[Nfbofnc] Fw: [nfbwatlk] FW: [Youth-outreach] How Blind Youth Can ConfidentlyIntroduce Themselves To Strangers In Any Social Situation

[Albert Sanchez]

Hi All
Here is a message that I received from another NFB list for your 
information. Since I know John Bailey well from my time in Virginia  I am 
pleased to forward this to the NC List.
Yours in Federationism
Albert Sanchez
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 12:24 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] FW: [Youth-outreach] How Blind Youth Can 
ConfidentlyIntroduce Themselves To Strangers In Any Social Situation


> Excellent social tips below. However, I am moved to wonder where the 
> *parents* of the blind teens discussed below are? Isn't it the parents' 
> job to teach the social graces?
>
> Mike
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: youth-outreach-bounces at nfbnet.org 
> [mailto:youth-outreach-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of John Bailey
> Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 7:27 AM
> To: Youth outreach projects Support List
> Subject: [Youth-outreach] How Blind Youth Can Confidently Introduce 
> Themselves To Strangers In Any Social Situation
>
> How Blind Youth Can Confidently Introduce Themselves To Strangers In Any
> Social Situation
>
> Over the past few years, the national Federation of the blind of Virginia
> has made extraordinary efforts to reach out to the blind youth in our 
> state.
> One excellent example of this outreach effort is the opportunities and
> activities the NFBV have for blind teens at our annual state convention.
>
> During the weekend of November 4, 2011, Potomac chapter president and 
> Youth
> Track coordinator Tracy Soforenko organized several activities for blind
> youth that the kids would find fun while also being educational. Tracy
> invited me to participate in one of those activities.
>
> Tracy asked me to talk to the kids for a few minutes about techniques they
> can use in order to feel comfortable introducing themselves to strangers 
> in
> new environments.
>
> Part of growing up is to learn the social skills necessary to interact 
> with
> others. These skills are essential for anyone who wants to be successful 
> in
> advocating for themselves. Many of our blind teens are unsure about their
> skills and are therefore reluctant to interact with others. Tracy set up 
> an
> environment where the teens could practice their skills among friends. The
> teens got to practice introducing themselves, shaking hands, and carrying 
> on
> a conversation. And, the youth had the opportunity to become friends with
> successful blind role models.
>
> This isn't just the challenge for blind teens. Many adults blind and 
> sighted
> can be intimidated by having to introduce themselves to people they don't
> know. I gave them some tips they can use to help break-the-ice at any 
> social
> situation.
>
> One of the questions everybody has when they meet somebody new is, "what 
> can
> we talk about?" Here are two things right-off-the-bat you can talk about
> with any stranger anywhere.
>
> No matter the situation and no matter who you talk to, you have two things
> you can already talk about. The first topic you can talk about is the 
> reason
> you are both there. All social situations have some reason for gathering.
> The reason could be work related, it can be someone's birthday party, it
> could be the meeting of a local civics organization, and it could be
> anything. One good way to break the ice with a complete strangers to ask
> them, quote what brings you here? Quote
>
> Here is a second way to get a conversation going where you almost don't 
> have
> to lift a finger to participate. Asked the stranger about themselves. 
> People
> love to talk about themselves. They love to talk about their families. 
> They
> love to talk about their work. All you have to do is to listen. Believe 
> me,
> the better you listen, the more they will like you. It's just human 
> nature!
>
> It's perfectly normal to be nervous when meeting new people. I've given 
> you
> to tips that when you face any social situation, you have two sure fire 
> ways
> to start a conversation with anyone.
>
> The first tip is to ask the person why they are there. Odds are, you are
> both there for the same reason and there is already something you can 
> share.
> The second way to get a conversation going is to ask the person about
> themselves.
>
> Now that you can introduce yourself to any stranger in any social 
> situation,
> don’t forget to mention that you are a proud member of the National
> Federation of the Blind.
>
> John Bailey is membership Chair for the National Federation of the Blind 
> of
> Virginia. If you have any questions or would like to contribute any
> additional advice, John can be reached by emailing him at
> john_bailey17 at hotmail.com
>
>
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