[Ohio-talk] some thoughts and humor

[Karen L Warner]

Marianne Denning via Ohio-talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>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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