[stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

Sat Feb 9 23:10:49 UTC 2013

Lynda and Donna

Yes, do speak up in situations like this. It always surprises and yes,
disappoints me, but people can find blindness to be one of those life
factors to be uncomfortable with. Yeah, going blind is for too many of us a
major factor in losing friends and in the reluctance of new people becoming
our friend.

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 2:14 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

Lynda,
They deserve that little tap. On the other hand, you knew that woman; she
could just as easily say that you ignored her. I'm sure that wasn't what was
actually going on, but just as an idea, why don't you consider saying
something next time? It could be as inocent as, "Hi, you're Peg from
knitting aren't you?" Some people are extremely uncomfortable about talking
to blind people. She might think you would probably start crying all over
the place about how you miss knitting so much and wish you could still do
it. She has prejudices that are not going to help either her or her loved
ones should any of them lose their sight.  
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda Lambert
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 10:02 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

Yes, Bridgit, I had just responded to this topic before I read your note
here. I spoke of my husband's inability to spell - which he would not
appreciate me talking about, I am sure. We will be  married 52 years in
April,; I guess he would not be surprised that I said this about him.

Yes, I also have retained my visual way of doing things but have had to
adapt to make it work because I have to do most things non-visually these
days. I am on the Krafters-Korner NFB list and have received many good tops
there to help me re-learn how to do things I used to do. That group has been
wonderful in helping each other through challenges we have in doing things
non-visually.

I have never been blind in my dreams - and I dream constantly. I am never
blind in my own consciousness unless I am faced with an uncomfortable or
frightening situation and then I find that I become very blind at times. 
Mostly that happens when I am out and come upon someone who knows me well,
and they do not know that I can tell they are there - and they choose to be
silent and not even acknowlege I am there. This happened yesterday at the
beauty shop.  I was aware that a woman came into the shop as she passed by
me. I had a feeling I might know her because my hairdresser called her
"Peg." That is an unusual name, and I have only known about two Pegs or
Peggy's in my life. So I was alert, wondering if this was one that I know. 
Shortly, she was seated in the waiting area and I came in there to get my
purse to pay for my services. I was only 3 feet from her, and she was facing
me. I see shadows, but no details, so I could tell the person was looking
directly at me. Absolute quiet! Not a hint that she knew me.  As I had been
listening to her for awhile, I recognized her voice as she spoke with
others. It was definitely a lady from my knitting group who has known me for
a couple of years. I have sat with her in small groups of knitters at
different homes. I have been in her home on several occasions. Yet, when she
ran into me at the hair dressers, she chose to be quiet and wait it out -
not in any way indicating we knew each other. My husband arrived, and as we
drove home I told him what has just happened to me. This is the kind of
thing I mean, when I say at times I feel very blind. This is the kind of
encounter only a blind person would have - because she has no idea I can
tell who she is, so she chose to ignore me.

My daughters and grand daughters often tell me how people will stare at me
because they see me walking with a long white cane. It amazes them how a
perfect stranger will stand beside me in line at a restaurant and actually
turn around and be looking directly at me because they think I cannot see
them. But, I can tell they are doing it. It is times like this when I
"accidently" hit them with my cane as I walk by.

Lynda

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 3:29 AM
Subject: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

> Lynda,
>
> I agree with you on this topic. Despite my blindness, I'm a very 
> visual person. I lost my sight nine years ago, but I continue to be an 
> extremely visual person.
>
> I have learned Braille though, and studies have shown that when 
> learning Braille, even when not able to see at all, the brain is using 
> its visual aspect.
>
> Each Braille character represents a letter in the alphabet and the 
> exact punctuation as print. Essentially it's a tactile form of print. 
> People assume it's paramount to a foreign language, but Braille is the 
> exact same language using the same rules for grammar, punctuation and 
> spelling, just in a tactile form. Various languages have their version 
> of Braille since many languages have nuances.
>
> I too have wondered how people who have never been able to see 
> visualize things. I once asked a friend if he "saw" his dreams, and he 
> said he dreams with his other senses, which is very interesting.
>
> I also met a fellow Federationist who is totally blind and always 
> been, and she was an art major at one of the big universities in 
> Texas. Of course there are blind medical doctors and engineers along 
> with others working in what would seem like very visual fields, and 
> this doesn't cover all the interests and hobbies like crafts, cars and
athletics.
>
> I think more and more blind people are facing challenges, and instead 
> of thinking about limitations, they are figuring out how to hurdle 
> that obstacle.
>
> I do agree that I've met several blind people who misspell words 
> frequently, but I don't know if this is due to an inability to spell, 
> if they were not taught correctly or if they just don't edit before 
> sending material. I think a lot of people have this problem, blind and
sighted.
> JAWS is great for this because you actually hear the word, that is if 
> you take time to read through what you wrote, grin. But yes, I think 
> people who only know Braille can find difficulties when switching to 
> print on a keyboard. Many choose to use a Braille display and/or 
> Braille keyboard. I' not saying all Braille users are like this, but I 
> have met many who are.
>
> Ultimately, these things are most likely unique to individuals and not 
> necessarily a result of a disability. If you can't spell when blind, 
> chances are good you couldn't spell if sighted, smile.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, editor, Slate & Style Read my blog at:
> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>
> "If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can 
> satisfy, we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for 
> another world."
> C. S. Lewis
>
>
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2013 13:02:00 -0500
> From: "Lynda Lambert" <llambert at zoominternet.net>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Quote to ponder - taken to another level
> Message-ID: <D52994C7F7964817A957168910B552B3 at Lambert>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; 
> reply-type=original
>
> This is a really good question, Robert.
> I have noticed that so many blind people spell things so wonky, and 
> maybe this is why. I always wonder is spelling is  really taught and 
> learned visually. I really have no experience with any of the 
> discussion on Braille because I do not use it - I do everything with 
> electronics and some things
> with a CCTV.   I have only had sight loss for 5 years, so I really have
> no
> idea how blind children learn things like spelling, grammar, 
> formatting, and punctuation. To me, they are all visual, and it is 
> very hard for me to understand it any other way - well, I really don't 
> understand it any other way. When I am reading (listening to a voice 
> on a machine) I am still listening visually. I see it in my mind, and 
> if I cannot see it that way, it's confusing to me.  Auditory skills  
> would rate very low  for me.
> Everyone has strength in certain skills and ways of learning - and I 
> am a Visual learner above all else. That did not change - I still have 
> to be able to SEE it to remember it - I have to stop and SEE a picture 
> in my mind before it sticks with me.
> Writing and reading, for me, has always been a visual experience.  
> This makes me wonder, can a person who has always been blind be a 
> Visual learner?
> And, then, I wonder, how does a blind person visualize things?  These 
> are some things I am thinking about and working with a blind painter 
> friend to put together an exhibition on how people  see and visualize.
>
>
>
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