[stylist] To ponder- exercise and representing blindness

Tue Feb 12 02:55:47 UTC 2013

Bridgit,
I think that one reason we get this business about representing blind people
is because of how very few of us there really are. Lynda pointed out that
she's the only blind person most of the people in her life have ever known.
I think that's true for many of us. I don't like having that responsibility
thrust upon my shoulders either. It makes me feel like I must be from
another planet. 

I think, though, that whether we see ourselves in that role or not, we are
representing blindness to an ignorant and pathetic world. We can't get away
from it; it's just the way things are. Nevertheless, your attitude is the
right one. Just do whatever you want to do for you. 

For me, one of the things that gauls me -- and it falls under the heading of
the mantel of responsibility of representing ourselves to the sighted world
-- is the dress code thing. I would be embarrassed to come to a national NFB
convention without a serious shopping trip. I'm not into fashion; unlike
you, I don't like or want to wear make-up. I'm usually in jeans  with
flannel shirts for the cold weather and short-sleeved cotton shirts in the
summer. If I have to go somewhere special -- and we don't seek out places
where people dress up, because they also wear perfume which we're allergic
too -- then I do have a few "nice" things in my closet. I don't feel all
that comfortable in them though. 
Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 7:36 AM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: [stylist] To ponder- exercise and representing blindness

This makes me recall an interesting situation.

A few years ago I spoke at the Nebraska Medical Center to a group of medical
staff working with diabetics including doctors. I have been a type 1
diabetic since I was four, and I have had to manage my diabetes both as a
sighted person and blind person, so I was addressing the topic from both
perspectives.

Now, exercise and physical activity have always been important to me.
Since childhood, I've been a very active person. I don't exactly look out of
shape, and to go along with this, my diabetes is well managed.
After I lost my sight, I didn't lose a beat when it came to exercising.

One doctor asked how I adjusted to not being able to work-out since being
blind. He had participated in a study that, one, demonstrated the advantages
exercise had on diabetics who worked-out and those who did not, and two,
displayed that diabetics with visual impairments were in the group of
non-active people because blindness rendered them unable, or at least made
it difficult, to be active.

It was one of those moments where I was like, "You're a doctor, right?"
in my head. I told him that I never stopped working-out or being active, and
I know several other blind people, diabetic and otherwise, who are very
active.

He then amended his response by stating that he meant visually impaired
people won't be able to navigate a gym or do much out-doors. To which I
replied that first of all, a gym is not necessary to have access too for
exercising purposes, nor do you need to work-out out-of-doors, but having
said all that, that plenty of blind people, myself included, go to the gym
and find activities to enjoy out in nature. My husband and I use a walking
trail near our house almost every day during nice weather, and we aint taken
leisurely strolls down it, grin.

It's just funny how silly people can get about these things. And I like what
you say about not representing a whole group of people. I am just me, and I
just want to live my life not always feeling like I have to represent an
entire group of people. Some will say that as an independent, capable blind
person, it's our job, whether we want it or not, to be an example, to
represent the entire blind population, but this is a heavy mantle to wear.
It's like asking any other person of a minority to be more than an
individual; to become the embodiment of a whole group. The thing is, no
single person is alike. I mean, I get this will happen regardless, people
will assign roles to us no matter what, and yes, someone needs to voice
progressive, positive examples for various groups, but damn, we have to live
our lives and just be human. I want to be a mommy because I love, love, love
my kids, not because I need to demonstrate that blind people can be parents.
I want to pursue higher education because I love to learn, and I want to
further my knowledge, not because I have to display that blind people are
just as capable. I want to be out in my community enjoying events and
activities like the theatre, concerts, sports, shopping, playgrounds,
because I have a sincere enjoyment of such activities and not because as a
blind person I must force myself to attend community events so society can
see that blind people are normal. It's just exhausting, and I have a life to
live beyond this single element of my being.

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: 13
Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:58:47 -0500
From: "Lynda Lambert" <llambert at zoominternet.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- to take to another level
Message-ID: <9778408A73F7477DABF1B81E8CB84C96 at Lambert>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

this whole thing is very interesting.
I know for most of the people I am around, I am the only blind person they
have ever encountered. I really don't feel like I need to "represent" 
anyone, nor do I want to. I am still the same "self" that I have always
been, and I think that is hard to grasp because I am sure they all look at
this change as being devestating. They seem surprised when I do normal
things.

When my husband and I did the one mile "walk to break the silence" for
ovarian cancer last fall, we walked behind my sister and my daughter-in-law
who were engaged in cheery conversation together.  When we reached the end
of the course, they turned around and saw us behind them - and expressed

amazement that we were "there"   as if I was not capable of walking
along on
the course. I am very "fit" and workout at the gym nearly every day, as I
have done most of my life - so why should that be any different now, to the
point where anyone would think it surprising I would be walking as any other
normal person walks. Frankly, things like this really scald me, and
particularly when it is my family members, as they know very well that I

walk several miles a day on my cardio days, and work out at the gym for over
an hour on other days. But, there in public with tons of people around us,
they show surprise that I can walk at all.  I am laughing as I write this -
it is so silly.

Lynda

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