[rehab] Blindness mannerisms:

[Dick Davis]

Angel,
I think these are important points.  There is a natural human tendency to
want to feel superior to other people.  Blind people are not exempt from
this.  Let's all reach out to those who are less well informed and help
them live the lives they want.  That way we can all be angels (grin).
Dick Davis

-----Original Message-----
From: rehab [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Angel238 via
rehab
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2017 10:09 AM
To: Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List
Cc: Angel238
Subject: [rehab] Blindness mannerisms:

I don't know whether my post was sent to an individual.  Or whether it was
sent to the list.  So, I am sending it to the list.  I apologize, if it
was sent twice.  The post follows.
Blind people can be the hardest, and the meanest toward each other.  When
it ought to be the other way around.  They ought to be the first to
understand the blind child or young adult.  Who may have been sheltered
their whole lives.  Not truly understanding how to properly socialize.  I
well remember, in the mid 60's.  I was introduced to the adult
rehabilitation process.  The first time I and my totally blind
rehabilitation councilor met.  I had to fill out a form.  Stating all the
skills I could perform, and how well I was able to perform them.  They
were skills I never was taught.  Because, I was one of those sheltered
blind children.  He said, nearly after each question I answered no to :
"My wife can do that perfectly well."  Now, his wife was also totally
blind.  Perhaps, his intent was to spur me to a level of higher
achievement.  Telling me, his wife was totally blind, and implying that,
if she could accomplish laundering, cooking,  and sewing, and such, so
should I be able to do such things equally as well.  But, what he did
succeed in accomplishing was quite the opposite.  I left him with tears in
my eyes.  I told my mother this, and she was quick to remind me, his wife
was some 20 or so years older than was I, and was married, with children,
and with experience.  Which is why, we always should be sure those blind
people for whom blindness is an entirely new experience. Or those blind
children, who lived sheltered lives. through no fault of their own.
Receive a proper prospective.  As it relates to their circumstances.  Just
because others who are totally blind accomplish things, or possess skills
which a child or a newly blinded adult isn't capable, doesn't mean he is a
failure, and will never learn.  Of course, this goes without saying, when
we talk among ourselves.  But, we forget, sometimes, the sheltered young
adult, or newly blinded person doesn't know blind people who succeed
aren't somehow super people.  Whose achievements aren't beyond themselves
to accomplish.  After all, isn't the stereotype of the challenged person,
that he does marvelous things.  When he accomplishes even the simplest
things?  So, from the beginning of a blind persons journey he feels
incompetent.  Because his expectations of what he might be able to do are
so low.  So when he meets successful blind people, and when he compares
his achievements to theirs, how inadequate he must feel.  Then, some blind
writer comes along and tells him, he is looked upon by sighted people as
being somehow weird.  Because he rocks, or claps, or can't cook.  What
must do to his motivation to even try.
Each blind person needs to be encouraged as much as is possible.  Never
causing him to think he is weird, or less than ordinary.  Regardless the
mannerisms he might exhibit.  I think those who take exception to seeing
blindness mannerisms are exhibiting a hatred of themselves.  Perhaps due
to their blindness.  They are the ones who need to examine themselves.
Rather than criticizing those.  Who may not be as far along on their
journey to be all they are capable of  being.
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