[nfbmi-talk] The Blind and Occupy Wall Street, One Person's Experience

[joe harcz Comcast]

Interesting Fred,

My lady friend from Philly did participate with some of the activities there 
along with others with other disabilities including those with ADAPT.

They used their presence and background with direct action to educate the 
people and to include those with visual and physical disabilities.

While, it is very true there was not disability, let alone blindness 
specific awareness for lack of better words they were heard and listened to. 
They were not treated by a long shot in the manner of this author.

I'm not saying this to discredit the perceptions or experience portrayed 
here. Frankly, I don't doubt it for a moment for there are a lot of ignorant 
people in the world including those in this movement.

I only offer this to show another set of experiences related to the same 
movement.

I'm certain that there is a whole lot of similar ranges of experiences by 
blind folks in the Tea Party thing too ranging from the good to the bad to 
the ugly.

Still this is one person's legitimate experience and I thank you for sharing 
it.

Joe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at att.net>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 10:36 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] The Blind and Occupy Wall Street,One Person's 
Experience


> Here is a post from the Vision Aware Blog site.
> http://visionaware.blogspot.com/2011/10/occupy-wall-street-maybe-its-97-my.h
> tml
>
>
>
> Tuesday, November 1, 2011
>
> Occupy Wall Street: Maybe It's the 97%? My Visit To Zuccotti Park
>
> Photo of a plastic Guy Fawkes mask looped over the handle of a wheeled
> suitcase
>
> Last Friday, I decided to see for myself what Occupy Wall Street was all
> about.
>
> (That's a mobile and symbolic Guy Fawkes pictured at left.)
>
> I walked downtown, camera in hand, to
>
> Zuccotti Park
>
> (which is quite small, by the way) because I was interested to learn if 
> any
> blind
>
> or visually impaired activists were about. My journalistic curiosity 
> needed
> satisfying.
>
> Photo of the OWS Media Tent. It's a blue tarp over a pop-up tent, with a
> bicycle propped on it.
>
> I entered the park from Liberty Street and headed for the media tent area
>
> (at right)
>
> , where a handwritten sign on an upended crate said "Media inquiries 
> only."
> Hmm,
>
> I said to myself. I guess I'm media - of a sort.
>
> I joined the line, camera slung around my neck, notebook in hand, trying 
> my
> best
>
> to look properly media-ish. (Things smelled a bit .
>
> dank
>
> , but not overwhelmingly so. It was rather like my tent after a two-week
> stint at
>
> the Girls' Club overnight camp, back in the day.)
>
> After a ten-minute wait, it was finally my turn:
>
> Me: Hi. I'm from American Foundation for the Blind and I'm looking for 
> blind
> activists
>
> here. I'm doing a story and I'd like to interview any blind people who are
> part of
>
> the movement.
>
> OWS Media Spokesperson: Disabled? No disabled yet. But we're getting some
> wheelchairs
>
> next week.
>
> Me (thinking): "Disabled" is an adjective, you dolt. Disabled whom? . OK,
> Maureen.
>
> Stay calm. Don't be hostile. You came here for a story, after all.
>
> Me: Not necessarily people in wheelchairs, thanks. I asked about
>
> blind activists.
>
> OWSMS: Blind? No, no blind here. But this isn't a very secure atmosphere 
> for
> the
>
> blind. You know how the blind use their senses to smell and the like? 
> Well,
> there's
>
> so many different smells here that the blind would be completely
> disoriented.
>
> Me (thinking): Oy with the smells again. Au contraire, dude. "The blind"
> would likely
>
> know, much better than you, which smells to avoid. Like you, for instance.
>
> Me: Ah, yes. A classic sensory experience. Actually, I know several blind
> people
>
> who are interested in coming here.
>
> OWSMS: Great! You know some blind? Bring them down! You know what happens
> when you
>
> get one blind person - then they all start to come!
>
> Me (removing my sunglasses, raising my eyebrows, and giving my best
> incredulous smile):
>
> Really? Is that what happens? How
>
> not
>
> interesting! Thank you very much.
>
> So, uh, I guess it's more like the 97%, eh? You say 99%, but after that
> encounter,
>
> I'm not convinced.
>
> Who's up for a field trip to Zuccotti Park?
>
> picture of Maureen Duffy
>
> By: Maureen A. Duffy, M.S., CVRT, Editorial Director of
>
> VisionAware
>
> . Maureen is an editor, writer, and adjunct faculty member who contributes
> numerous
>
> books, book chapters, and articles in a variety of professional and 
> academic
> publications
>
> on blindness, vision loss, and aging.
>
> Posted by VisionAWARE
>
>
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
>
>
> Fred
>
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