[nagdu] Animal Advocate Calls Blind Guide Dog Users Cruel &unfi

[Marion & Martin]

Ron,
    Blindfolding sighted people is, generally, not a good idea. Too many 
people have told me, "If I ever went blind I would kill myself!" This 
assertion is the result of their misconceptions and stereotypes about 
blindness, promulgated by the media and reinforced by their own experience. 
By this I mean that the media makes blindness out to be an aweful lot - a 
fate worse than death, so death would be a better option. Then people, in an 
attempt to see "what it's like to be blind", close their eyes and attempt a 
simple task. When they fail at this task, it is due to their "blindness", 
not their lack of training.
    there is a video that is used by many organizations to teach 
"sensitivity" to blindness in which a woman wearing simulation devices you 
refer to, attempts to pour a glass of water, something we do successfully 
every day. When she spills the water because she does not know how to do so 
using non-visual techniques, she blames her blindness, not her lack of 
training.
    By blindfolding sighted people, we only do a disservice to the blind 
community by implying that blindfolds "show what it is like to be blind"! It 
is not so! Blindness is a set of skills we learn to accomplish tasks 
non-visually. Sure, it may feel good to have someone tell us how "amazing" 
or "extraordinary" we are when we can perform the simplest of tasks that a 
five-year-old can do, like pouring a glass of water! But when we really 
decipher what the underlying attitude is, then we see these sorts of 
proclamations for what they are: Condescending and  belittling statements 
that it is amazing we can do anything at all!
    I have attached a piece that would be good for anyone to read if you 
believe that blindfolding or other such simulations are beneficial. I hope 
this helps!

fraternally,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Davidson" <fuzzy_1 at cox.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 11:57 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Animal Advocate Calls Blind Guide Dog Users Cruel &unfi


>I  think it is wrong as well to wish for someone to go blind. I do allot of 
>classroom work with educating students of all ages about blindness and the 
>history and use of guide dogs. The best lesson I use is when we put 
>simulator glasses on the students and they have to complete certain task 
>wearing them. The glasses vary using all types of vision diseases and some 
>are total blind. The students come away with a better understanding of what 
>it is like in everyday life. I think the best thing that could be done is 
>for these people like these blow hards to take a walk in our shoes for 
>awhile and they may change their toon. Just a thought.
>
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