[stylist] writing about blindness

Thu Nov 13 04:37:23 UTC 2008

isn't he david patterson?
jc

Jim Canaday M.A.
Lawrence, KS

At 09:26 PM 11/12/2008, you wrote:
>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
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>>>>>>>>>>>er
>>>>>>>>>>>reader
>>>>>>>>>>>09%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>>>
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