[nfb-db] Deafblind Group Communication
Maurice Mines
minesm at me.com
Sun Jun 21 04:56:48 UTC 2009
hi the outfit is the Amarcan asoation of the deaf-blind ps this list
is run by nfb-db and it is not a vary good to recrute for another
group. but if this just a info request that is ok if things get two
persnal please take it off list. we are mostly here person who are
blind ferst and dea-blind secend. ps I am duing this on a mac and have
a rittenexpration disorter so please for give the spealling. e I am
the motter or lerker on the on the list to keep orter see you in the
moder city.
On Jun 20, 2009, at 10:42 PM, habnkid at aol.com wrote:
>
> So what does the AADB do? What had AADB offered you? Yes, those who
> struggle with denial deserve some empathy and support, but that can
> be done without making them irresponsible.
>
> Haben
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mussie <gmussie9 at hotmail.com>
> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wed, Jun 17, 2009 8:36 am
> Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Deafblind Group Communication
>
> Very thoughtful comments, Haben. I, too, wondered why AADBremains
> the way it is now while the NFB maintains its powerful influence
> over policies that affect not only the blind but also individuals
> who are deaf-blind. AADB doesn't have the resources and manpower to
> mount a rigorous campaign to attain and sustain greater services for
> the deaf-blind. In fact, a recent article from a university of North
> Carolina indicated that there are roughly 40,000 deaf-blind people,
> less than the membership of the NFB! Even for me, the NFB remains
> more solidly involved in enhancing the lives of blind people through
> legislative and other avenues (not to forget litigation) than the
> National Association of the Deaf (NAD), the voice of America's deaf
> (note that the vast majority, roughly 30 million, of Americans are
> hard of eharing while the tiny fraction is deaf, yet the NAD is
> actually a powerful lobbying and advocate group of the hearing
> impaired). I would love for AADB to take a more decisive and
> influential role and work shoulder to shoulder with the NFB because
> it best represents the needs of deaf-blind individuals. But right
> now, I am not too happy with the approaches and strategies of the
> AADB and am anxious to see what the next generation of DB leaders
> will do. Nonetheless, AADB remains an important voice of the db.
> Speaking of denail... I don't completely agree that DB people should
> be held responsible for their refusal to adapt. Psychologically
> speaking, it is their childhood experiences that may largely explain
> for the struggle they face in adapting. Not just their past
> experiences (such as abuse as a result of their loss of vision and
> hearing, for I know many db people who endure trama), but also their
> natural personalities (shyness, etc) that make it naturally
> difficult for them to accept reality. The best we can do is not
> blame them for ignoring info we distribute to them, but consider
> providing services that emphasize the underlying psychological
> issues many face in adapting to new circumstances. I know of one
> person who is db and refuses to learn to use a cane, yet he had
> bumped agaisnt street poles and people before being convinced by a
> psychologist that he needed a cane.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Haben Girma" <habnkid at aol.com>
> To: "NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List" <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:20 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Deafblind Group Communication
>
> >
> > Yes, John, every dB person diagnosed with Denial should be
> injected with a > full dose of reality. I totally agree with you on
> that part. The > mentality, the intellectual blockout, of people in
> unfavorable situations > is darkly fascinating. It's like one of
> those plays where the audience can > see what's going to happen but
> the main character is blissfully ignorant > of reality. That kind of
> comedy does have a name, perhaps audience irony, > I don't remember.
> But the case of closed minded DB people sounds just like > it. Well
> adapted people can see what's going on while the stumbling DB >
> person refuses to face up to reality. When they've been offered >
> information about adaptive technology, information on blindness
> techniques > and deafness techniques, and yet they still refuse to
> acknowledge their > life, then supporters can do no more than sit
> back and wait for reality to > brutally slam into place on its own
> terms... It would be so nice if we had > more people in the public
> who knew exactly what we are capable of and what > we are not
> capable of. A police officer will scold a person who rides a > bike
> without a helmet, but find me a police officer who scolds a blind >
> person for walking outside without a cane. Does the AADB have a
> rigorous > philosophy comparable to that of the NFB? There are many
> in the NFB who, > if tripped by a fellow blind person because that
> guy wasn't using a > mobility tool, would immediately confront the
> man about his irresponsible > travel methods.
> >
> > Haben
> >
> > John Lee Clark wrote:
> >> Haben:
> >>
> >> It's denial. And fear. Some refuse to learn tactile listening
> because >> they
> >> think it would mean losing all of their friends because the
> tactile is a
> >> sign of blindness. But ironically, it is precisely their denial
> and >> refusal
> >> to adapt that drives away their friends. Instead of realizing
> this, they
> >> often hold their loss of friends as a proof that they WILL lose
> >> everything
> >> else if they became more blind. It is very hard to get through to
> them >> that
> >> if they adapt, they will not lose anything but in fact gain more
> than >> they
> >> have and their quality of life would be improved.
> >> This is a common problem among all human beings. It is
> fascinating how
> >> irrational people can become in slow-burning situations, such as
> being
> >> tangled in an abusive relationship. For example, the victim of
> abuse >> often
> >> thinks it is her fault, that she's a terrible person, and she was
> the one >> to
> >> cause the abuser to beat her up. Domestic violence counselors
> have a >> hard
> >> time getting the reality through. Abuse victims usually get back
> to >> their
> >> ab users seven times before finally leaving the relationship for
> good.
> >>
> >> While that's not an ideal analogy, it does show a human side that
> is
> >> baffling and hard to understand. Usually, if the DB person is not
> >> receptive
> >> to learning how to adapt, the best thing to do is let the train
> wreck
> >> happen. That is, they need to find out for themselves, they need
> to hit
> >> bottom.
> >> But the problem is that many times nobody would let them hit
> bottom.
> >> Instead, professionals try to "help" DB people in whatever
> choices they
> >> make, and they would repeat things patiently and endlessly, they
> would go >> to
> >> great lengths so they can use their eyes, such as getting a dark
> >> background,
> >> getting stronger lighing, signing smaller, etc. etc. Tthis is
> like, you
> >> know, enabling. This only extends the length of the denial and
> >> irrationality.
> >>
> >> Another way to put it is that those DB people often don't
> experience
> >> consequences of their actions and choices. There are
> professionals and
> >> others who give false consequences. For example a DB person who
> refuses >> to
> >> use a cane goes to a DB event and bumps into people, causing two
> people >> to
> >> fall down badly, and he trips over a toddler, badly brusing the
> toddler.
> >> What people would say is "That's OK. We understand you can't see
> so it's
> >> not your fault." Well, in my opinion, it is NOT okay. I mean, he
> HURT
> >> people physically! Sure, he can't see, but he is still
> responsible! >> There
> >> is the cane, there's the guide dog, there are mobility
> techniques, etc. >> If
> >> something happened in spite of the person's making good choices
> and being
> >> responsible, that's when you can say it's not his fault.
> Sometimes those
> >> things happen, where nobody did anything wrong. But this DB guy
> is not >> in
> >> that situation. The situation is he made bad choices by not using
> a >> cane.
> >> But he continues because he is enabled.
> >> What I would really like is for a huge dose of reality to be
> injected >> here.
> >> He should be told that it's not OK, that he should be using a
> cane. He
> >> should be told that if he can't be responsible for respecting the
> safety >> of
> >> others, he's not welcome there. He should be constantly offered the
> >> opportunity to learn how to adapt. He might even be sued for public
> >> misconduct.
> >>
> >> He should be exposed to real and natural consequences of his
> actions.
> >> That's what I mean by letting the train wreck happen. Reality
> needs to >> be
> >> allowed to hit his head. That's not the best way to learn, no.
> Much >> better
> >> if he was already open and receptive. But if that's not the case,
> then >> he
> >> needs to learn it the hard way.
> >>
> >> You know what I'm saying? What do you think? Any ideas for other
> ways >> to
> >> help some DB people see the reality?
> >>
> >> John
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> nfb-db at nfbnet.org
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org
> >>
> >
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