[Nfbf-l] Sight is Required

[Matt Roberts]

> All blind people do is sit around the house watching TV and sitting at the
> computer?  It sounds like you have your mind made up that vision equals
> success in life.  speaking of watching TV, did you happen to watch the new
> reality TV show on ABC on Thursday night?  Teams of competitors are on a
> rugged cross dessert and mountain journey to see who can come in first.  One
> of the team members is totally blind.  He is not only a very successful
> outdoorsman but he has climbed every mountain in the world including Mt.
> Everest.  His name is Erik Weihenmeyer.  Maybe you should read his book
> TOUCH THE TOP OF THE WORLD.

What they don't show you is he had to rely on sighted people to help him do this.  I read part of that book, but I found it extremely boring.  All through that book it talked about the modifications that were made for him to do this stuff.  He couldn't have done it himself.
> 
> Have you gone to a state NFB convention and met some of the blind people
> there?  Obviously not or you would not have come to the conclusion you came
> to.   I sure hope you are going to the national convention.  Sit in on the
> sports division, the lawyers division, the teachers division, the
> entrepreneur's division and on and on if you want to see what real blind
> people do.

Yes, I've been to conventions of both organizations.  I have not attended a NFB national convention, and don't know if i ever will.  I'm not going to waste my money listening to people sit around and talk about how bad things are, how we have to fight for this or that.  It doesn't solve anything.
> 
> Personally, I am a grandmother,  martial arts instructor, Western horseback
> rider, and dog trainer. and I enjoy finishing furniture, gardening, building
> clocks and other cool things.  Do I watch TV and sit at the computer, sure
> when I have time but mostly I am too busy.

Maybe the things you like to do you can do without sight.  The things I like to do require sight.  There's no getting around this!
Things are getting more and more inaccessible as time goes on and the reason is simple.  You are expected to see.
I want to access my satellite TV system independently.  Using my iPhone to do it is nice, but that can be presented with challenges.  I would like to access on-demand stuff on my TV, but can't because it isn't accessible to me.  To access on-demand, I have to do it through my computer, which means I have to sit at my computer. I want to use my TV, but seeing is required for that.  I hate calling for technical support because I am expected to read the menus for the system.  Since I can't read them, I'm told sending a tech to my house is required.  Guess what? I have to pay for that! Sighted people don't have to pay, they can do what's required.  I don't have someone sighted available 24-7!
> 
> I think you need a reality check.  I would welcome a cure of blindness but I
> am just too busy to really dwell on it.  I say in all sincerity GET A LIFE!
> 
OK, tell me how I'm supposed to "get a life?" We live in a sighted world, and opportunities are not available because of that fact.  I don't choose to only be interested in blind things!


Matt Roberts blindbiker at yahoo.com