[nfbwatlk] question about wearing sunglasses - Email found in subject

Wed Feb 13 02:01:53 UTC 2013

This is an interesting topic for a teacher.  I am careful to instruct my students to face me when speaking to me not necessarily "look at me".  I want to take off the emphasis of having to look to be part of a conversation.  That it is the social standard to face a person when conversing with them.  Parents frequently complain that their children hang their head when listening.  This may be a sign of concentration rather than ignoring the speaker.  However, it is important for children to understand that as we live in a sighted world the social etiquette of facing people is important.
Denise Mackenstadt
dmackenstadt at comcast.net

On Feb 11, 2013, at 1:50 PM, Stephanie Koetje <skoetje at nwcenter.org> wrote:

> Excellent! Thanks Mike.
> SK
> 
> 
> Stephanie Koetje | Administrative Support and Volunteer Coordinator
> Northwest Center Foundation - People of All Abilities
> 7272 W Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108
> office 206.378.6365
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> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Freeman [mailto:k7uij at panix.com] 
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 1:10 PM
> To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] question about wearing sunglasses - Email found in subject
> 
> Patti Chang, President of the NFB of IL has them.
> 
> Mike Freeman
> sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Feb 11, 2013, at 12:57, Stephanie Koetje <skoetje at nwcenter.org> wrote:
> 
>> I need to find that t-shirt! Love it!
>> Stephanie
>> 
>> 
>> Stephanie Koetje | Administrative Support and Volunteer Coordinator 
>> Northwest Center Foundation - People of All Abilities
>> 7272 W Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA 98108 office 206.378.6365 Facebook 
>> |  Twitter |  YouTube | Sign up for Our Newsletter | Our Stories
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: mjc59 at q.com [mailto:mjc59 at q.com]
>> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 12:02 PM
>> To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] question about wearing sunglasses
>> 
>> 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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>> 
>> 
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