[stylist] To ponder- taken to another level
vejas
brlsurfer at gmail.com
Sun Feb 10 21:04:00 UTC 2013
Wow. That's kind of like what I'm facing right now. My parents
have encouraged me to do well, and they really care about me.
Someone else I know feels that my parents are causing me stress,
but this particular person is actually the one causing me stress
because he often puts my parents and I down. It hurts when
people talk badly about my parents because my parents are on my
side, and between the 3 of us, we know what's best for me.
Vejas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sun, 10 Feb 2013 14:21:29 -0500
Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level
Anita,
Yes, it does hurt. You are far from alone, however. I was
fortunate in that
my parents, even though my mother didn't accept that I really was
blind, at
least pushed me and expected me to keep up with my peers. Other
relatives
kept whatever views they had to themselves, and the ones who were
uncomfortable simply stayed away. I have known other people,
however, who
had relatives that made (and in some cases continue to make)
things
horrible for them.
In a very twisted circumstance (and I wrote about this gal, so I
know she
wouldn't care if I mention it) a mother did a lot of both the
best and worst
things you could do. She learned Braille so she could help her
daughter
learn it and be involved in her education as she would with a
sighted child.
She also told her daughter that anything she would achieve in
this world
would be due to the kindness of others who would help her out of
pitty. In
grad school, when she was making straight A's, she went to her
adviser in
tears asking why all of the professors felt so sorry for her that
they had
to give her A's. The counsellor told her that no one felt sorry
for her and
that she'd earned the grades she was getting. It was a real
wake-up call for
her.
Another woman I know, who is a lawyer and teacher had an
experience when she
got excepted to graduate school. Her mother told her that she
had been
sharing this good knews with her aunt, and the aunt was not
impressed. She
said she thought that was horrible that they accepted a blind
student and
she was taking opportunities away from more worthy sighted
students.
Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Anita
Ogletree
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 9:06 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
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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