[nagdu] mobility-the deciding factor?

[Julie J]

Some of the recent discussion got me to thinking about how we, as blind people, perceive independence or who is more capable than who.   It seems that we always use travel to judge who has better skills than who.  I know we have discussed this before, but I still have no clue why we don't use Braille or cooking or something else to base our judgments on.  I'm guilty of it too.  I've caught myself thinking if not actually saying that so and so isn't as well adjusted as they could be because they are always needing help to get places.

I happen to be a very good traveler with cane or dog.  But you know what?  I read Braille at about 40 wpm.  By any measure that's slow, like incredibly, snails pace slow.  But no one has ever said to me, "You know, you should really attend a center where you could get better Braille skills so you could be more independent."  

Then there is the kitchen...I really like to cook.  Generally I'm okay in the kitchen.  I cook most meals from scratch.  But, getting the meat, especially the chicken, thoroughly cooked is a constant stress for me.  I'm frequently freaked out about whether or not there is any pink in the meat.  I know the skills.  I know how to check nonvisually, but I totally and completely lack chicken confidence.

Am I crazy?  or don't you think that blind people always judge other blind people on the basis of travel skills and virtually nothing else?  

thoughts?
Julie