[stylist] writing about blindness

Thu Nov 13 01:21:38 UTC 2008

I work for our local Independent Living Center.  Our department does job 
placement.  Most of our clients are mentally ill but that category is so 
large and divided into so many different sub divisions that we can't even 
begin to define that group.  The problem is that many put the mentally ill 
and the physically impaired in the same basket.  The only way to break this 
unfair and ridiculous corelation is to get the handicapped out there in 
visible situations where the public realizes that a person maybe blind, 
wheelchair bound or deaf, but they still perform their job like any other 
person.  The Governor of New York is visually impaired but he is not an 
advocate for the blind.  He doesn't read braille, use adaptive equipment or 
travel with a white cane.  Perhaps he has enough vision to not need these 
things but the fact remains that he has a staff to write his letters and 
communications, a driver to get him around and guards that tell him which 
way to turn.  We need people who are in the face of every American to prove 
that their stereotypes are based on false premises.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Angela fowler" <fowlers at syix.com>
To: "'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 7:41 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness


> Yes, Donna, and if you happen to have some info about that study, I'd like
> to read about it. That is what we're up against, and will be for a long
> time. How long I don't know.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Donna Hill
> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 8:44 AM
> To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>
> Angela, That's the point, isn't it?  We're not thought of as normal.
> Remember the study that the National Organization on Disability 
> commissioned
> through the Louis Harris organization in 1990?  The summary states that 
> the
> public "views people with disabilities as fundamentally different than
> themselves."  It goes on to say they feel admiration and pity most often.
> That's what we're still up against isn't it?
> Donna
>
> -- 
> For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
> http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>
> Apple I-Tunes
>
> phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374
>
> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
> www.padnfb.org
>
>
>
>
>
> Angela fowler wrote:
>> It seems if blind people aren't portrayed as helpless, they're portrayed
> as
>> having some special ability or required to be super organized. Take Henry
> in
>> Blackhouse for example. He doesn't use a cane, and makes his way around
>> flawlessly by hearing objects he's about to run into. He can hear a door
>> knob and that's how he knows where it is. I'm hard of hearing, but I 
>> don't
>> think even folks with normal hearing can hear a door knob.
>>
>> Also, everything in his house is super organized, meticulously placed in
>> some intricate system. If anything is out of place he's lost. I 
>> personally
>> am a disaster when it comes to organization, could probably take some
> lesson
>> from Henry, but still manage to slog through life with things rarely in
> the
>> same place all the time.
>>
>> It'd be nice to once in a while see blind people portrayed as just normal
>> every-day folks.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Donna Hill
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 7:37 AM
>> To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>
>> Helene,
>> Agreed.  Also, to put things in perspective, publishers don't accept well
>> over ninety percent of everything they get.
>> Donna
>>
>> --
>> For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
>> http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>>
>> Apple I-Tunes
>>
>> phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374
>>
>> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
>> www.padnfb.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> helene ryles wrote:
>>
>>> My book has blind characters in it. I think that there are so many
>>> negative examples of blind and disabled characters in fiction that it
>>> would be a good thing if blind authors with possitive views on their
>>> blindness would educate people by including a character or two in
>>> their novels.
>>> As for me. I write to make sense of my world. If I was told the
>>> publishers wouldn't accept disabled characters I would still include
>>> them and hope that one day that would change. After all Van Goth
>>> didn't have any of his paintings sold in his life time. But they are
>>> famous now. Maybe people will be more open minded about the disabled
>>> in the future?
>>>
>>> Helene.
>>>
>>> On 11/11/2008, Angela fowler <fowlers at syix.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> I wonder if writing about blind characters who are just ordinary
>>>> people, maybe even having a minor role in the story and publishing it
>>>> mainstream would help to transcend that divide?
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>> On Behalf Of Judith Bron
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 2:37 PM
>>>> To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>>>
>>>> If you are going to write about a minority, be that racial, ethnic or
>>>> handicapped, you  might want to try publishers or periodicals that
>>>> are dedicated to that particular genre.  Yes, there are times that
>>>> you can transcend the divide, but you have to write with the audience
>>>> you are writing for.
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
>>>> To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 4:34 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Jim,
>>>>> You make a couple of good points here.  I am very conscious that, if
>>>>> I intend to market a short story, having it be about blindness may
>>>>> turn off a publication.  I do have several ideas that I've been
>>>>> sitting on which are about the ironies of how blind people are
>>>>> viewed and treated, but, as I say, I'm sitting on them.
>>>>> Donna
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
>>>>> http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>>>>>
>>>>> Apple I-Tunes
>>>>>
>>>>> phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=2592
>>>>> 44
>>>>> 374
>>>>>
>>>>> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
>>>>> www.padnfb.org
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> James Canaday M.A. N6YR wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Aziza,
>>>>>> that's one problem we're up against as blind people in this society:
>>>>>> very very few examples or role models in the media, the books, etc.
>>>>>> whether to write a character as blind or not is honestly not the
>>>>>> first thing on my mind because I'm more interested when I have an
>>>>>> idea, I want to write a story about some particular struggle, some
>>>>>> puzzle to be unravveled.
>>>>>> it is also important to remember that sometimes having a major
>>>>>> character who is blind makes your story harder for some readers to
>>>>>> get into, have the verisimilitude, because they don't experience
>>>>>> blindness and don't know a blind person.
>>>>>> so there is also a catch-22 about it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ***
>>>>>> personal update:
>>>>>> by the way I seem to be getting sicker with more of the flu-like
>>>>>> symptoms getting very bad: headache; other aches; stiffness; etc.
>>>>>> apparently I will get worse before I get better.  last thursday I
>>>>>> started the once-a-week shot to treat my autoimmune disorder.
>>>>>> thank you for praying if you do.
>>>>>> jim
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jim Canaday M.A.
>>>>>> Lawrence, KS
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> At 01:14 PM 11/11/2008, you wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I suppose I could write about blind people better, but I read a
>>>>>>> lot of fiction books, and most of them have sighted characters. I
>>>>>>> draw from those descriptions, also in class, you don't see the
>>>>>>> teacher teaching many texts with blind people in them. I think I
>>>>>>> can write about fiction sighted characters as well as I can blind
>>>>>>> fiction characters. I may of course be wrong.
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Angela fowler"
>>>>>>> <fowlers at syix.com>
>>>>>>> To: "'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 12:07 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I guess it depends on your frame of mind at the time of writing.
>>>>>>>> While blind fiction writers can depict blind characters obviously
>>>>>>>> far more accurately than sighted fiction writers, we limit
>>>>>>>> ourselves if we stick exclusively to blind characters or
>>>>>>>> blindness issues.
>>>>>>>> As for articles, I've been writing about a lot of blindness
>>>>>>>> related stuff lately. Its funny, I went into my historical
>>>>>>>> research and writing class vowing I was going to write about
>>>>>>>> anything but a blindness issue, and ended up writing about the
>>>>>>>> way the ADA effects blind people. Go figure.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aziza
>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 10:00 AM
>>>>>>>> To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I don't write about being blind either. I mean unless it's my
>>>>>>>>
>> articles.
>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> But
>>>>>>>> when I write storries, all my characters can see, and have other
>>>>>>>> problems they must overcome in their lives.
>>>>>>>> I don't think it's denial at all.
>>>>>>>> Aziza
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>> From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
>>>>>>>> To: "Stylist" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 8:51 AM
>>>>>>>> Subject: [stylist] writing about blindness
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I'm not in denial nor do I ignore the fact that I do have a
>>>>>>>>> handicap that I have to overcome on a daily basis.  However,
>>>>>>>>> when I am writing I seem to go into a different world.  I write
>>>>>>>>> about people who are ill, some of my characters die and others
>>>>>>>>> fall into the clutches of bad people.  If I say that blindness
>>>>>>>>> bores me, you might come out with an arms length of causes for
>>>>>>>>> my symptoms.  However, a person does not necessarily want to
>>>>>>>>> write about those things they live with and rise above on a
>>>>>>>>> daily basis.  I am fat.  Writing about being fat falls under
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> the same category as blind.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Live with it.  Fight against it as much as possible, but it
>>>>>>>>> shouldn't dominate every facet of your life.  Again, you may
>>>>>>>>> think I'm in some kind of denial, but I'm not.  I won't drive a
>>>>>>>>> car into a crowd, try sewing a garment while it is on the back
>>>>>>>>> of my would be victim and I won't pretend to read the paper when
>>>>>>>>> I can't even make out one picture in the blasted thing.  Judith
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>>> info for
>>>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/acwater
>>>>>>>>> reader
>>>>>>>>> 09%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/fowlers%40sy
>>>> ix.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/acwaterreade
>>>> r09%40g
>>>> mail.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/n6yr%40sunfl
>>>> ower.co
>>>> m
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40
>>>> epix.ne
>>>> t
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database
>>>>>> version: 5.11100
>>>>>> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database
>>>>> version: 5.11100 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>> for
>>>>> stylist:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40opto
>>>> nline.n
>>>> et
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> stylist:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/fowlers%40sy
>>>> ix.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> stylist:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/dreamavdb%40
>>>> googlemail.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> stylist mailing list
>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>
>> stylist:
>>
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40e
>>> pix.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version:
>>> 5.11100 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version:
>> 5.11100 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> stylist mailing list
>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> stylist:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/fowlers%40syix.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> stylist mailing list
>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40epix.ne
> t
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386)
>> Database version: 5.11110
>> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386)
> Database version: 5.11110
> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>
> _______________________________________________
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/fowlers%40syix.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40optonline.net