[nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

Albert J Rizzi albert at myblindspot.org
Tue Apr 20 16:17:05 UTC 2010


That is not an exclusive thing to the Latin countries, it is pervasive
internationally  no matter the boarders. You are right, education is the
key, but religion continues to reinforce the down trodden and such , and
often blindness is there in full force. I just don't understand  how it gets
such a bad rap when we are asked to accept the presence of our higher power
in blind faith. Go figure.

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."


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-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Hope Paulos
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 11:17 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

I'm not sure if  religion has anything to do with it, but I'm sure that lack

of education *does* play a big role in individual's attitudes towards guide 
dogs. After all, we have many individuals in the United States who act the 
same way and who are not accustomed to being around individuals with 
disabilities. I think it all stems back to needing to educate  people.  I'm 
a high school Spanish teacher and when I was in college did a lot of 
research on Hispanic culture.  I remember talking to my professor/friend 
from Peru. She said that although Peru had a lot of services for the blind, 
she was surprised to see someone as competent/poised as I was. She had to 
learn to accept that blind people could do everything sighted people do. She

was nervous about the dog  in the beginning, but after she got to know her a

bit, she was able, when I allowed her, to pet my dog and  be social with 
her.
Take care and sorry for the long post.
Hope and Beignet
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cheryl Osborn" <chapalacheryl at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 7:33 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people


> Yes, I agree that religion has something to do with it, along with
> ignorance and poverty.  I do live in a rural area.  When I have gone
> into Guadalajara, I have met a lot of people who think using a guide
> dog is pretty neet stuff.  At present, there are no guide dog schools
> here.  about 15 years ago, someone tried to start a guide dog school
> but couldn't get enough support.  Big shock.
>
> On 4/19/10, Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org> wrote:
>> Then to they are a devoutly catholic community, and the catholic faith 
>> does
>> not always place the blind at the top of the heap. Culture and religion 
>> work
>> against us here.
>>
>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> CEO/Founder
>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>> New York, New York  10004
>> www.myblindspot.org
>> PH: 917-553-0347
>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who 
>> is
>> doing it."
>>
>>
>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Hope Paulos
>> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 5:00 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
>>
>> Just to put my 2 cents in here, this seems to be the belief for all 
>> hispanic
>>
>> culture. Had the same views of me and my guide dog from my friends in 
>> Peru
>> and Chile. Think it's that there aren't very many blind peole with guide
>> dogs in these parts of the world.
>> Hope and Beignet
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Cheryl Osborn" <chapalacheryl at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 3:27 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people
>>
>>
>>> Rebecca,
>>>
>>> I believe that there is quite a difference in attitudes, blind Mexican
>>> or blind gringo.  From what I have experienced, Mexicans are very nice
>>> and helpful  to me and amazed that I am capable of doing anything.
>>> The only blind Mexicans that I have run into, literally, have been
>>> beggers.
>>>
>>> On 4/19/10, Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC) <REBECCA.PICKRELL at tasc.com> 
>>> wrote:
>>>> Hi Linda.
>>>> If I can ask, why did you bring your dog to Mexico in 1992, and why did
>>>> you not bring a cane?
>>>> Am not trying to judge, just understand even if it is "I wasn't
>>>> thinking".
>>>> To Cheryll, how are attitudes towards blind people in Mexico? Any
>>>> difference in attitude between blind men and blind women?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>> Behalf Of Linda Gwizdak
>>>> Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 12:37 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Thanks for the welcome
>>>>
>>>> Hi Cheryl O,
>>>> Welcome to the list!
>>>>
>>>> I see you live in Mexico.  Would you please tell us about life in 
>>>> Mexico
>>>>
>>>> with a guide dog?
>>>>
>>>> I am Lyn and I'm working with my eighth dog - foourth one from Seeing
>>>> Eye.
>>>> My dog is Landon, a red Golden/Lab cross and I got him in 2007.
>>>>
>>>> We work as pet assisted therapists at a military hospital and in two
>>>> programs with our local Humane Society.  Landon LOVES this work! LOL
>>>>
>>>> I live in San Diego so we are very near Tijuana, BC, Mexico. I haven't
>>>> visited there since 1992 and don't feel like going there again.  there
>>>> is a
>>>> warning from the US State Dept. about traveling to Mexico because of 
>>>> the
>>>>
>>>> drug cartels "activity" along the border towns.
>>>>
>>>> When I brought my guide dog there, the restaurants didn't want me to
>>>> bring
>>>> my dog inside.  After my explanations of the dog being my guide, they
>>>> compromised by having me sit by the door!  Also, I had someone come up
>>>> to me
>>>> to ask if I'd sell him my dog! I said no and told him in Spanish that
>>>> the
>>>> dog was my eyes - a perro de guia. He then left.  After that, I thought
>>>> about what if the guy reacted differently and grabbed my dog from me 
>>>> and
>>>>
>>>> there I would be, in a foreign contry, without a mobility aid! I didn't
>>>> even
>>>> have a white cane with me.  Along the border towns, they steal dogs to
>>>> sell
>>>> to labs even though reputable labs will NEVER take a microchipped or
>>>> tatooed
>>>> dog as it is very illegal.
>>>>
>>>> The other thing is that Mexico has no laws regarding having dogs
>>>> vaccinated
>>>> against Rabies or other diseases. Do you know if any of this has
>>>> changed?
>>>>
>>>> Again, welcome and look forward to hearing from you about life in
>>>> Mexico!
>>>>
>>>> Lyn and Landon
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Cheryl Osborn" <chapalacheryl at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 1:05 PM
>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Thanks for the welcome
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for the welcome Marsha.
>>>>>
>>>>> Your Q is certainly not too personal.  I live in a very small town in
>>>>> central Mexico.  My husband and I retired here about 4 years ago.
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nagdu mailing list
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>>>>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/linda.gwizdak%40c
>>>> ox.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Cheryl in Mexico
>>> chapalacheryl at gmail.com
>>>
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>>
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>> du
>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> Cheryl in Mexico
> chapalacheryl at gmail.com
>
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