[stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

Sun Feb 10 02:18:42 UTC 2013

Yes, Anita, we probably all know.
When I lost my sight 5 years ago, most of my family members disappeared, 
too. And, we won't even begin to get into what we encounter on the job when 
this happens to us. Fortunately, my husband is so wonderful to me during all 
this. I am truly blessed with a good man.
Lynda

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anita Ogletree" <yrstrli at gmail.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

> And I thought I was the onbby one who felt like people tend to avoid me 
> because I am blind.  It reminds me of the time when I was moving into a 
> dorm room with this girl who told me as I was bringing my things in that 
> she couldn't help me with anything.
> The guy that was helping me politely told her that I wouldn't need her 
> help.  But there are some kin folk that behave the same way as total 
> strangers.  And it hurts, you know?
>
> Anita
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net
>>To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org
>>Date sent: Sat, 9 Feb 2013 17:10:49 -0600
>>Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level
>
>>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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>
>
>
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