[stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

Sun Feb 10 02:30:13 UTC 2013

Lynda, I have to concur with you on that.  I am blessed as well 
with someone who lifts me up and makes the negative behavior of 
others less distracting.
Sometimes he sees things I miss about my abilities.  I sometimes 
want to pench him when he tells people we meet that I pbbay 
instruments.  My vote isn't always in agreement with that.

Anita

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "Lynda Lambert" <llambert at zoominternet.net
>To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Sat, 9 Feb 2013 21:18:42 -0500
>Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

>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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