[Nfb-krafters-korner] Edie Eckmen Workshops

[River Woman]

What a good experience you had in learning to crochet. You are very lucky 
that you were able to breach the divide with the instructor.
It is so true, that most people who are teachers have never encountered a 
blind person in their life, in a person to person way.  I think that by 
being proactive and going to the teacher ahead of class time was the perfect 
thing to do. The other thing is that you did not expect the teacher to spend 
most of her time with you and your learning experience and neglect the 
others in the class in doing so.   I had kind of an experience like this the 
first time I went into the pottery class at the art center, where I have now 
made pottery for six years.  In my case, I was so nervous that she would not 
want a blind person in her class. I waited untill the first class was over, 
and most of the others had left, and then I went to her to say that "I 
cannot see very well."  Which was a very big stretch of the imagination and 
in no way gave her the true picture of my condition. She learned week by 
week just how little I could really see and these days we laugh about it and 
she loves to surprise students at times, by asking me to tell them my 
secret. They have no clue I cannot see and usually they are in utter 
disbelief, as I work my clay and make my things in class. It's been a good 
experience for me, but I know of many others who have tried taking art 
classes at various places and it is a disaster just waiting to happen.
You are very lucky!  Lynda

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cathy" <flowersandherbs at gmail.com>
To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 9:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Edie Eckmen Workshops


> Hi Annette,
>
> I am glad to hear that you are willing to try taking a class in your
> community. It does have its challenges, for there is usually the need to
> introduce the instructor to a blind person for perhaps the first time as
> well as describing to the instructor the things that will most help you.
>
> I learned to crochet from a class offered in my community and I suspected
> that I would face these challenges I mentioned so I came a bit early to 
> the
> class the first night and introduced myself to the instructor and asked 
> her
> straight away if she'd ever met or taught a blind person. She had done
> neither and expressed her uncertainty that she would be able to help me.
> This gave me the opportunity to reassure her and explain to her how she
> might best assist me. She felt reassured and when class began she treated 
> me
> just like the other students and watched me crochet and helped me in the
> various ways I'd described, such as watching me crochet and stopping me 
> when
> I began to do a step wrong and then describing what I should do from that
> point. I was quickly able to crochet along with the rest of the class and
> began to create my first granny square that night. So, my advice is to be
> proactive and encouraging to the instructor and chances are you can get 
> her
> to give you the help you need to succeed in the class.
>
> Happy attaching crocheted squares. Reminds me, I've got to get to 
> attaching
> my crocheted squares to make that felted bag, I've got them on hold for 
> the
> moment. I am more interested in making the shawl I plan to teach next 
> month.
> The loom knit shawl is coming along nicely.
>
> Cathy
>
>
>
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