[Nfb-krafters-korner] So cool!

Mon Nov 22 17:17:19 UTC 2010

Sure.  This teacher is a nun, and we have become very good friends.  She is 
so proud of how she helped me to make pottery. We were both featured by the 
Sweetwater Art Center, Sewickley, PA in a recent publication about a 
teacher/student feature at the art center.  The flyer was in color, she on 
one side, me on the other, and our story about my classes with her at the 
center and how I make pottery.  It showed a photo of me working the clay and 
the pot I am doing is enormous.  She spoke of how proud she is that I came 
to the center and she got to work with me.

I guess the reason it worked so well is:
1.) I approached her myself after class and explained my situation and that 
I might need a "little bit of help sometimes."

2.) I never stopped her and questioned her during her demonstrations for the 
students. It took her quite a while to figure out I could not see her hands 
or what they were doing on the clay. But, I did not want to thrust myself 
into the other student's learning time by stopping and asking questions. 
Instead I listened very carefully, every time she lectured and demonstrated.

3.) I do everything for myself in the class that is possible.
I do not ever use blindness as an excuse for failures. And, I laugh at my 
failures, just like anyone else would.
I get any help I need from anyone, but it is because I am considerat of them 
and their time.  I remember my own two experiences with blind students that 
was so negative.

Lynda River Woman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Zimmer, Cindy" <cindy.zimmer at nebraska.gov>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 11:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] So cool!

> Lynda,
> Do you mind if I keep this story and use it in seminar sometime?
>
> Thanks,
> Cindy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of River Woman
> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 7:34 AM
> To: List for blind crafters and artists
> 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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