[Ncabs] I need your help

Fri Dec 7 15:43:11 UTC 2012

Ha, your example made me laugh.  Thanks.

Sean

On 12/7/12, Gary Ray <ghraynfbofnc at charter.net> wrote:
> Here is one from Gary Ray.
>
> When I am working with my cane, don't interupt my train of thought by
> singing out helpful hints such as "the urinal is more to your left..."  When
> traveling, I am concentrating hard on what I am doing and helpful hints can
> disorient me and pull my concentration away from where it needs to
> be...oops, mess in corner...grin.
>
> I know folks are just trying to be helpful.  I used to do this myself.  I
> just didn't realize how concentrated I must be when working a mobility route
>  I now know because  I am so blind now that I am really having to focus
> carefully to get things right.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Currin, Kevin <kwcurrin at live.unc.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 11:26 PM
> To: North Carolina Association of Blind Students List <ncabs at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Ncabs] I need your help
>
> Hi Cindy and Daria,
>
> Those are great points. Cindy, I would like a copy of the list if you can
> get one. Daria, that's actually the main reason I decided to undertake this
> project. I was walking with one of my friends through the pit (a central
> place on Carolina's campus) and we were stopped by someone campaigning for a
> student body candidate. The person told my friend in reference to me "tell
> him to vote for this person," as if I couldn't hear her. People have this
> idea that we have super hero hearing, but they also feel like they can say
> things in front of us, and because they are not making eye contact with us,
> that we won't hear them.
>
> Its also pretty easy to pick up on the non-verbal communication between
> sighted people trying to say things about me without wanting me to know.
>
> Everyone else, please keep sending ideas.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kevin
>
> ________________________________________
> From: Ncabs [ncabs-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Daria Bannerman
> [daria.bannerman at gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 11:17 PM
> To: North Carolina Association of Blind Students List
> Subject: Re: [Ncabs] I need your help
>
> Hi, all,
>
> The one misconception I have on my mind is we are not invisible. Stop
> talking to us in the third person; we are right here.
> Daria
>
> On 12/6/12, Cindy Bennett <clb5590 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Great idea! Here are a bunch of mine. And, if you want a good what to
>> do when you see a blind person list, I think the NFB has one. I know
>> that a version was drafted at BLIND, Inc., and I could get it if you
>> wish. I'm glad that you're doing this, and I think it will bring forth
>> some great discussion!
>>
>> If you see me using a white cane, and if I am not following the
>> straightest/most efficient path, or if I do not engage in direct eye
>> contact, please do not assume that I have lessened cognitive
>> abilities. I may, and I may not. Please do not speak to me
>> unreasonably loudly or use endearing terms such as "sweetheart" and
>> "honey." I am a competent adult, and I would prefer to be addressed as
>> such. We have all learned not to judge people by their appearance.
>>
>> My hearing does not compare to that of a superhero.
>>
>> If you feel that I may need help or if there is visual information
>> that I may wish to know about, please ask me, with verbal language, if
>> I would like help or to know such information. Getting my attention by
>> physically grabbing me is inappropriate and I may think that you are a
>> dangerous person.
>>
>> If you do ask me if I need help, and if I say no, please do not get
>> offended. You probably could be very helpful, but I am making the
>> choice to figure out something on my own, and I would prefer if that
>> choice was respected. I would award you the same respect.
>>
>> I am not offended by certain language such as the word "blind" or
>> "see." I am blind, and if others have other opinions, then they will
>> correct you. Also, I "watch" TV and I "look" at the sunset, not
>> "listen." I prefer to use words that align with the rest of society.
>>
>> My dog is not a compass. I direct it where to go; it does not direct me.
>>
>> I have interests just like you. Not all of us are weirdly obsessed
>> with the stereotypes you see in the movies such as music, massage
>> therapy, or guide dogs. If someone does like these things, it is
>> doubtful that blindness is the sole reason for such a fascination.
>>
>> Yes, I am a blind guy, but I am aware that my partner is attractive.
>> In fact, that may have been one of the things that drew me to him/her.
>> So please don't "let me know" as a stranger in public. That might make
>> him/her or both of us uncomfortable. We all have strategies for
>> knowing if people are physically attractive or intelligent regardless
>> of the presence of sight. And no, for guys especially, it is not by
>> inappropriately touching women and blaming it on blindness like you
>> see in the movies.
>>
>> Helen Keller is not my hero. I respect the role that she played in our
>> society, but I look up to a lot of other famous people who were/are
>> not blind.
>>
>> I may have blind friends, but I also enjoy interacting with all types of
>> people.
>>
>> My abilities are not limited to intellect. Some blind people are quite
>> talented tradesmen, and I am happy to get my hands dirty along with
>> everyone else if the job that needs to be done requires physical
>> labor.
>>
>> If I am hanging out with a sighted person, they are not my "worker."
>> We are just friends who hang out like everyone else. Sometimes, my
>> friend might help me with something, but I assist them as well.
>>
>> There are a variety of alternative techniques that I incorporate into
>> my work. So when I apply for a job, please do not look for the reasons
>> why I may not be able to do the job that have to do with blindness and
>> immediately dismiss me as a candidate. I would not waste your time
>> applying for something I could not foresee myself doing, so try to
>> break away from your fears of unfamiliarity and get to know how I do
>> things. You never know, some of my techniques might be helpful for
>> sighted people too.
>>
>> If you treat me with respect, I am happy to answer any questions you
>> have about blindness. I enjoy educating people. I probably don't have
>> an hour to stop and talk in the street though. So if you really want
>> to get to know me, then introduce yourself, and maybe we can get
>> coffee. And, as much as I can teach you about not only blindness, but
>> about myself, I'm sure you'll have plenty to contribute about yourself
>> that I can learn as well. There is no set manual for how to interact
>> with blind people nor should there be. We are just people. We just
>> want the basic respect that you would award anyone else.
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>> On 12/6/12, Currin, Kevin <kwcurrin at live.unc.edu> wrote:
>>> Hello fellow blind students of North Carolina,
>>>
>>> As some of you may remember, I am trying to put together a presentation
>>> to
>>> give to sighted people about blindness. I want to get as much good
>>> information as I can from as many people as possible. Therefore, I would
>>> greatly appreciate it if each of you could write down a misconception
>>> that
>>> you think sighted people have about blind people (or blindness in
>>> general)
>>> and tell me on the call. If you cannot make the call, please email me
>>> your
>>> ideas.
>>>
>>> A few examples that I have are:
>>> Just because someone uses a cane doesn't mean that they are totally
>>> blind.
>>> There are different levels of blindness.
>>> Blind people don't walk around feeling bad about being blind all the
>>> time.
>>>
>>> These are just a few of mine.
>>>
>>> Thanks and happy studying,
>>>
>>> Kevin
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Cindy Bennett
>> B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington
>>
>> clb5590 at gmail.com
>>
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>
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-- 
Sean Mealin
spmealin at ncsu.edu
(336) 772-2507
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~spmealin/