[rehab] NEW THOUGHT PROVOKER #146- Blindness Makes Your other Senses Stronger

[Robert Newman]

Fellow Rehabilitation Professionals
RE:  Blindness Makes Your Other Senses Stronger

The newest THOUGHT PROVOKER is all about one of the most common
misconceptions that a person with blindness can experience. This one is a
great one to discuss and assist the blind person to work out their
understanding and response. (Like, what is the truth here?) If you have not
read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect responses and post
them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn from and that URL
is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info <http://thoughtprovoker.info/>   If you wish
to receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask,
at-  newmanrl at cox.net 


THOUGHT PROVOKER 146
Blindness Makes Your Other Senses Stronger

 "Blindness has made your other senses stronger," said my friend. 

"How many times have I heard that one? Let me count the ways." I was out
running errands and had bumped into a friend. She hadn't seen me for a
while; once after I was newly blinded, going through lots of heartache and
adjustment, But not since blindness training. Our conversation had started
out with catching up, then too predictably morphed exclusively into my
blindness. This "blindness and senses" thing had come as I was trying to
change the topic by mentioning I could smell Lilacs.

Back on task, I got moving; had many errands to complete before heading
home. The reunion with my friend had occurred in an open-air courtyard,
nestled in the center of a local shopping mall. Re-entering the roofed
section, still thinking about my friend's opinion that my sense of smell was
keener than the norm, I started giving my cane an extra hard tap. My
immediate goal was a pet store and knowing from past trips, that its door
was recessed, I knew I could locate it if I could get a good echo read on
it. 

"May I help you?" A woman's voice in my path startled me. Then an opening
door to the right brought the sound of birds and puppies.

 "ah, thanks, no." Pointing to the pet store. "I just heard what I'm looking
for."

"Oh --- ah," the woman responded, first in puzzlement, then realization. "I
am always so amazed what you people can hear!"

In the store- "I've heard that some of you can feel color." Says the sales
clerk. I was rubbing the cloth of a cat blanket between thumb and
forefinger; she had come over to answer a few questions I had.

In a different Isle, lifting a package of cat treats to my nose for a quick
smell (knowing how picky my cat Catty is), I jerked it away. Thinking, "OH
MY GOD, get caught, she's going to ask me if you want to taste these?"

Later- "Catty, I'm home. Brought you a present." My cat was a medium size
short-hair tabby and we had a great relationship. Listening for the silvery
tinkle of her collar bell, knowing her movements were so smooth that sound
may not herald her arrival. Since my blindness, Catty had taken to giving me
more physical contact than before. The cutest example is when she will reach
out with a paw to touch me, as though she knew I could not see her and it is
her way of saying, "Here I am." And I heard nothing until the warm length of
her rubbed against my legs. Setting my purchases down on the hall table I
picked her up and stroked her soft coat.

"Okay, down girl. We've got other duties. Tomorrow we have company and we've
got to get this place sparkling."

First was to get the vacuum sweeper going. I had one of those robotic
sweepers, and it did a great job; my nickname for it is Robby. It is a
wheeled, flat disk that is 3.5 inches tall by 13 across and looks like a
ground-hugging flying saucer. With its motorized wheels churning and its
primitive robotic brain processing, it would independently travel around a
room in a random pattern and though it took longer to complete the job, the
key was, it was doing it while you went off and did something else. I pushed
its start button, sending it off to do its job; closing the doors to the
living room to box it in.

Later, I ran across my package from this morning and discovered the blanket
I had bought for Catty. I walked all through the house calling for her;
didn't hear a single TINK of her bell.

IN the living room, Robby was still tracking back and forth doing his thing,
and still no Catty. I started to worry, "Had she gotten out?" Thinking,
"Where were those" near super heightened senses when you need them?"
Standing there, Robby came trundling up and as he went by, I felt a familiar
touch on my bare leg. "Catty!" That darn cat was riding Robby!

Read through the above short story and send me your thoughts at:
newmanrl at cox.net  Recall that I place all responses upon my web site as soon
as I receive them for all the world to read and learn from and that web site
url is http://www.thoughtprovoker.info <http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/> 
		What IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS: Thought Provoker is an
independent e-mail discussion forum with the purpose to aid in the effort to
change what it means to be blind. Participants, both readers and writers
share their honest feelings and we learn from each other.  I Robert Leslie
Newman am the author and moderator.  At this time a new PROVOKER runs for
four weeks.  THOUGHT PROVOKER can be sent directly to anyone who contacts me
with a request to join the THOUGHT PROVOKER mailing list.  Otherwise I post
all new THOUGHT PROVOKERS upon my web site "ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS  AND
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT" for all in the WWW to read and learn from.  In Addition,
all past PROVOKERS are posted there and can be responded to as well.  I do
insert commentary after some responses.  But more importantly know that I do
not edit anyone's response other than run them through a spell checker and
that's not perfect.            Responses can be written to the Provoker
itself or to the responses of others.  Think about it, if you feel that any
response is not complete or does not fully convey the right philosophy,
write in and give your feelings, provoke thought.  There again, if you do
choose to respond on the comments of another, take issue with the content
and not the person.
     For now it is optional to have your name and any other personal
information placed with your response.  You write what you want us to know.
I do feel giving your occupational status and/or location is important (your
city, state or region and country).
		In regard to a definition of blindness, I am taking the
broad view that blindness is any level of vision loss which is affecting the
individual functionally, emotionally, socially, economically, politically,
etc.
     If you feel this forum would be of value to another, pass the address
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educate others.  Do give credit back to the forum and the respondent.  Thank
you.  


Robert Leslie Newman 
Email- newmanrl at cox.net
THOUGHT PROVOKER Website- 
Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info