[nagdu] calling the program was researching programs

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Julie,

I've been told a time or two by someone that they turned me in because
they're so worried about me and just the OCB to do something.  The way in
which they tell me leads me to believe they expect me to so very grateful
and to attend closely to their lecture about going to the OCB and every
other social agency they've heard of or just dreamed up on the spot because
I need to learn to ask for help.  If I can't learn that, they add severely,
they are done with me and will not help me out again if that's how I'm going
to be.

The first time, I believed I was miscommunicating, so the second time I
paused to consider my responses carefully and just never got the opportunity
to make any of them.  The concerned citizen's half of the conversation went
exactly the same way that of the previous concerned citizen's had.  So now I
just listen patiently until they get out of my way and I can move on, unless
I get bored enough to just turn around and go around the block the other
way.

I guess people see me as approachable enough to keep me in the loop about
what they're doing to protect me from my dangerously irresponsible
lifestyle.  Frankly, though, it gives me the willies.

Now that I have a big strong man to take care of me, of course, they just
tell him about it.  Although when moved to this end of the neighborhood, I
did learn that the new neighbors were keeping a close watch on me and
letting the managers know what I was up to.  The whole lot of them fretted a
great deal about the amount time said big, strong man would spend at work
while leaving me all alone with "those dogs."

I would imagine it's the same thing with people who call the nearest guide
dog school about rogue handlers out crossing streets and not letting people
pet their poor overworked guide dogs.  

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 6:19 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] calling the program was researching programs

Jeanine,

It's very good to hear that you don't accept anonymous complaints at GDF. 
If someone can't give their name it would make me wonder about the validity 
of their statement.  It's too easy to make up stories if you can hide behind

anonymity.

Got any ideas why the public doesn't address the blind person directly about

the issue?  Or at least why they don't try that approach first?

Is tattling a societal thing or just a blind people thing?  When I used to 
work in rehab the O&M instructor would occasionally get phone calls about 
some blind person or another who was out alone and crossing dangerous 
intersections or something similarly inappropriate for a blind person to do.

*smile*

I'm trying to think of a parallel situation that doesn't involve blind 
people where sighted people turn each other in for perceived indescressions.

I can't think of any sort of situation.   of a noncriminal nature.  Perhaps 
it is a blindness/disability thing exclusively.

Sometimes I think too much! LOL
Julie



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