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

[Karl Martin Adam]

Hi Marc,

Regarding standing in lines, as a totally blind person, I've 
never had a problem putting my cane on the shoe of the person in 
front of me.  Being totally blind, I of course have no idea how 
this looks, but at least for me what matters is not how it looks 
but that it's an efficient way of going through the line.  I also 
don't need to do this at all if the people in front of me are 
talking or otherwise make a sound when they move up (by wheeling 
one of the noisy carryons for instance).  I don't consider 
touching the heel of someone's shoe with the tip of my cane an 
invasion of personal space, and I've never had anyone object to 
me doing that, though I of course understand how you might have a 
problem if you do.

Best,
Karl

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Marc Workman 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 10:42:33 -0600
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] My Blindness Philosophy is Better than 
Yours

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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