[stylist] Braille Monitor article- Kids say the darndest things

[Bernadetta Pracon]

Yes, I've been asked several great blindness related questions both by 
kids and adults as well.
I remember this like it was yesterday; I was in first grade, it was 
Parents visiting day, and this one little girl in my class came over 
and said, "my mommy wanted me to ask you, did you go blind from 
watching too much tv?".
A few years later, I remember one of my classmates arguing with me, 
insisting that my mom has to be blind too, since I am. She wouldn't 
take no for an answer even when I gave her a clear, logical  explanation.
When I was giving a presentation about guide dogs to a group of sixth 
graders at a local middle school, one boy raised his hand and asked me 
how I manage to brush my teeth since I can't see.
Finally, a few years ago, a random person came up to me, grabbed my 
hand as I exited a building and said "Hey. Excuse me. You're outside. 
Do you know that? You've just left the building." He said, speaking 
louder than necessary.
"So has Elvis," I said, trying to make light of the fact that this guy 
obviously didn't know the difference between being blind and deaf. I 
was shocked that he'd say something so strange. After I told him that 
he really shouldn't walk up to people and grab them like he did me, he 
just walked off, apparently baffled. What do ya know. grin.

Bernadetta

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