problem.
>
> So, should we condemn someone for a different philosophy?  No, but we
> should share our experiences, discuss with them the attitudes of the
> public, and remind them that these are the choices we have.
>
> Finally, I believe that the argument supporting the use of these
> accommodations to make our day a little easier is illogical.  We can't
> read signs; getting in a shorter line will not solve this.  And that
> does not make a plausible excuse.  Blindness certainly can be an
> inconvenience, but do those accommodations lessen the
> blindness-related inconveniences?  Sometimes, maybe they do, but when
> they don't, should we take them?  Or should we examine why we're
> taking them and think critically about what effect our actions will
> have upon society?
>
> Interesting topic...  Sorry for the lengthy response...  :)
>
> On 6/12/16, 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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>
>
> --
> Julie A. McGinnity
> President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division,
> Second Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
> "For we walk by faith, not by sight"
> 2 Cor. 7
>
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