[Ohio-talk] Eyes are everything

Fri May 13 14:09:54 UTC 2016

Chuck, I worked as a rehabilitation teacher and most of the people I
worked with were losing vision due to macula degeneration.  I don't
have a problem with the statement that eyes are important but they are
not everything.  I know what you mean about the concerns about medical
treatments.  I hope you keep going to the group because you bring a
great perspective.

On 5/13/16, barbara.pierce9366--- via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I have seen that commercial, and it drives me crazy. I too am discouraged at
> the attitude of most seniors losing sight. I think there are a rare fw with
> common-sense attitudes about losing vision. I guess that we try to identify
> those few and work on them. The attitudes you describe, Chuck are
> frustrating to say the least. The good news is that I bet we drive them as
> crazy as they do us.
>
> Barbara
> Barbara Pierce
> President Emerita
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
> Barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com
> 440-774-8077
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
> between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
> blindness is not what holds you back.
>
>> On May 12, 2016, at 9:07 PM, Chuck Hallenbeck via Ohio-Talk
>> <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Marianne,
>>
>> I have been meeting with a low vision support group in Geauga
>> County, consisting of 8 or 10 elderly people with age-related macular
>> degeneration, and myself, a totally blind elder.  My experience has been
>> that the group is primarily motivated by the fear of going blind, and is
>> totally preoccupied with the details of their medical treatments and the
>> relative merits of their doctors.  The only kinds of adaptive devices
>> they are interested in a are those that enhance their failing vision.
>>
>> Their attitudes are deeply held, and I believe they are instilled and
>> supported by their doctors, and by the experts who write books about
>> that condition.
>>
>> I have tried to show them that it was not the end of the world to be
>> without eyesight, but that is a very foreign idea to them.  Last week I
>> brought my Talking Book reader to the meeting, and showed them ten Talking
>> Books on macular degeneration, urging them to supplement what their
>> doctors tell them with material published by experts.  They complained
>> that they don't like listening to tapes, cannot comprehend that Talking
>> Books are not on tape any more, and in fact several have returned their
>> readers to the library as being of no use to them.
>>
>> One of the books had a chapter assuring them they will not "go blind"
>> and will never have to use a dog guide.  Another book emphasizes the
>> importance of eyes by asking the reader to "imagine not being able to
>> ever read a book again."  When that passage was played for the group,
>> I stopped the machine and pointed out that we were at that very moment
>> reading a book just fine without anyone using any eyes to do so.
>>
>> I am very pessimistic about being able to help persons in the group to
>> adopt more constructive attitudes toward their condition.  And frankly,
>> the audio books I called to their attention were not all that helpful,
>> but they were the only ones available.  They, like the group members
>> themselves, emphasized the medical treatment details and seemed to regard
>> the loss of sight as the end of the world.
>>
>> I'm sure there must be more enlightened medical authorities out there
>> somewhere, but they are certainly in a minority if they are.
>>
>> Chuck
>>
>> On Thu, May 12, 2016 at 08:10:27PM -0400, Marianne Denning via Ohio-Talk
>> wrote:
>>> I saw a commercial tonight for vitamins for people with macular
>>> degeneration.  At the end it says, "your eyes are everything."  Does that
>>> mean that those of us with no vision are nothing or people who are
>>> legally
>>> blind are only 10% something?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>>> (513) 607-6053
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>> --
>> Willoughby Ohio
>>   Temperature 75�F
>>   Conditions Overcast
>> The Moon is Waxing Crescent (43% of Full)
>>
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>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053