[Nfbc-info] Fwd: [humanser] Blind Psychologist on Blind Simulations

[Lisa Irving]

I thought I would share this article with all of you. This article for their substantiates the claims of the National Federation Of The Blind that the ridiculous one minute Blind the simulations from the foundation fighting blindness are nothing more than fear provoking and damages the credibility and independence of otherwise perfectly capable individuals live with the characteristic blindness

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Begin forwarded message:

> From: Merry Schoch via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Date: October 25, 2016 at 6:25:04 AM PDT
> To: "'Human Services Division Mailing List'" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Merry Schoch <merrys at verizon.net>
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Blind Psychologist on Blind Simulations
> Reply-To: Human Services Division Mailing List <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> 
> Thank you, JD for sending out this information. I was impressed this week that the "Seeing Eye" distributed this article and I give them "Kudos" for that!  Hope you are well, JD and I am always pleased to receive articles and information that you share.
> 
> With warmest regards,
> Merry C. Schoch, LCSW
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HumanSer [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of JD Townsend via HumanSer
> Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2016 10:47 PM
> To: Human Services Mailing List
> Cc: JD Townsend
> Subject: [humanser] Blind Psychologist on Blind Simulations
> 
> 
> 
> Blindfolding Doesn't Help People Understand What It's Like to be Blind
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> list of 1 items
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> Over a year ago 
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> list end
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> by 
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> NATALIE SHOEMAKER
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> Article Image 
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> 
> 
> “You never truly know someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes.” It's an old adage that speaks for humanity to experience or imagine another person's
> 
> situation in order to understand. Put on a blindfold, for instance, and you'll instantly know what it's like to be blind. Perhaps not, according to one
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> study.
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> 
> 
> Ben Richmond from Motherboard
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> writes on a 
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> recent study
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> that shows people who experience simulated blindness perceive blind people as less capable. The lead study's author Arielle Silverman, who is a PhD candidate
> 
> at CU-Boulder's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience (and blind), spoke to Richmond in an interview, saying:
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> block quote
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> “Disability activists have long argued that simulations give a falsely negative view of disability.”
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> block quote end
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> 
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> This view may give some the impression that blind folks are less capable than those with sight. In order to prove this hypothesis, Silverman and her team
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> gathered 100 student participants. Some of the participants were blindfolded and asked to perform simple tasks from walking down a hallway to sorting coins.
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> At the study's conclusion, 53 percent of participants who were blindfolded came away with the impression that blind people are less capable. Where only
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> 34 percent of people who were not blindfolded thought the same. 
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> 
> 
> block quote
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> “Participants' attitudes were harmed because the blindfolded experience led them to believe that blind people cannot perform activities as well as people
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> with normal vision. While all participants tended to have this belief, it was more intense among the participants who had just simulated blindness.”
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> block quote end
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> Of course, Silverman disagrees with this notion. Technology has come a long way, she says, allowing the disabled to perform some duties without the need
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> of an  assistant.
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> 
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> The issue that concerns her most is that blindness simulations are often used as educational tools for students and teachers--without first consulting
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> a blind person. If participants are coming away with the notion that the blind are less able than people with sight, then these “blind simulations” don't
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> adequately represent their true abilities. Her fear is that this perception could create a misunderstanding that could hinder someone from gaining access
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> to certain jobs where managers may think the applicant wouldn't be able to carry out their duties adequately. 
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> 
> 
> block quote
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> “In my view, any educational exercise about disability should be guided first and foremost by people with disabilities, and these individuals should be
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> front and center in delivering the exercise to students. If simulations are used at all, they should be crafted so as to present participants with a balanced
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> perspective on the positive, negative and neutral aspects of having a lifelong disability.”
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> block quote end
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> 
> 
> Read more at 
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> Motherboard
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> JD Townsend LCSW
> Helping the light dependent to see.
> Daytona Beach, Earth, Sol System
> 
> 
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