[nagdu] presentation about blindness

[Andrew J. LaPointe]

Hi I do presentations each year for the D.A.S.H (Disabilities Awareness
Starts Here) on the North Shore of Mass for 2nd graders.  I bring my canes,
brailler, bar code scanner, color ID Victor Stream and much more.  I will
demo all of these theings but, when everythings done, my guide is the main
attraction.  I answer all their question and 99.999 percent of them are
based on the dog.  I hand out Fidelco posters, book marks, coloring books
and last year, I handed out Louis Braille's 200 anniversary poster.  To be
honest with you, I could leave Elliot, my guide, and come back a couple
hours later and the program is a big hit.... Andy

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 9:43 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] presentation about blindness


I don't know about this. People respond to you based on what they know.
Most people don't know squat about canes. Canes draw attention to you
because not many people in the general population have them. Dogs are
something people can relate to. I don't know though that the device
makes much different. When I wear my space shuttle jacket, I naturally
draw people who are interested in the space program. When I have my
daughter with me, I draw people that have kids or like kids. When my
husband wwears his D.C. United shirt, he draws people that either love
D.C. United or who don't like them so much.  Any or all of these people
are probably all around us at any given moment, it's just that we don't
know about them.
Why do you think the class is more afraid of your cane then that you're
blind.
I'd suggest letting them lead the discussion. It's counterintuitive, but
I think if you let them lead, you'll show them that you're just an
average guy who has interests and hobbies v. "a blind guy".
Start off by talking about whatever it is you're there but when it comes
to q&A, and they say "How do you watch tv" or whatever, use that to talk
about a show they may like.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mark J. Cadigan
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 9:12 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] presentation about blindness

Does anyone recognize a difference in the way people act towards you
when
you have a cane verses a dog? What about when you have no blindness
mobility
devices with you? I have to give a presentation about blindness to a
class
of 5th graders, and I was wondering how to make them understand that
someone
with a mobility device is no different than anyone else. I think they
are
more afraid of the fact that I carry a cane, than the fact that I am
blind.

PS why are people so afraid of blindness?


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