[nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

Albert J Rizzi albert at myblindspot.org
Wed Apr 21 03:52:50 UTC 2010


Some very valid points. generalizations  can do more harm when trying to
understand the whys and such of peoples opinions. Generally, the Hispanic
world tends to be catholic, generally the bible does not hold the blind in
high regard, it is for that reason  that I generally feel that some of the
reasons that people in Mexico shared that the lady who moved from jersey to
Mexico was not the typical blind person  they are familiar with. She
educated them on how capable the blind can be, and I think it is that point
in the thread I was hoping to draw light to the ignorance that some have
generally about the blind, and how in this instance despite general
influences, they made the decision to see this woman as a woman who just
happened to be blind and not a blind woman.


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 Diana Engle
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 8:12 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

My post was to point out that people are individuals, even though the
individuals belong to groups that may include a particular ethnic group,
religion, disability status or whatever. We cannot say that everyone in a
particular group holds the same beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, etc.

The way to talk about cultures (and, BTW, there is not a single Hispanic
culture), ethnic groups, religions, disability groups, socioeconomic levels,
etc. *without* making generalizations, is by speaking of our particular
experiences with *individuals*.

Regarding attitudes toward my guide dog and blindness, I have had both
positive and negative experiences with people who are Chinese, Muslim, white
Americans, black Americans, rich, poor, Mexican, Catholic, etc. My
experiences are with individuals and I would not extend those experiences
into generalizations about the groups those individuals belong to.

I have seen on lists before people frustrated because a sighted person has
expressed some silly or demeaning generalization about people who are blind.
If we don't like to be the subject of others' generalizations, then we
should not create generalizations of others.

dE  
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 2:25 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

Can you add anything to the discussion? Seriously, if you know of more
information, please share.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Diana Engle
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 9:08 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Mexican attitudes towards blind people

So discouraging to see this thread, filled with such broad
generalizations
of people based on ethnic origin and religion. I will say that, although
many people who are blind fight against generalizations about the blind,
it
is clear that some fall into the same trap of making genralizations
about
other groups of people.

dE


 
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Cheryl Osborn
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 7:33 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
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.
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> ox.net
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Cheryl in Mexico
>> chapalacheryl at gmail.com
>>
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-- 
Cheryl in Mexico
chapalacheryl at gmail.com

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