[stylist] Fw: What to do when you meet a sighted person

[LoriStay at aol.com]

This was sent to David by Stewart Prost, so I am sharing it with the list.   
SOme of you may find it helpful.   
Lori

In a message dated 3/23/09 1:15:47 PM, davidandloristayer at verizon.net writes:
 
>  Subject: What to do when you meet a sighted person
> 
> 
> Some humor for you!
>  
> What to do when you meet a sighted person:
>   
>  People who use their eyes  to acquire information about the world are
> called sighted people or "people  who are sighted". Legal sight means any
> visual acuity greater than 20/200 in  the better eye without correction
> or an angle of vision wider than 20  degrees.
>   
>  Sighted people enjoy rich, full lives working, playing and  raising
> families. They run businesses, hold public offices, get arrested  and
> teach your children!
>   
>  How do Sighted People get  Around?
>   
>  People who are sighted may walk or ride public transportation but  most
> choose to travel long distances by operating their own motor  vehicles,
> usually one passenger to a car. They have gone through many hours  of
> extensive training to learn the rules of the road in order to  further
> their independence. Once that road to freedom has been mastered,  sighted
> people earn a legal classification and a drivers license which  allows
> them to operate a private vehicle relatively safely and  independently.
>   
>  How do you assist a sighted person?
>   
>  Sighted people  are accustomed to viewing the world in visual terms. This
> means that in many  situations they will not be able to communicate
> orally and may resort to  stammering, pointing, hand waving or other
> gesturing. Subtle facial  expressions may also be used to convey feelings
> in social situations. Calmly  alert the sighted person to his or her
> surroundings by speaking slowly in a  normal tone of voice. Questions
> directed at the sighted person help focus  attention back on the verbal
> rather than the merely visual.
>   
>  How do  sighted people remember things?
>   
>  Often they don't remember things. In fact  this is one of the most
> painful aspects of the visual affliction, the degree  to which sight
> inhibits detailed memory. Often, the sighted person must  reacquire the
> same information each time it is needed. You can help by being  sensitive
> to their struggle by learning to anticipate their need and  providing
> them with the information they need when it is necessary. Don't  tell
> them too much too quickly. Be sensitive to the capacities of  the
> individual with whom you are dealing. These limitations vary from  person
> to person and it is deeply upsetting to a sighted person to realize  that
> you recognize their mental short comings.
>   
>  At times sighted people  may need help finding things, especially when
> operating a motor vehicle. Your  advance knowledge of routs and
> landmarks, bumps in the road, traffic lights  will assist the sighted
> person in finding their way quickly and easily. Your  knowledge of
> building layouts can also assist the sighted person in  navigating
> complex shopping malls and office buildings. Sighted people tend  to be
> very proud and are reluctant to ask for assistance. Be gentle yet  firm.
>   
>  How do sighted people use computers?
>   
>  The sighted person  relies exclusively on visual information. His or her
> attention span fades  quickly when reading long texts so it is best to
> write in bulleted lists of  very brief items. The use of bright colors
> will help the sighted person stay  focused. Computer information is
> presented to the sighted in a graphical  manner to assist them in
> comprehending their world. Coordination of hands and  eyes is often a
> preoccupation with sighted people so the computer mouse, a  handy device
> that slides along the desk top, saves confusing keystrokes. With  one
> button the sighted person can move around his or her computer  screen
> quickly and easily, if not necessarily efficiently. People who  are
> sighted are not accustomed to synthetic speech and may have  great
> difficulty understanding even the clearest synthesizer, falling  asleep
> between syllables or becoming distracted by a spot on the carpet.  Be
> patient and prepared to explain many times how your computer  works.
>   
>  How do sighted people read?
>   
>  Reading is accomplished by the  sighted person through a system called
> "print," which is a series of images  drawn in a two dimensional plain.
> People who are sighted generally have a  poorly developed sense of touch.
> Braille is completely foreign to them and  severe bouts of disorientation
> can sometimes result from over exposure to the  use of the higher senses.
> Sighted people cannot function well in low lighting  conditions and are
> generally completely helpless and often devastatingly  frightened in
> total darkness. Their homes are usually very brightly lit at  great
> expense as are businesses that cater to the sighted. Naturally  these
> costs are passed on to the consumer.
>   
>  How can I support the  sighted person?
>   
>  People who are sighted do not want your charity. They  want to live,
> work, and play alongside you on as equal a basis as possible.  You must
> ignore their tendency to display feelings that they are superior to  you.
> Failing to allow them this delusion may promote aberrant and  antisocial
> behavior. The best thing you can do to support sighted people in  your
> community is to simply open yourself to their world and help open  their
> limited world to the bounty of your experience. These citizens are  vital
> contributing members of the community, real people with thoughts  and
> feelings, hopes and dreams and a story to tell. Take a sighted person  to
> lunch today and make them feel like you truly care.
>   
>  Author  unknown. 
> 



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