[stylist] writing about blindness

Judith Bron jbron at optonline.net
Thu Nov 13 03:26:52 UTC 2008 

Governor Patterson of New York.  I forgot his first name.
----- 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 9:03 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness


> Couldn't have said it better myself. Whose your gov? Just curious you can
> answer off list if you want.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Judith Bron
> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 5:22 PM
> To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] writing about blindness
>
> 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=259244
>> 374
>>
>> 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=25924
>>> 4374
>>>
>>> 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=25
>>>>>> 92
>>>>>> 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/acwat
>>>>>>>>>> er
>>>>>>>>>> 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%40
>>>>> sy
>>>>> 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/acwaterrea
>>>>> de
>>>>> 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%40sun
>>>>> fl
>>>>> 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%40op
>>>>> to
>>>>> 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%40
>>>>> sy
>>>>> 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%4
>>>> 0e
>>>> 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%40syi
>> x.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.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%40syi
>> x.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%40opton
>> line.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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

More information about the Stylist mailing list