[Nfb-krafters-korner] So cool!

Mon Nov 22 14:57:55 UTC 2010

Hi all -- This got a little long, but I fell into story telling mode so 
here's my experience with blindness in a sighted school:

Hi -- Boy could I write a book on this subject, from a student's point of 
view -- but don't worry, I "hope I) wasn't one of the rude ones -- I was 
extremely proactive in preparing ahead of time and leaving as little as 
possible for the teacher to adapt to.  I also had never gone to a blind 
school, and the only exposure I had to other blind students in elementary 
and high school was frankly a negative experience.  The first positive 
exposure I had to blind students was in college, where there were about 30 
of us from a variety of backgrounds.  It was interesting to compare notes. 
I think before that time I was a bit prejudiced against blind schools as it 
seemed like an unnecessary segregation.  In middle school I had my first 
training in mobility with a cane and to braille (I had partial vision for a 
long time.)  The school system at that time was set up so handicapped 
children attended a kind of home room where we got any physical assistance 
and special training we needed, and then from there we went to regular 
classes.  I only mention this because my teacher told me once that when she 
learned she was getting a blind student, she was absolutely scared to death 
of teaching me.  But I was self motivated (to the obnoxious level I think --  
I threw myself into everything).  And at the end of that 2 years I left her 
class with mostly wonderful memories of probably the 2 best years I would 
have in public school.

In high school I got my first CCTV, which I dragged with me to college and 
beyond.  Professors were mixed in their reaction to me -- I soon got to be 
known as a good student because I worked extremely hard at getting good 
grades -- but it meant always being on top of the accessibility roller 
coaster and getting all my adaptive aids in advance, and also talking with 
the profs before class started.  I had many experiences, such as the time in 
a physics class (my major was math and computer science) the prof handed out 
a midterm.  I took it and went to the room where my cctv was set up and 
looked at the first question. It was about a crane, and there was no 
picture.  I had no idea what a crane looked like as I had never seen one. 
Panicking, I read through all the remaining questions and found they were 
all about cranes.  There was only 1 thing to do -- I took the test back into 
class and whispered to the professor what the problem was, and his reaction 
was as follows.  He stood up and interrupted the class, and drew a picture 
of a crane on the board for those "who might not know what one looked like", 
then sat down and drew me a picture of what was on the board.  I got an A on 
the test, and had not compromised the standards of the class as I had 
exactly he same information as the class.
I also had some profs that frankly didn't like me.  One of these I took a 
whole class from.  One day he gave a lecture on something that wasn't in the 
book.  I went and asked if I could borrow the book he took the examples 
from.  He refused, saying I'd have to go to the library and research, like 
everybody else.  That required that I hire a reader, and the only book she 
found with that particular subject covered, was a 1951 engineering textbook.
I checked it out and finished my assignment, not knowing if I had the right 
understanding or not.  Turned out I had, and got my grade.  It felt so sweet 
walking out of class with that A from this professor...

Well, as for krafts, I was a kraft maven when I was in high school, trying 
about everything I could get my hands on.  The reason was that I was 
homebound from high school because of orthopedic problems and surgeries.  So 
I had lots of time alond to look at my krafts.
After high school, I was up again and busy with school, so didn't have time 
to continue krafting.
But once a craft nut, always a craft nut.
I love looking at how things are made and trying to determine how it was put 
together.

Anyway, gotta go -- happy krafting and happy Thanksgiving!!!!!
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "River Woman" <riverwoman at zoominternet.net>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 7:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] So cool!

Most people have no clue what to do with a blind person or how to teach
them. Most have never encountered a blind person up close and personal, I
think. I was very worried about this same thing when I went with my friend
to my first pottery class right after I lost my sight three years ago.  She
had no clue I could not see during the class. Afterwards, I waited till the
others had left, and I told the teacher "I don't see very well, and may need
a bit of extra help."  Of course, she had no idea how much I don't see, till
later classes. I was very lucky, my teacher turned out to be a true teacher
who has the interests of each of her students in mind when she teaches. I am
still with her and we are creating wonderful things because she became my
mentor and is so proud of what I make in her classes. When I have my first
solo show next year, as a ceramic artist, she says she is bring a bus full
of people to the opening of the show. But, this is certainly not typical.

I have to say  during my years of teaching in the college I had two
experiences with blind students. they were very negative experiences but it
was the only view I had of blind people and how they behave, or not.

They were horrible people. They expected everything and everyone to stop and
take care of their needs - came to class late, disturbed other students in
the lecture hall by coming in 20 minuted into the lecture, then shoving down
the row to get to their seat with no concern about how disturbing this is to
everyone else, 200 people, who were there on time and doing their work.

Another blind student came on my trip to Austria which was always a month
long. She created so many distractions, and there were constant problems to
the point that the tour director had to send her back home a week early for
her own safety.
This was my view of blind people - and when I lost my sight I made sure that
I would never, ever, be a person like these two are and that I would be
considerate of others and never make demands but learn to be part of the
group as a peer.
No college professor is trained to know how to deal with handicapped
students, that I know of. We are trained to work within our discipline and
have no clue as to hlow to help people with disabilities. I have had other
students with disabilities far worse than the two blind students and they
were fabulous students, did their work, came to class on time, and did not
use their disabilities as an excuse for doing nothing. The two blind
students used their blindness as a reason to do nothing and expected special
compensations all the time. It was a horrible experience to have them in my
classes, and other profs. had the same situations with them. Later, I
learned the one had been this way even at the blind rehab school.

I think as a blind person now that I need to be aware that the people with
whom I am in contact do not know how or what to do with us, and it is up to
us to lead the way and help them to help us - but with dignity, not by
demands or unrealistic expectations on the teacher.

Lynda River Woman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lauren Merryfield" <lauren1 at catliness.com>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 12:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] So cool!

> Hi,
> That is neat/cool!  I hope the lady doesn't try to keep you from coming
> back.  I had that happen once at a jewelry-making event when I showed up
> as a blind person.  There were 3 sessions and she kept putting off the 2nd
> and 3rd sessions because of my blindness.  Well, because of her attitude
> about the blindness.
> Thanks
> Lauren
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Becky Frankeberger" <b.butterfly at comcast.net>
> To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'"
> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 7:09 PM
> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] So cool!
>
>
>> My husband gave me a wonderful gift.  He bought me at a fund raiser at 4H
>> a
>> class on how to bend silver wire to make jewelry.  Isn't that sweet,
>> smile.
>> So my friend Molly and I drove to this lady's palatial home.  We started
>> off
>> with snacks.  Then we got into some of the silver wire jewelry I could
>> make
>> with her.  However snow fell like crazy and my driver got nervous.  So we
>> decided to come back another time for the actual lesson and dinner.
>> There
>> were other things she hinted at doing, but it will have to wait until
>> next
>> year as she is very busy.
>>
>> She was definitely put off that I am blind.  As we talked and related
>> stories, she relaxed and we had a marvelous visit, though short.
>>
>> Lauri she makes her own clasps.  They look like part of the actual piece.
>> Think of a sideways J, but the J has an extra curly Q.   The metal loop
>> goes
>> through the J opening and rests at the other rounded end.  It looks super
>> secure.  Anyway, I am told they are easily made.  My friend has the
>> bending
>> tool.  We will see how it goes.
>>
>> I am just so excited to learn this new craft, smile.
>>
>> When I got home my husband called a friend of his on a matter.  My
>> husband
>> mentioned I have a purple, lilac, and white throw for sell.  His friend
>> wanted a description, and then asked how much.  The throw is now sold,
>> smile. Guess I better finish the edging, giggle.
>>
>> Becky and the snow pup Jake
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
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