[nfb-talk] Making Our Homes Comfortable and Accessibleto BlindFolks

[Loren Wakefield]

When my wife and I were first married, wde nevedr worried about lights.  If 
we remembered them fine, if not, who cared?

When we had our first child, it was late november.  We noticed that in the 
late afternoon early eveing, her would start getting really fussy and even 
start screaming.  It finally dawned on me that he wanted some light.  The 
sun sets early here in those months, so it was drven home to us real quick.

I try and make things comfortable for both those who are blind, and those 
who are sighted.  I don't always succeed, but I do try.  My kids watch a lot 
of video here and other tv things, so I am even considering gtetting a 
large-screen high def tv.  Does that make a difference to me?  No way.  But 
it does make them happy.  And that has a lot of improtance to me as well.



-----Original Message----- 
From: Karen Rose
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 2:11 PM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Making Our Homes Comfortable and Accessibleto 
BlindFolks

I definitely do lights, both for my sighted friends and for my sighted
animals.  But while I decorate both of my offices with pictures on the
walls, my art at home is small sculptures.  I'm debating about the art on
walls at home, but it seems an unnecessary expense.

Karen

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Loren Wakefield
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 9:29 AM
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Making Our Homes Comfortable and Accessible to
BlindFolks

I make our home comfortable for us.  At the same time, we still have sighted

kids and friends in and out of here, so we make special adptations for them.

One of these is lights.  (smile)  We try to have our rooms accessable and
useable to us and our visitors and kids.  In short do what you wish and
works for you.  It is your home after all.  But if you eliminate anything
that might make it more friendly to sighted people, then don't be surprised
if none of them come over.  We may not like it, but this is asighted world.
And we must function in it.

Loren



-----Original Message----- 
From: d m gina
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 10:53 AM
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Making Our Homes Comfortable and Accessible to
BlindFolks

I have our home comfortable for us, if there are changes to be made
they are for us.
Now I do turn on lights in the winter time, for a bird clock to work.
this also helps sighted when they come, but this is for me.
Tv We can turn on the TV turn down the volume if we wish and have the
sound come threw the stario and the picture is on the tv.
If a sighted person were living here, that would be different, since
they don't then I make my home comfortable for us.
If they can't adjust then they can pay their own hotel.

Original message:
> Hi there,



> Here's a question that I guess could also be somewhat philosophical in
> that
> it will make us think about how we deal with and interact with sighted
> people.



> As blind folks, do you think we have a responsibility to not only make our
> homes comfortable and accessible for us and the folks with whom we live,
> but
> also to sighted folks?

> I've heard comments in the past that basically say that since it's a blind
> person's home, then the only thing that should be of concern is that
> things
> are comfortable and accessible for the blind person.



> I've been thinking a lot about this over a long period of time.  I have
> some
> friends that come over, and one in particular who stays in my guest room
> when he's in town, and when all of that happens, I'm the only blind person
> around.  All of a sudden, I begin to think about lights and the amount of
> light in a room.  I begin thinking of making sure that appliances that are
> labeled in Braille are done using clear tape so that they can also use
> them.
> I even began thinking of the layout of my living room and how one of my
> friends finally said that it was uncomfortable to do things like watch TV
> or
> watch movies, because of how my furniture and TV are placed.  People have
> to
> face sideways to be able to watch TV.  And, my TV is so old that it
> doesn't
> support or have HD capabilities.



> I began wondering about the importance of a blind person having an
> aesthetically or visually appealing house, not only for himself but also
> for
> the sighted friends and family that come to visit.  Are we being selfish
> by
> not considering these things, or should sighted company learn to live with
> how we have things and deal with them?



> I'm beginning to think that if I care about my friends and family, then I
> should do something to make them feel comfortable in a place where they
> spend quite a bit of time.  But then, where does one draw the line?



> Anyway, hope you don't mind the question.  Just curious what other blind
> folks (especially those who are totally blind) think.

> Thanks,

> Jim





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