[Nfb-krafters-korner] So cool!

Mon Nov 22 17:05:42 UTC 2010

I love reading your stories. So cool, yes!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "qubit" <lauraeaves at yahoo.com>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 9:57 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] So cool!


> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
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>>>
>>> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>>>
>>> http://www.eset.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>>
>
>
>
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