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

Tue Mar 24 00:20:16 UTC 2009

Lori, I love that. Its funny, but it also makes some good points. 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of LoriStay at aol.com
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 12:30 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [stylist] Fw: What to do when you meet a sighted person

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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