[Ohio-talk] some thoughts and humor

Tue Nov 24 15:19:41 UTC 2015

Hi Marianne, sorry to request your address on this list, but my address book
has been lost due to my last computer crashing.  Thank you, Sherry 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marianne
Denning via Ohio-talk
Sent: Monday, November 23, 2015 1:44 PM
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
Cc: Marianne Denning
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] some thoughts and humor

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

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