[nfb-db] Social situations with normal people

[Gerardo Corripio]

I think the wanting to appear as normal as possible; all my life I've grown
up with blindness being the only disability since with my hearing aids I'm
able to hear OK.

-----Mensaje original-----
De: nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] En nombre
de Janice Toothman
Enviado el: Jueves, 26 de Julio de 2012 17:27
Para: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List
Asunto: Re: [nfb-db] Social situations with normal people

Gerardo,
If I may ask, were you afraid of the stigma of being labeled hearing 
impaired or deaf? or was if something else that prompted you to refrain 
from using your FM receiver. I know that for me it is always a struggle 
not wanting to appear different from others yet having a desire to not 
only learn but also to be heard. Because of the stigma of deaf-blindness 
I often did not want draw attention to my needs in a classroom. The 
result was that I could not fully participate in the class and the 
teacher did not know why so I was graded down with respect to 
participation. It is an awful responsibility to be the counseling 
departments first deaf-blind student. This means I must educate my 
professors and classmates not only about deaf-blindness and what we can 
do with the proper training and technology.
Janice
On 7/26/2012 2:41 PM, GERARDO CORRIPIO FLORES wrote:
> Wow! what a great topic! Though I'm not deafblind (I have 70% hearing
> loss and use hearing aids) I prefer small social gatherings of two
> three or up to five people at most. ABout fm transmiters, I used to
> use one some years ago but only used it in school since I'd like to
> appear as most regular as possible. Keep on this great topic!
>
> 2012/7/26, Scott Davert <scottdavert at gmail.com>:
>> Hi janice.
>> I've had the same struggles as you have, and my social life has
>> suffered greatly. I've become an intravert because of this.
>> I understand also not being able to always hear or see someone when
>> they say hello to me, and wish that I could offer some suggestions as
>> to ways of dealing with this. But these are other people we're talking
>> about, people who have their own actions, thoughts, and assumptions.
>> All you can do is explain it to them and hope they understand. No
>> matter what audiological equipment you use, it's never going to be as
>> good as what would be considered normal hearing. The only way I've
>> found to deal with my extrovertedness, is to have small gatherings of
>> like 2 or 3 others, which makes it easier as long as you're not in a
>> noisey environment. But I fit in nowhere. I have a hard time with
>> speech and don't know enough sign language. I'm trying to learn sign
>> language now, but the politics and all the bs surrounding it is making
>> that difficult. So I just keep pushing on and do the best I can and
>> live with it. What other choice do I have?
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> On 7/26/12, Janice Toothman <janice.toothman at verizon.net> wrote:
>>> I get frustrated by those people who knew me growing up and assume I am
>>> being rude to them when I don't say "Hi" to them after they have said
>>> "Hi" to me. Do I always have to explain to people that I am not being
>>> rude or trying to brush them off but that I honestly didn't hear them
>>> because I am deaf and that I didn't see them because I am blind. How do
>>> you go to social events where the majority are sighted and your the only
>>> deaf-blind person and you can't make sense of the person your having a
>>> conversation with because of all the other noises/conversions going on
>>> in the room?
>>>
>>> I feel very isolated from my peers because I cannot hear conversations
>>> in a classroom when others are talking as well. Similarly family
>>> gatherings do not have usual anticipation at going to these events has
>>> diminished greatly due to my deaf-blindness.
>>> This is a challenge for me when I go back to school. The University
>>> offers me transcribers for my class but they write the "gist" of what is
>>> said and often leave out important dates and names of authors. Also, I
>>> do not receive this transcription in real time but within 24-36 hours
>>> after the class has ended.
>>> Unfortunately, when I go to conventions I have to rely on my FM system
>>> and a digital recorder.
>>> Has anyone else had problems problems in social situations.
>>>
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