NFBNJ-Seniors] Fw: A Unique Disability

Sun Sep 24 01:19:00 UTC 2017

As a blind person with a hearing impairment, which makes me qualified as deaf-blind, i understand exactly what this writer is talking about.  Although my hearing impairment is not as severe, audiologists have to understand that deaf-blindness, is a unique problem, and our needs are different than sighted people who loose their hearing later in life.

Ward I. Biondi

 Sent from my iPad

> On Sep 23, 2017, at 9:00 PM, Lester Cameron via NFBNJ-Seniors <nfbnj-seniors at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello
> May I say this email made me think  about my blindness
> It is to easy to  take what you have for granted to you lose it
> It is  easier for us to cope with our problem   then so called normal people to understand our problem
> I understand her problem
> My heart go's out to them
> The day I went blind I thought this is the end of my life
> It took me some time but I looked around and said thank you for what I have
> I give  a standing ovation  and a applaud the people like her
> It is like living in a sound proof room that has no light but the world around you is moving on
> It is not you running into the world it is the world running into you because they just don't  understand
> Thanks for the reminder  about life
> From Mr Lester
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Janie Degenshein via NFBNJ-Seniors
> Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2017 1:46 PM
> To: nfbnj senior list
> Cc: Janie Degenshein
> Subject: NFBNJ-Seniors] Fw: A Unique Disability
> 
> This was so profound, I thought it worthy of sharing
> Remember those of you on the senior call use your 86,400 seconds each day
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: nancy Lynn via NFBNJ-Seniors
> Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2017 1:27 PM
> To: nfbmo list ; NFBC List ; Seniors
> Cc: nancy Lynn
> Subject: NFBNJ-Seniors] A Unique Disability
> 
> I got this from another list and thought I'd share. It gives us much to
> think about.
> Hello
> The author of this brilliant thesis just passed. I wanted to share this with
> everyone. I could not have said it any better myself.
> A UNIQUE DISABILITY
> Deaf-blindness is not simply deafness plus blindness.  It is not two
> disabilities put together.  It is one unique disability.  Let me try to
> explain.  I am totally blind having lost my vision gradually starting in
> childhood.  In young adulthood I started losing my hearing.  With hearing
> aids, I am able to understand some speech in a quiet environment.
> 
> When I was only blind, I could socialize with many people at a gathering.
> Now, at best, I can converse with the individual next to me.
> 
> When I was only blind, I could interact with people in a room where the
> radio was playing, dishes were clattering and laughter abounded.  Now, with
> background noise, I can understand nothing and be alone in a crowd.
> 
> When I was only blind, I could sense sadness, joy, anger and agitation by a
> person's tone of voice.  That is no longer possible and the loss sometimes
> causes misunderstandings.
> 
> When I was only blind, I could hear the softest footsteps.  Today, I am
> repeatedly startled by the voice of a person who has entered the room with
> no forewarning.
> 
> When I was only blind, I could identify a person by his/her voice.  Now, I
> cannot tell who is talking to me unless I first hear a name.
> 
> When I was only blind, I could move quickly with my white cane and, in
> familiar surroundings, without it.  Now, I walk cautiously to avoid bumping
> people since I cannot hear if others are around or where they might be.
> 
> When I was only blind, I could retrieve a dropped item in seconds by hearing
> where it fell.  No longer able to localize sound, I must now search on my
> hands and knees and even then may not locate the item because it rolled
> behind a door or into another room.
> 
> When I was only blind, I could stand unsupported in the middle of a room,
> bend over, turn sharply and jump out of bed quickly.  This is no longer the
> case.  Like many others with hearing loss, I have balance problems, which
> prohibit abrupt movements.
> 
> When I was only blind, I had no difficulty hearing the ring of the telephone
> or doorbell.  Today, even with amplified ringers, my responses are
> inconsistent and I must consider using a vibrating alert system.
> 
> When I was only blind, talking on the telephone was fun.  Now, even with
> hearing aids combined with a volume control phone, some words are missed and
> misunderstandings occur.  Sometimes I use a Braille-type telephone, which is
> slower and does not convey the emotional nuances of the voice.
> 
> When I was only blind, I spent hours listening to "talking books".  Most
> voices now sound muffled.
> 
> When I was only blind, my husband and I enjoyed movies; he provided an
> occasional description.  Movies are confusing and no longer pleasurable.
> 
> When I was only blind, life had minimal stress.  Now, piecing together bits
> of information, localizing difficulties, balance problems,
> misunderstandings, attitudes of others and unpredictable drops in hearing
> increase daily stress and fatigue.
> 
> The list of challenges is equally long for individuals who are deaf and have
> lost or are losing vision.  Deaf people rely on their vision to compensate
> for their hearing loss.  Blind people use their hearing to compensate for
> their sight loss.  Deaf-blind people are only able to compensate for the
> loss of both sight and hearing by learning deaf-blind specific adaptations
> that focus on developing and integrating touch, taste, smell, kinesthesia
> and any remaining vision or hearing.
> 
> "When I acknowledged the need and learned new ways of doing old things, my
> splintered pieces combined into a complete, though narrowed, whole.  I
> rejoice once again in being able -- differently able."
> 
> Ruth Silver
> 1931-2017, leaves her brilliant thesis
> 
> 
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