[nfbwatlk] question about wearing sunglasses

[mjc59 at q.com]

I have some movement in my eyes, so even though i can see people I don't make eye contact. For me, I would feel like wearing sunglasses would be hiding behind something and also catering to sighted people's stereotypes about blindness; that my eyes are somehow ugly and must not be seen by others. I believe that the way I carry myself and speak to others conveys who I am. Sighted people who are that hung up about eye contact will always find something to be uncomfortable about being around a blind person. I bought a T-shirt at state convention that sums in up, at least for me. It has the eye chart numbers in 2 columns on either side, and the words in the middle say (in smaller and smaller print as you look farther down) "I am who I am. Your approval is not needed"

When a sighted person does bring up the issue of eye contact I am not rude. I just say something like "Yes, my eyes do look different." I might tell them that I know someone is nearby because I can hear them moving or their breathing. Then I move the conversation to another subject. 

Well, that's my perspective on the matter. You are a beautiful person, Lauren and as Dr. Jernigan always said; It is respectable to be blind. I hope we get to see each other again sometime.

Marci

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kaye Kipp" <kkipp123 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 6:19:28 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] question about wearing sunglasses

Well, I have the same issue with my eyes.  They're usually half closed, but 
I don't want to wear sunglasses.

Kaye
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lauren Merryfield" <lauren1 at catliness.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 2:39 AM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] question about wearing sunglasses


> Hi,
> I know this may seem odd, but it would be interesting, and possibly 
> helpful, to get some feedback about the pros and cons of blind people 
> wearing sunglasses.  I know that a long time ago, Dr. Jernigan wrote a 
> piece about it but I haven't been able to locate it.
>
> In my case, my original eyes were very weird--the right one was enlarged 
> and purplish in color.  My left one was small and sunken in.  Kids used to 
> comment on them or ask me about them.  As an adult, I wore sunglasses.
>
> I eventually had both of my eyes removed due to very painful glaucoma.  So 
> then I had pretty, blue eyes.  I had the unusual opportunity of choosing 
> my eye color.  So I figured that meant I didn't need to wear sunglasses 
> anymore.  I also felt kind of like I was hiding behind the sunglasses.
>
> But most of the time, my eyes are half-opened or half-closed, whichever 
> way one wants to think about it--like the glass being half full or half 
> empty.  Some people assume I am asleep, unapproachable, or withdrawn 
> because my eyes are not wide opened.
>
> So now I am wondering if I ought to wear sunglasses again.  I could try it 
> just to see if sighted people respond better to me or not.
>
> I know I do not have good eye contact and that seems to bother some 
> sighted people.
>
> Well, there's some food for thought.  Yeah, I know, I always get back to 
> the subject of food, hahaha.
> Thanks
> Lauren
>
> advice from my cats: "meow when you feel like it."
> The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be
> understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.
> -- Ralph Nichols
> Visit us at catliness.com
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