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

[helene ryles]

I liked that. I found it really funny.

Helene

On 23/03/2009, LoriStay at aol.com <LoriStay at aol.com> wrote:
> 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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