[Ohio-talk] some thoughts and humor

Mon Nov 23 18:44:11 UTC 2015

Thanks.

On 11/23/15, Robert Spangler via Ohio-talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> That would be great!  Also, I do agree with Barbara that it would be a great
> outline for creating a speech to a class or other gathering about blindness.
>  It could be both informative and humorous!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Abby
> Bolling via Ohio-talk
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 12:34 PM
> To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Abby Bolling <violingirl30794 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] some thoughts and humor
>
> that would be absolutely amazing! and hellarious! I wonder if he would?
>
> On 11/23/2015 11:50 AM, Sheri Albers via Ohio-talk wrote:
>> Marianne,
>> This is priceless! I'll bet President Riccobono could use this in his
>> banquet speech at the next national convention! Just say'in!
>> Sheri Albers
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Marianne Denning via Ohio-talk
>> Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2015 8:59 PM
>> To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
>> Cc: Marianne Denning
>> Subject: [Ohio-talk] some thoughts and humor
>>
>> I am back home after attending the NFB state convention.  I have to say
>> this was one of the most productive, active and interesting state
>> conventions I have attended.  We do have our work cut out for us and I am
>> anxious to get started.  I also read this information and thought I would
>> post it here.  For those who were at the convention, look at number 5.
>>
>> 17 Easy Ways To Make A Blind Person’s Day
>>
>> 1. When introducing yourself, use loud, exaggerated speech. Since we’re
>> blind, it’s safe to assume we’re a little dim, too.
>> 2. Don’t speak directly to us. It’s always best to talk over our heads
>> like we’re not there at all, especially if you are offering a service.
>> Example:
>> “What would she like to order?” Be sure to ignore our attempts to answer
>> for ourselves.
>> 3. Grab or otherwise manipulate our bodies whenever and wherever you deem
>> necessary. For example, if you intuitively perceive that we’re going the
>> wrong way (even if you haven’t asked where that is) just snatch the
>> nearest limb and lead on, Macduff!
>> 4. If you aren’t in a position to grab us, you can always shout
>> instructions in the hope that we’ll know what you’re talking about. If we
>> look baffled, just keep repeating the instructions in an increasingly
>> frantic tone.
>> We’ll clue in eventually.
>> 5. Remind us often how grateful we should be that people are willing to
>> provide accommodations for us. While it’s unlikely that we will ever, ever
>> forget this for more than five minutes at a time, it’s a good idea to slam
>> the thought home when we’re not expecting it. It builds character.
>> 6. Stage loud conversations about us while we’re in the room, because we
>> won’t hear. If we hear, it’s okay, because we won’t understand. If we
>> understand, it’s okay, because we won’t care.
>> 7. Keep all conversation firmly focused on blindness. If we try to
>> interject by discussing our education or interests, just redirect us.
>> We get carried
>> away trying to be all normal, so it’s helpful to keep us on track!
>> 8. Be sure to describe all the other blind people you’ve ever met, in
>> extravagant detail. We couldn’t be more fascinated by that blind guy who
>> skied, and that other blind guy who went to school with you, and that
>> blind girl you met on the train once—the one with the cute puppy… 9. Make
>> a habit of asking us why we’re “here”. If we’re on the bus, ask us why
>> we’re out alone. If we’re at work, ask us how we got the job. If we’re in
>> class, ask us why we’re in university. If we seem offended, ignore us:
>> deep down inside, we really enjoy presumptuous interrogation!
>> 10. Dispense advice about how we should live our lives; the less you know
>> us, the more valuable your feedback will be. If you need a good starting
>> point, you can begin by analyzing our mobility tool of choice (cane or
>> dog) and emphatically demanding that we switch. We love that.
>> 11. Involve yourself in our love lives, specifying exactly the type of
>> person we should date and why. If you think we should date a sighted
>> person because they’ll be able to take care of us, we’ll want to hear all
>> about it.
>> If you think we should date a blind person because we should “stick to our
>> own kind”
>> we will be all ears!
>> 12. Give us things—money, coupons, whatever—because you pity us and want
>> to make our day better. Don’t be phased by any apparent expressions of
>> confusion.
>> (“Oh, that’s just my gratitude face!”) 13. Stop us on the street and
>> thank whomever we’re with for helping/taking care of/being so kind to us.
>> It’s not as though we have real friends who genuinely enjoy our company.
>> No: if we’re out with a sighted person, they are fulfilling a purely
>> charitable role. They will appreciate your praise, and we will feel extra
>> extra grateful!
>> 14. Place your hands on us in any public place and pray. If we gently
>> explain that we don’t want to be prayed for, rest assured that it’s just
>> the secular cynicism doing the talking. When our sight is miraculously
>> restored, you’ll be the first to know.
>> 15. Make as many potentially dangerous practical jokes as you can think
>> of. A few good ideas include warning us of imaginary obstacles (“Watch out
>> for that tree-just kidding!”), concealing our possessions, and encouraging
>> us to “find” you while you run gleefully around us in circles. These were
>> a staple of primary school, and I treasure many pleasant memories from
>> that era. Do me a favour, and bring back the nostalgia!
>> 16. Refer to us as “that blind person” even after you know our names.
>> Blindness is so integral to our identities that our names are really just
>> decorative, so there’s no need to remember or use them. If we fail to
>> answer to “Hey, blind girl/guy!” just keep trying. We’ll learn to love it.
>> 17. Assume that our default status is “Help!” If we reassure you that
>> we’re okay, thanks, don’t fall for it. Insisting upon rescuing us every
>> time we cross paths places us into a position of dependence, which is
>> exactly where we belong.
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>> (513) 607-6053
>>
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>
>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053