[Nfb-or] should the blind adapt to the world, or should the world adapt to us?

[Mike Freeman]

I agree with Mike below. Every time someone asks me why the blind can't 
all agree, I ask them why all African-americans can't agree? (grin)

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Sivill" <mike.sivill at viewplus.com>
To: "'NFB of Oregon mailing list'" <nfb-or at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 2:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-or] should the blind adapt to the world,or should the 
world adapt to us?


I definitely agree with Joe that the main reasons for blind people not
wanting to associate with others is differing skill levels and levels of
independence. I think it's mostly because the more independent person
doesn't want others to assume he or she needs the assistance that their
blind friend might need and compromise that dignity and respect that Joe
also mentioned in his post.  For example, when I was in college I had a
friend with low vision who was really dependent on sighted people for 
many
things. I liked hanging out with the guy but he was always asking people 
to
open containers for him and stuff like that and frankly it was 
embarrassing.
There was also the fact that he walked very slow until he finally got an 
NFB
cane that was long enough for him.

And then you get the less independent blind person not believing that 
the
more independent one can do what he or she claims even when they display
this in actions. It is a frustrating situation and you don't want to be
dragged down.

There is also the issue of differing philosophies about blindness. Some
people think of it as a handicap and others think of it as a 
characteristic.
Some think of it as a curse and some think of it as a blessing and 
others
just think that it's just how things are. These opinions are very strong 
and
drive wedges between people. I'm sure they also exist among the deaf and
other "disabled" groups.

The main reason Deaf culture, and hence the Deaf community,  exists and
Blind culture does not is that Deaf people share a language unique to 
their
group. Sure the blind share many experiences amongst us but that does 
not
breed culture like a common language does. The fact is that we can
communicate with anyone who speaks our language or languages and Deaf 
people
can only really meaningfully communicate  with other people who know 
their
sign language, if you'll excuse my broad statement. Most articles about 
Deaf
culture say that this includes hearing people who know sign language 
like
children of Deaf parents or interpreters. This helps to illustrate the 
point
that language defines a culture rather than disability or any other 
physical
characteristic doing so. That is why they are so close as a community 
and
why we have so many different blindness organizations, because so many 
of us
have descenting opinions and philosophies.
Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-or-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-or-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
Behalf
Of alena roberts
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 2:00 PM
To: NFB of Oregon mailing list
Subject: Re: [Nfb-or] should the blind adapt to the world,or should the
world adapt to us?

Joe,

I think you bring up a really interesting point, and if you bring it
up on the list in a separate thread, I would like to be a part of that
discussion. I think you're right about a lack of a blind community
which is unfortunate. Maybe this is because there is such a wide range
of skill level and sight impairment. Based on this thread it seems
like we have a hard time as a community with coming up with something
we can all agree to. I would really like to see the blind community
getting as close as the deaf community. Is that something anyone here
thinks we can achieve. If so how?

-- 
Alena Roberts
Blog: http://www.blindgal.com/

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