[nfb-talk] Extra Tax Exemption

[T. Joseph Carter]

I'll agree blindness has little to do with the size of your room.  
But I can imagine blindness-related needs for space, depending on 
your equipment, Braille books, etc.  But that's an individual matter, 
not a cookie cutter accommodation.  Universities rarely understand 
that few accommodations really are "cookie cutter" for anyone.

But that's a whole other debate for another list.  *smile*

Joseph

On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 01:21:44AM -0500, qubit wrote:
>I see no reason a blind person would "need" either a double or single room,
>because of blindness that is.  I personally liked having roommates.  But
>there were also years when I paid for a single room. When I got into my big
>accident (won't bore you with the details) I needed a nurse's aid liing with
>me for a few months, and that required me to get a double room and pay for
>my dorm mate to work as an aide.  But that is another situation altogether.
>Blindness alone had no effect on need for a particular living arrangement.
>Now you know what's really fun is when you mislay something and can't find
>it and you have a little thought in the back of your head that your roommate
>or someone with her had something to do with its appearance, but you say
>nothing because you know that in all probability it was you who mislaid it.
>Now I found that 99.99% of the time I was right in saying nothing and
>letting the matter go. It is not worth damaging a good relationship by
>making accusations.
>On the other hand, I had a friend in a wheelchair down the hall who also had
>an aid. She was not blind, but her aid was the cleptomaniac aide from
>hell -- left her high and dry one day by disappearing, so my friend (who was
>quadroplegic) had to find a new aid, then discover that her aide had stolen
>all her cash and her bank card, went on a shopping spree with the card and
>disappeared. She had also not stopped there, but went down the hall and
>stole from everyone who left their door open.
>So we all have our trials in life.
>That's one I would hate to have.
>Count your blessings.
>--le
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net>
>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 12:52 AM
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Extra Tax Exemption
>
>
>I would have to agree. I think that at times we spend too much time as blind
>people trying to prove our independence when we need to just do what we need
>to do. If it is more convenient and appropriate to use a convenience then do
>it and let it be an individual choice. When I was in college I had single
>dorm rooms because I took heavy course loads and did most of my studying
>during the night as I worked two part time jobs and required much additional
>storage space for tapes--reel to reel in those days. so it was more
>convenient and less disruptive to other people.
>Chuck
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "T. Joseph Carter" <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2010 5:42 PM
>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Extra Tax Exemption
>
>
>> My opinion, generally unasked-for though it may be, is that we worry
>> sometimes far too much about what people might think if they see
>> something.
>>
>> Over on the NABS list, someone asked about the notion that she might need
>> a single dorm room for herself.  The immediate response from the list was
>> that she must at all costs refuse this on the grounds that she should not
>> wish to be seen as needing something.
>>
>> How insecure in oneself must one be to constantly assume that something as
>> simple as asking for more than half a shoebox as a living arrangement
>> somehow connotes inferiority? I gave the most logical advice I could:  If
>> you want a roommate, do not allow the school to isolate you.  If you
>> don't, ask for a single.  If someone asks if it's for your disability,
>> answer honestly that it is simply your preference.
>>
>> Being a bit older than the average undergraduate, not a small person, and
>> having more possessions than comfortably fit in half a shoebox, I greatly
>> valued my single room.  I paid for the privilege, as did half of the
>> students on my floor.  I did move eventually into a graduate student
>> apartment, which required special approval, but the request was based on
>> age and personality, not disability.
>>
>> Joseph
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 10:49:18PM -0700, ckrugman at sbcglobal.net wrote:
>>>In my experience I have never heard or run across any negative feelings
>>>about it on the part of society as a whole. The benefits of it for
>>>idnividuals outweigh any alleged unproven detriments as a whole.
>>>Chuck
>>
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