[rehab] Blind talk

Sat Sep 30 01:54:23 UTC 2017

Angel, I also want to thank you for your thoughtful post. I am a VR counselor, and I do not want to make the same mistake you experienced with a counselor. I work with a general caseload. This means that my clients have a wide variety of disabilities. What you said applies to more than blindness. Thank you for sharing your insights. Sincerely, Deborah Allen

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 29, 2017, at 7:54 AM, Smith, Pauline L via rehab <rehab at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Good Morning,
> 
> I am heartend to read Angel's message.  She brings up things that are not discussed and should be.  The things she mentioned about the expectations that we should be just about perfect while others get away with doing a myriad of things have the consequence of making many blind people uncomfortable and stressed to be around the general public.  As a consequence, they limit interaction with sighted people to what is necessary for daily living.  Trust me, I can examine my own backyard before talking about anyone else's.  I'm sure some people whould be shocked with these views.  It is expected that people like me who are teachers should be the perfectly adjusted, all together blind people.  We are human like anyone else.
> 
> Again, I thank Angel for submitting an honest, needed post.
> 
> Pauline
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rehab [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Angel238 via rehab
> Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2017 3:54 PM
> To: Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List
> Cc: Angel238
> Subject: Re: [rehab] Blind talk
> 
> While blind children, born blind, should be encouraged strongly, and should be taught how sighted people interact.  because we, who are totally blind, are unable to see the fools sighted people make of themselves in public settings, we are made to feel as if we are the only ones who offend.  We have a difficult enough time getting an equal education with our sighted peers.  Our technology always being just a tad behind in its development. 
> We need to be as confident as it is possible for us  to be.  Providing us with a skewed prospective regarding ourselves as we comport ourselves in relation to those practices of which sighted people are guilty does nothing to improve our personal self esteem.  We should be given the same consideration as sighted people give to themselves.  We might be less hard on ourselves.  If we were given a clearer picture of those sighted people around us.  This lady fails to mention, perhaps deliberately, all the silly mannerisms sighted people demonstrate.  What about those who risk danger. 
> Because they are distracted by the use of their cell phones.  They constantly walk down streets with their heads down.  Looking at their cell phones.  Or they actually are responsible for killing people.  Because they are texting on their phones.  Young sighted boys walk around with their underwear showing.  If they wear mismatched socks, or clothes, or their shirts say things which are clearly offensive, it becomes a fashion statement, and a means of personal self expression.  We are negatively accused of putting our fingers in our eyes.  Or rocking back and forth.  For the purpose of comforting ourselves.  When sighted people engage in worse practices than these.  To comfort themselves.  They smoke, drink to access, bite their fingernails, or take prescribed drugs.  Which is worse.  But, they are permitted these things.  While we are criticized.  For soothing ourselves.  As do they.  My point is:  Sighted people engage in equally unpleasant mannerisms.  The difference is:  We totally blind people don't actually see what they are doing.  One of the things about which I was concerned 60 years ago.  When I was being taught in elementary school, was the idea, that when corrected regarding our particular mannerisms, we were never told sighted people practice many equally offensive things.  They bring service animals everywhere.  I wonder how many are as well mannered as are dog guides.  But, they don't expect to be criticized.  If their animals are poorly behaved.  Why?  Because they are sighted.  and are, therefore, excused for the things they do.  Not to say they shouldn't be.  But, use language no one would use in mixed company 60 years ago, on television, and on social media.  They smoke all sorts of things at bus stops.  Where anyone has to breathe the same air as they pollute.  They change dirty diapers on airplane trey tables.  Where food is placed.  They, sometimes because of intoxication urinate in plants, and on streets.  This was done by a community college student in the class for which I worked.  Their children scream in restaurants.  Some drunken sighted people throw up in cars, and all put their hands in potato chip bags.  Then, pass those same chips around to others.  They , also, put their dirty hands in the same bag.  From which 
> they all eat.    They eat French fries and chicken with their hands.  Rather 
> than with forks and knives.  Then they scratch their heads.  Wondering why it is they catch seasonal flews and colds.  They dine using mismatched 
> dishes, and flatware.  When they can see from what they are eating.   If I 
> could see, I am sure I could enumerate more offending things, permitted by sighted people.  Which they do.  Which might be just as offensive.  If we could see what it is they do every day.  As a matter of course.  If we are taught, the way to succeed best, might be to avoid doing some of the things sighted people don't understand, and the reasons we might not be as successful as we might be, might be because we are doing things which might seem strange to others.  We might better be able to put ourselves in proper perspective.  Sighted people are expected to understand, and to accept people and attitudes they, in years past, would never be expected to accept. 
> Which is why there is a greater acceptance of transgender people, Moslem women with their different clothing, and same sex marriage.  I believe the idea behind all this acceptance of people is:  People should be judged not by their gender, or personal preferences.  If we ask society generally to believe this, why shouldn't we blind people expect the same acceptance of 
> us, as we are.    Even if it never happens?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "adrijana prokopenko via rehab" <rehab at nfbnet.org>
> To: "rehab" <rehab at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "adrijana prokopenko" <adrijana.prokopenko at gmail.com>
> Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2017 1:00 PM
> Subject: [rehab] Blind talk
> 
> 
>> This is a blog post that someone who lost their sight later in life 
>> did, hope we can give some more feedback on this.
>> https://www.thinkingoutloud-sassystyle.com/things-i-dont-get-about-bli
>> nd-people/
>> 
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