That Stuff DOESN’T Happen Anymore!

Recently I was telling a family member about an experience I had looking for an apartment a few years back. I had just graduated with my Master’s Degree and had taken a well-paying job (well, more well-paying than anything I’d ever had before) in Salt Lake. I grew up in a suburb of SLC and had always dreamed of living in a high-rise apartment in the middle of the city. Since I can remember, that was my “dream home”. My mom and I set out to find my dream apartment. There is a fancy outdoor mall in downtown SLC where they had built high-rise apartments right above the mall, right in the middle of the city. If you know me, you know this is PERFECTION! That would be are first stop, no questions asked. My mom and I walked in the front door to the leasing office, it was busy and one lady seemed to be helping everyone. I stood and waited with a big grin on my face, my dream was about to become reality. I really could care less how small the place was, this was it! I was practically dancing around in my shoes!

The lady finally stepped aside and walked up to me and said the following, “I’m sorry sweetie, we don’t do section 8 housing here, you can’t afford this place!”

To say I was in utter shock would have been an understatement, I was frozen in dis-belief. I had become a very confident, out-spoken, independent BLIND woman and my anger was at the boiling point (understandably if I do say so myself). I walked out the door without saying a word. Do I wish I would have given her a piece of my mind right there and then, HECK YES I do! I stood outside and let loose on my mom. WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED???

I had heard of things like this happening but like many people think, I thought this was so out of the norm and would most certainly NEVER EVER happen to me! I turned to my mom (who was also trying to swallow what just happened). She convinced me to go back in and at least see the apartment, after all I had longed for this apartment for so long. I did go up and see the apartment, arms folded, biting my tongue, and with a whole different demeanor than when I first walked in. There was NO WAY IN HELL I was renting that apartment now! I was furious inside. All my hard work. All my years of school. All my accomplishments to that point, she stomped all over! I was so hurt and ANGRY, oh boy was I angry! Needless to say, I found a BETTER apartment in a beautiful building in downtown SLC and I LOVED living there, but this memory still crosses my mind every time I walk past that building.

Many of us think that discrimination is a thing of the past, we fought that battle and we won, right!?! Recent events in our country have brought up much discussion on the topic/issue of discrimination…and I don’t think it’s a bad thing that we’re talking about it! People with disabilities STILL face discrimination today in big and small ways, well really, they’re all big. Perhaps because of recent national events, we are more aware of this happening in our world, and we get more fired up when we see if affect people around us. People with disabilities face discrimination often, and rarely does it make the news at all. A couple of stories recently showcase the fact that blind people are facing discrimination, and yes, that’s exactly what it is.

I hope you’ll take the time to read these two stories:

School takes blind kid's cane, gives him pool noodle

Blind couple denied bus seats

The first, I lovingly call Noodle-Gate 2014, because it got A LOT of coverage (which it should have) involved a school district in Kansas City taking the cane of an 8-year-old blind boy and replacing it with a pool noodle—in the name of bad behavior. The school district has since apologized for their grave mistake. The story has got people talking about an important issue involving blind children.  What are your thoughts on this story?

The 2^nd is a story of a sweet friend of mine and her boyfriend denied access on public transportation in Washington.

The stories may seem like simple mistakes, but the reality is, they lead down a dark path for people with disabilities. In a daily struggle to beat the odds, and not to become part of the 70% unemployment rate among the blind, we fight daily for access to the same things as our sighted counterparts. Discrimination is not just about race, religion or socio-economic status, people with disabilities must be included in these discussions!

This stuff DOES still happen and we have to make the issues heard loud and clear and not sit idly by.

Parenting: Answering the Hard Questions

A sweet friend of mine recently contacted me via email. She was concerned about how to educate her little boy on people with disabilities. How should she explain things? What questions should she answer? What does she say to her little boy?

I am SO grateful when I get emails like this. It's refreshing to know there are parents out there who want to teach their children and educate them properly.

I find that when I am out and about, travelling from place to place, there is one general common occurrence. Kids are always curious about my cane and why I use it. I love kids in that they are so hungry for information and want to know all about everything going on around them. It's in their nature to want to know why and how, I love this.

So how does a parent go about addressing people with disabilities to their children?

1. Always, always be willing to answer their questions. Something that bothers me tremendously is when I hear a child ask their parent about my cane or why I use it and then mom/dad just shushes them. You know, "Shhh...we'll talk about that later (in hushed tone)." It's understandable parents can feel awkward in moments like this especially when they know I can hear them. BUT, the worst thing a parent can do is hush their child. Don't be afraid to answer the question right there on the spot. You may go into a longer, more in-depth conversation later but it's important for them to know it's ok to ask. If I hear the child, I'll sometimes answer myself but the parents are the best people to answer because then the child isn't afraid in the future to ask questions.

2. If you don't know the answer, it's okay. You are not expected to know everything about everything. Answer what you can then later do your own research and find the answers. The Internet has become an excellent resource for information that is easily accessible (still be careful where you get your information from). It's ok to say, "I don't know, but I will find out!" THEN go back to your child with the answer, don't leave them hanging, wondering and speculating.

3. Not every parent will want to do this but it's another option. Sometimes children will come up to me directly and ask me questions like, "Why do you carry that big stick around?" Or, "Why are you looking so closely at that package?" I personally don't mind this at all. It's easy for me to explain and I am totally aware that the child is just curious. If they have a question about me, or the person with the disability, let them ask them. Again, this might make some parents cringe, not knowing what the child may ask, but it's good for them to talk to others and learn things on their own as well.

4. Educate your child. There are so many great stories, books, articles, etc. about people with disabilities most are great, some are not, but check them out yourself first and then share them with your child. For example here are some really fun articles, about blind people, that are fun to read AND are great for educating your kiddos:
I Can't See...But I Can Imagine
Freedom 
Beyond the Funny Tree
Celebrate
Imagine
The Lessons of the Earth
To Reach for the Stars
The Car, the Sled, and the Butch Wa
Not Much of a Muchness
Safari
Reaching for the Top in the Land Down Under
I Can Feel Blue on Monday
Oh, Wow!
Reflecting the Flame
Remember to Feed the Kittens
To Touch the Untouchable Dream
Gray Pancakes and Gold Horses
Wall-to-Wall Thanksgiving
The Journey
Making Hay
As the Twig Is Bent
The Freedom Bell
What Color Is the Sun

5.  Don't be afraid to ask for help! Like I mentioned before if you don't know the answer to a question or you're not sure how to answer it. Don't hesitate to reach out to someone who can help. I'm always right across the internet-o-sphere at deja.powell@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading this and for being such AWESOME parents!
And HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

Who's Responsibility is Safety?

Blind responsible for own safety

Deja Powell

A recent article in the Ruston Daily Leader caught my attention. A blind Louisiana Tech student was talking about bicyclists on campus and the dangers they can cause for a blind person.

I read several articles a year about various dangers the blind face, lack of beeping street lights, other pedestrians, no sidewalk warnings (the raised dots on the sidewalk found at street corners), skateboarders, you name it, I’ve probably read an article about it.

I agree that such things as bicyclists and pedestrians mixing could become a bad combination, but I also believe this has little or nothing to do with blindness; it’s a risk for anyone. Every day we all, sighted or blind, take a calculated risk of leaving our homes and doing something.

Whether we walk, drive, ride a bike, take the bus, whatever it is, there’s a risk involved.
While I do understand the importance of safety, I also have learned some things in the last five or so years since using a cane; the most important is safety is primarily my responsibility. I think with the proper training my world is just as safe for me, as a blind person, as anyone else.

I have learned that the best way for me to live my life is to learn the proper skills to adapt to my environment, not have my environment adapt to me.

One of the best examples of this I can think of is audible signals at lighted intersections. This is the little beep or chirp or whatever sound is selected at the intersection that tells pedestrians when it’s safe to cross the street. I’m not aware we have any here in Ruston, but I won’t be asking for them anytime soon either.

These signals are often found in bigger cities and can actually be helpful for a variety of pedestrians who use them. However, as a blind person who likes to get around independently, I’ve found my time is better spent learning the skills I need to cross a street safely than advocating for a beeping signal that, in my opinion, is not necessary.

As a blind person, I use cues from my natural environment every day. I use traffic patterns to line up at intersections and then cross them, for me a beeping signal of when it’s safe to cross is not helpful. If anything the beeping noise blocks out my most important sound cue, traffic.

Now while I say I am not going to be asking the City of Ruston for audible signals any time soon, I also understand that for some pedestrians they are valuable.

Many of my fellow colleagues in the blindness field focus so much research, resources and time on safety-related issues for the blind that they miss the whole part about giving us proper training and preparing us for our environment.

Several cane travel instructors in this country, who are mostly not blind themselves, make ridiculous suggestions about our safety as blind people: Carry a giant orange flag, wear a bright reflective vest, carry our own stop sign, wear little lights all over our body. I might as well wrap myself in bubble wrap before I head out; these ideas are crazy and unnecessary.

I believe blind people, given the proper tools for success, can travel around an un-adapted environment like everyone else. If we want equality in the world, we have to learn to adapt to the world and not expect it to adapt to us. I’m not against adding things to increase safety for those who really need it; I know it’s important for some.

Louisiana Tech is no less safe than any other university in the world. Thousands of pedestrians travel across college campuses every day. Many have encounters with bicyclists. It’s the way it is.
Blind people have the same responsibility and opportunity as everyone else, and we need to do our part and accept the things that come with being independent.

Deja M. Powell is programs manager at the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University and a 2008 alumna of the Louisiana Center for the Blind in Ruston. She writes a monthly column for the Daily Leader.

Taking a Stand...

Since when I have not been totally real on this blog?!? Today is certainly no exceptions.
I feel about a hundred-ish things right now. Everything from bitter, to angry, to aggravated, to disappointed, to livid, to out-right off my rocker crazy!

Come with me on a little journey going back about a week ago. I was working with 2 little first grade girls on O&M. They grabbed their canes and slapped their blindfolds on like any other day of the week. They NEVER complained about why I ask them to wear a blindfold and they KNOW why they are wearing one. We talk about it on a weekly basis and our little conversations go a little something like this:

Me: So ladies, why do we wear a blindfold during our cane travel lessons?
Girls: Because we are learning to use our hearing and we can learn to trust our cane quicker.

Simple as that. And NO, I have not BRAINWASHED them as I've been accused! I'm not that powerful!

So after our short conversation I couldn't help but get a little chuckle because there shades nearly cover their entire faces, they are tiny ones. So I mention to them that I am going to check it out and see if I can find a smaller blindfold for them to wear, they think this is a good idea. But we drop it there and move on with our lesson...

After the lesson and returning to work. I very casually, and with little thought to the matter, shoot an e-mail out over two ListServ's, which are email groups full of other professionals in the field, many times information is exchanged through these ListServ's and they can be quite helpful. So I sent out the following e-mail:

Hello Fellow O&M Instructors!
Has anyone found a good pair of sleep shades/blindfold that work well for kids. I normally use the MindFold shades because you can keep your eyes open and it blocks out light well. However, for my little ones (preschool-1st grade), they are a bit big and bulky for their little heads. Has anyone encountered this problem? How was it resolved? And are there Sleepshades out there that would work better for the little ones but still let them keep their eyes open like the MindFolds?

Best Regards,

D

That's it. That was the e-mail. I honestly, without much thought, thought nothing of the firestorm this would begin.

I did NOT write it to enrage people by any stretch of the imagination. I did NOT ask for advice on best teaching practice or on whether or not I SHOULD be putting sleep shades on my kids. But let me tell you this, I got a LOT of these questions answered for me anyway. It doesn't bother me so much that this simple email caused a massive discussion/brawl/hair-pulling fest, in fact, I enjoy a good hearty discussion.

However, what I do NOT like, nor appreciate, is when so-called professional's in the blindness field ATTACK! And to say I was attacked is an understatement . This is the immediate response I got from an Director of a university training program that trains teachers of the blind:

“Why on earth are you blindfolding children? All questions are not equally OK in my book and are especially offensive on AER O&M list-NFB has its own list. As a certified O&Mer I feel responsible to voice concerns related to ethics. In my book, blindfolding children with low vision is ethically and morally wrong. Blindfolding individuals with low vision is abusive.

I don't care how many people with low vision buy into it; just ask those kidnapped victims who buy into their kidnappers claims- it is called Stockholm syndrome. Or cult victims who gave away their livelihoods and their familial relationships because they have been brainwashed.

There are issues upon which I must speak. This is one of them.

Do we bind the hands of those who lost a finger?
Do we put tape over the mouths of those who have a speech impediment?
Do we put ear muffs on children who are hard of hearing?
Do we put gloves on those with reduced tactile sensitivity?

Give me a good example of another sense - ability that is removed in order to improve that person's functioning."
------
Now, I chose not to respond to this uncouth comment on the ListServ, in fact I have not commented at all, I don't choose to step down the this level. But guess what, I have this blog all to myself so I'm about to tell you how I really feel…(well a watered down version anyway)…
Frankly, I am disgusted with so-called-professional and her entirely classless statement above, that in my opinion, verges on slander. I couldn't possibly be more appalled to be compared to a kidnapper, an abuser, brainwasher... It makes me irate!

I have always, always, always wanted what is best for the kids I teach. I was NEVER brainwashed to believe the way I do about giving kids (and adults) proper training to improve their lives. My students show me the upmost respect, they are ALWAYS able to express their thoughts and concerns to me and I have, nor never will I ever do anything to put them in a harmful or hurtful situation.

There’s certainly no cult I ask them to join. My motivation has ALWAYS been to give them the life I didn't have when I was young...not to brainwash them!

I also find so-called-professional tactless in her efforts to compare the use of sleep shades with other disabilities. If she could only really sit down and think for two minutes she would realize that my objective is NOT to take away anyone's vision, I use mine everyday and so will my kids. Instead, I use sleep shades to enhance what vision they already have. When those shades come off they will know when to trust their vision and when to trust their cane. You know how I know this so-called-professional because it worked for me and hundreds of other blind people I know!

In further posts, so-called professional makes statements to I and other blind O&M instructors that basically, we couldn't POSSIBLY know what we are talking about. My hell, ever think that maybe because I was the kid with ginormous glasses, tripping and stumbling and not participating socially because I had NO skills in blindness and because my O&M instructor told me I had enough vision I might know something about the topic. For a very long time I thought that if I just tried a little harder I'd be able to see things. That there must be something wrong with me if I should be able to see, because I just couldn't. My story is the same as hundreds of other blind people.

I've received training on both ends of the spectrum visual training and training with sleep shades. I can tell you that I have had way more non sleep shade training throughout my life and I learned very little; I can also tell you that as soon as I put on sleep shades and REALLY learned independence I saw a million doors open for me!

So to tell me I, and other blind O&M instructors who are national renowned, don't really know what's best is just a pathetic attempt to make me and other blind persons feel in adequate. I hope you're proud of that!

I will never back down from what I believe is best and I couldn’t care less when so called big-wigs in the field think about my character or reasoning for being a teacher. I will forever battle to do what’s best for blind kids. And I hope, someday, so called professional and those like her will learn to stop putting their giant ego first and start thinking about what really works.

It's fine if you disagree with me, but grow up and learn to show respect or you will never gain respect. You have none from me!

Too Much of a Cost...

I have mentioned this story on my blog before, but this is a well-written article that explains the injustice of this sweet baby girl being taken away from her parents, on ONLY the ground that both are blind.

I'm scared! Knowing that this could happen to me someday.

I can't imagine a deeper pain than having your child taken from you.

There is so much work to do!

http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm10/bm1010/bm101002.htm

Misconceptions Handled!

Ok, you guys probably get quite sick of hearing me rant and rave about this and that, stuff that bugs me! So I thought you might like to hear it from someone else! *giggle*

I thought this was a pretty ding-dang good article; sums it all up in quite a lovely way. I don't personally know the guy who wrote this, but I wish I did. He sounds pretty awesome!

Top 10 Misconceptions about Blind People

Published: Thursday, September 30, 2010

David W. Wannop is a music journalist, talent developer, booking agent, and show host based in Center City Philadelphia.

Misconceptions of blind people are vast, contradictory, and are derived mostly from a mix of unfamiliarity with blind people and the belief that to experience blindness all one needs to do is close your eyes. Here is a list of those misconceptions and how they manifest.

Blind people have superior hearing. Not true. We will learn to concentrate, discern and derive a lot of meaning from sound, and make use of it in innovative ways. We are not distracted by sight, but, this is listening qua paying attention. On a straight up listening test, blind people hear at a normal level. I work in the concert biz so my hearing is probably at the low end of normal now.

Blind people need to be spoken to very loudly or they won’t know you are addressing them. Actually, I ignore loud speaking people for I find them rude and vulgar. More likely I am ignoring the loud mouth. Introduce yourself properly and speak with a normal tone. How is it that sighted people think I can hear a pin drop in the next town but can’t hear someone right in my face?

Most blind people are totally blind. Actually, the definition of legal blindness covers a range of conditions. Some have tunnel vision, others peripheral. Some can read large print. Others have focusing difficulties. Most blind people are not completely without sight. I have light perception. I often look away from bright light. I can make out no color, shape, or detail, nor depth. I can tell when the sun is shining or a light bulb has blown.

All blind people read Braille. Today illiteracy is a problem in the blindness community. Two factors contribute; one is the fact that many children who can see large print become increasingly blind with age, yet they are often resistant to learning Braille and a competent tutor may not be readily available. Secondly, audio books, talking books, and other methods, encourage the blind to listen instead of read. The problem here is how the brain processes the information and the level of reinforcement one gets relating to spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Many blind people are highly functional illiterates. Then again, many blind people are scholars too.

Most blind people go to private special schools. Mainstreaming has been the rule since the seventies. Blind people are also involved in college campus life. Scholarships are available to qualified blind candidates. Schools for the blind are still in existence too.

When speaking to a blind person figurative speech must not be used. Untrue; I use terms such as I see your point, or let’s see if we can figure this out. Figurative usage of words such as see, view, and look, have little to do with actual vision.

Most blind people are magical or crazy. The blind employ simple, subtle, and clever techniques for getting jobs accomplished. They may be a sense of organization, applying tools to a task, or rendering their other senses to bypass a visual element. I use smell, timing, and sound, plus passed experience, along with texture when I cook for example. So, my food comes out the way I like it even though I cannot see it. There is a perception that blind people accomplish things through a sort of amazing magic. The mundane is more like it. The other extreme is the opinion that if one closes their eyes, and cannot cook, therefore, no blind person can cook. The fact is that sighted people do not know the techniques for cooking without seeing, nor any other blindness strategy. Blindness is the sum of knowledge and practice. I’ll put my experience of being blind for decades against anyone who simply closes their eyes and tries a general task.

All blind people love music and play it and appreciate it well. I work in talent development, booking, and other related musical fields. I don’t actually play. I have rejected blind clients for the same quality reasons that I reject sighted clients. Further more, I have met blind music fans that were into metal, country, opera, and not into music at all. Like all other aspects, blindness is a characteristic and not a complete definer. So, figure that a blind person is most likely statistically similar to other people.

Counting steps is an effective tool for safe traveling. Well, if I am carrying a heavy backpack, or if I am walking with a bruised ankle, or if I stop to talk to a friend, then where am I if I am counting steps? I walk a mile or so to the Italian Market. How many steps is that? What about detours? Counting steps is ridiculous. That’s like finding your friends house by estimating how many times your wheels turned on the drive over there. Landmarks are the way. I count streets, I remember various attributes such as trees, driveways, curbside benches, and alike, but counting steps doesn’t work after ten paces or so. Anyone who has ever tried to find buried treasure knows that.
Guide dogs know a million locations and can take thousands of commands. For the most part, a guide dog only knows four to six commands that the average dog doesn’t know. Forward, left, right, stop, are among them. You don’t tell the dog take me to the theatre and he simply takes you there. The blind person needs to navigate. Leave things up to the dog and you’ll never discover the world passed the nearest fire hydrant. By the way, cane travelers are far more likely to be employed, plus it is easier to take care of them, and more sanitary. I don’t allow guide dogs into my apartment. Fraulein Feline wouldn’t like that.

Extra and very important.

Most blind people are looking for a cure. For working age blind people, the vast majority do not disparage their blindness. It is a part of their identity just as being Black, Canadian, or a military officer can be a major part of identity. They would like to be treated better, and most of them would like to put a dent into the %75 unemployment/under-employment statistic, which plagues our ranks. Many personnel directors and human resources staffers will not recommend a blind job candidate even if the references, education, and experience are stellar. Issues that fall between government, social work, consumer advocacy, education, and business are often dealt with by the National Federation of the Blind. Skills training, employment and job readiness, and other factors are a chief concern of this organization. WWW.NFB.ORG Tel. 1410.659-9314 for more information about anything brought up on this list. The local phone for National Federation of the Blind PA Affiliate plus Chapters in the Del. Val. is 215.988-0888.

Let me teach you how to see...

I'm baffled by something! What's new, right!?!

I heard this phrase again today, and I've hear it for years now...

"You must teach students with Low Vision use their vision!

What the crap?!? Seriously.

Ok, people think about this, how do  you teach someone to use their vision, it's the most ridiculous concept to me!

Did your mommy teach you to see as a baby. Nope! You just did (or didn't in my case).

But no one teaches you that, it's like teaching someone to hear, or teaching someone how to smell something, or teaching someone to fart, you just do or you don't. (Gross I know, but had to make my point).

What a freaking waste of time for Orientation and Mobility Specialists to spend so much time teaching somone to use their already completely horrible and useless vision! Boooooo!

I'm grateful everyday that I put on the blind fold and go the best training and don't have to squint my eyes all day trying to teach myself to see...that would be a way lamer existance!

That's All. Done for the Day!

HOT DOG!!!!

I'm completely perplexed...

Please read this story:
"Blind man sues Wienerschnitzel over run-in with tree."

from The Salt Lake Tribune

Now I'm not even going to share my thoughts on this story, that's up for debate and even I'm internally conflicted, but wait until you read the comments about this story! Now beware I've added my comments on their comments and trust me I sensored a lot of it...Enjoy!

"The guy should have been watching where he was walking."
D: Excellent idea. If these stupid blind people just WATCHED where they were going, everything would be solved!

"Normally I would insult the individual in a humorous way, but he'll never read it so there is no point."
D:...because blind people never read or care about topics pertinent to them, GET A CLUE JERK FACE!

"I thought thats what seeing eye dogs were for. If a blind person wants maximum mobility they need to use one. Otherwise they need to exercise caution and can't be walking around at break neck speed."
D: A dog could have easily missed this too.

"Excuse me, did I miss something? Did the tree jump out in front of the person on the sidewalk? Come on, this is just another attorney trying to get rich off a large company. I hope the judge is smart enough to throw this one out. I'm sorry if the person is blind but they have limitations and should have someone with them , either a person or a dog to guide them where they need to go."
D: Are you joking? Someone or some dog with them at all times!?! You might as well attach us to a leash and wrap us in bubble wrap you idiot!

"While I am sympathetic to the plaintiff's condition, I am fairly certain being blind and walking about town carries a greater risk for him than for the average citizen. Therefore, he must exercise a greater degree of caution when doing so."
D: "The Plaintiff's Condition?" What the....? You should excersize a greater deal of caution when you try to use your brain...

"Men in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Blind men in forests shouldn't jog.

Somebody should take another branch off that tree, and beat him and his lawyer about the head and neck with it."
D: Really? Seriously? Now we're getting violent, what a joke?

"If I was blind, I'm not sure I'd want to eat hot dogs anyway!"
D: Good point. Blind people should not want to eat hot dogs. What the...?

"I think a blind person has much more practice at tripping/falling/bracing for impact than those of with working eyes. They've done it a LOT more."

D: I'm speechless...

Disclaimer: I'm sorry if this was terribly rude (kind of sorry) but I think it's terribly awful to think what these people think about blind people. This is not just lack of education but pure ignorance.  Step up and make your own comment on this story, let them know, that blind people do read and we do care!

I got an EAR full...

I have been contemplating over in my head whether to publish this post....THEN I came across a few other blogs about blindness and

 you know what?

If you want to hear how crappy it is to be blind and how it makes like SO DIFFICULT  and learn how to clean up after you spill a drink, there are blogs out there for you, but it's not here!

Anyway, on that note,  let me begin...

Can I just say how much I love, love, love that I know the blind people I know!?!

Because I have been lucky!

I had quite the month of July and haven't blogged yet because I haven't known where to even start, lame excuse I realize, but it's the truth.

I started off my month a the National Federation of the Blind Convention in Dallas, Texas! It was fun, educational, empowering, rejuvenating...all of the above!

I love to go to this convention every year because it's like a family reunion for me. Plus it's the shot in the arm I need to remind myself that I need to be a good example and leader for blind people. It was fabulous because, guess what, the NFB believes in blind people and that rocks in my opinion!

STARK CONTRAST AHEAD!

Two weeks later I got to attend another conference for work. Now I have this internal debate to mention this organization or not, so I won't but it was in Little Rock, Arkansas in July and involved a group of "Blindness Professionals." For my sake, and becuase it's flippin' funny, we will call it the EAR Conference.

I know that I'm throwing this all out there, on the world wide web, and my head isn't that big to think people actually read this blog on a regular basis or that what I say anyone really cares about so with that in mind, here I go....

I left Little Rock, after spending a day and a half at the EAR Convention, feeling angry. Now if I didn't already have the confidence I do, and the role models I do, I would have left feeling like my life was going to be pathetic, at best and that I should just learn to deal with it.

Let me share with you what I learned:

1. The safest way for a blind person, like myself,  to cross a street is to carry a large orange flag across the street with me so cars are VERY aware of my existance. I personally don't wanna carry a flag around with me everywhere, plus orange just doesn't go with most outfits. As a colleague of mine said, "I know, if we all go out naked, I'm certain cars would stop for me!" (DISCLAMER: I am not encouraging streaking...unless it's for your safety!)

So if you don't wanna go naked, here's a couple of options for you:

Wear this metallic silver, patrioticlicious, sparkle of wonder fanny pack...

Or this stunningly ginormous orange hat...

Or just have your city gov. put these signs everywhere....

"Blind Persons Cross Here", First, how do I know that signs there, Second, how do they know the street blind people cross? and Third, WHAT THE???

2. The second safest way for a blind person to cross streets is to use a cane. BREAKING NEWS! BLIND PEOPLE SHOULD USE CANES!

"We just finished a research project in which we saught the best method for blind people to cross streets and learned a cane decreases your chances by 50 percent of getting hit by a car!"

REALLY???

Thank you EAR Convention for doing all of your totally awesome and oh-so-valuable research!  OMG, FOR REAL!?!

3. (Taking Deep Breathe Now) "If you have work experience while you are in high school, you are more likely to get employed." Ok, this is true! "And if you have a blind client and they want to work and go to high school and it takes them an extra 2 or 3 years to graduate from high school, that's great!" ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!

Imagine: Hi, I'm here for the job interview. Yes, I spent 7 years in high school, is that a problem?

 UHHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMM!!! Anyone see a problem?

Again, sighted high school students go to school and work, or internship, all the time, WHY CAN A BLIND PERSON NOT DO THE SAME THING?

4. At a fall prevention seminar: "Older blind persons don't leave there homes anyway, they don't come out in winter cause it's too cold and they don't come out in summer cause it's too hot, so there really isn't any need to teach them any sort of O& M skills." 

Well, there are some tough old men and old chicks out there that would kick your EAR butt for saying that!

Plus, this is going to be me in 50 years....

COME ON EAR! Stretch your thinking here!

In closing...(finally, right!?!) I know that no one goes into a field of teaching to ruin people's lives, we all do it because we want to help people and make a difference. The conference and their presenters are out to make a difference too.

If I could just talk EAR for  a sec, this is what I would say...

Please start believing in us, and stop pretending that you do. Start teaching us more confidence and not as much cautiousness, start teaching us to live and stop fearing for our lives, teach us to be empowered, not devowered by the world.

PLEASE!!!

Lolli, Lolli, Lolli, Lollipop!

I've been told before that I try to paint this picture that blindness is all, "Roses and Lollipops." As much as I love me some lolipops and roses I don't think that's what blindness is, oh heck no!

I know it can be tough. I know it can be a huge pain in the rear. I know that somedays you hate it. I've been there, ane recently. So here goes, I'm about to get really real about something I've been feeling lately...

Recently I've been complaining about headaches. We've all had them but I would bet my last Dove Promise that you low vision peeps know why I've been having these headaches...

um huh...you know what I'm talkin' bout!

I had a conversation with my boss recently, a very humbling but necessary conversation with him, for which I'm grateful for. We talked and I agreed with his diagnosis that I'm using my vision too much. I work at a computer for long hours and am often using a screenreader to do my work, but I'm also using what little vision I do have to find things on my monitor.

I can tell you that during this conversation with my boss, I didn't smell any roses or taste any lollipops...instead I felt tears well up in my eyes. Truth bites the big one somethimes!

The truth is I struggle everyday to turn off my monitor, turn on my screen reader and let my vision rest. Maybe it's years and years of habit, maybe it's lack of discipline, maybe it's natural instinct, but no matter the reason it's tough for me to use alternative skills and not use my vision. And it's an area that I continue to struggle with.

So, there you go, this week I'm not such a huge fan of my blindness, or even more so my "little bit of vision". Good or bad that's how I feel about it for now.

This is me being real.

So how's that for lillipop's and roses!?!

(Happier posts will follow...promise!)

Could You Please Move That Period Ma'am?

A few ramblings coming right up...

So the other day I was at work, on the phone with someone from across the country. In my very professionally sounding voice I carried on a fairly normal conversation about important businessy-type stuff when the guy on the other end asked, "Are you blind?" I replied in a chipper sorta manner, "Sure Am!" He preceded to tell me, "Wow, but you don't sound like a blind person at all!!!"

What the....???

So this got me to thinkin' bout stuff (I will now start to write with a country accent as I now live in Louisiana...must fit in with culture). I grew up as a blind person, I always thought I was pretty spectacular to be frank! Well, I was told this all the time...because I'm just that awesome I guess!

Anyway, I have always been a high achiever, I've always expected a lot from myseld and my parents always expected a lot from me too.

But there is something I find so buggin...

You are such a great dancer...FOR A BLIND GIRL.
You are doing pretty well with your math...CONSIDERING YOUR BLIND.
You are so pretty....FOR A BLIND WOMAN!
You are such a creative person...ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'RE BLIND!

While I know that all these comments come to me with the upmost of intentions...I always wish the end of sentences would end in a different place.

Could you please move that period Ma'am?

Flip!!! Silence is NOT Bliss...

I talk a lot about "Silent Cars" on this page, so close the page if you're tired of it, no seriously, it's ok, no hard feelings...

I suppose I keep posting and tangenting (is that a word?) because this has so much to do with me and my students and friends LIVING, just a theory!

I was thrilled to read this morning that something is being done. Also, that there is now stats backing up the concept that Hybrid cars kill more people than regular cars, sorry to those of you who had to make this data available, I hope it was only a light Hybrid tap or something. But anyway, I am very happy we have numbers backing us up now...since people LOVE numbers so much, whatever!

And remember...I DON'T HATE HYBRID CARS!!! Just sayin'!

So read on...(p.s. The last sentence is my fave, super funny!)

GM To Work With National Federation of the Blind on 2011 Chevy Volt Sounds

Since at least 2007, advocates for the blind have been concerned about the lack of noise from hybrids running in electric mode. The imminent arrival of all-electric cars like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the 2012 Nissan Leaf has only raised their level of alarm.

Now General Motors has announced that the engineers developing the 2011 Volt will partner with the National Federation of the Blind to work together on figuring out "a safe level of sound" from the company's first extended-range electric vehicle.

The issue of how to outfit electric vehicles with noise-making equipment has been a thorny one. Consumers and carmakers like the idea of silent operation, but for vision-impaired pedestrians used to listening for cars, that same silence poses an obvious hazard.

Recent preliminary data from a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study appears to show that hybrids hit pedestrians more often than non-hybrid vehicles. With statistical information showing the risk, carmakers are lining up to work with groups like the NFB.

Members of the group visited GM's Milford Proving Ground several weeks ago to evaluate a pedestrian warning alert on a prototype Volt. They listened to the sound at various speeds, and from the front, rear, and sides of the car.
It's worth noting that the concern isn't limited to the blind, either. An alert sound also assists children, runners, cyclists, and others whose safety may depend on knowing that two tons of momentum is hurtling toward them.
###

If this guy did this all the time, we'd be perfectly ok..Picture Description: Cartoon of man driving a Prius and yelling out of it, "I drive a Prius...I'm destroying the planet slower than you are!"

Blindfold-ocity!

YES, I'M RANTING AGAIN...(CLEAR THROAT)...

I am often asked why it is that I insist my students get cane travel training under a blindfold (or sleepshades as I often refer to them). I thought I'd take a minute here to discuss this topic (which is a nice way of saying, rant about this subjec), which I will tell you, is a very heated issue in the field of orientation and mobility.

So here's where I stand...

I insist my students wear the blindfold throughout the ENTIRE duration of their training with me (which is often 5-10 months). At NO point do the shades come off during training, not even as they become more advanced travellers. I don't exactly have a fond relationship with my students when I initially tell them this. And I also don't get too fond of reaction when I talk to other professionals in the field. But the reason I insist on it is because I am blind myself, I do have some existing vision and yet my training under a blindfold...saved me!

I want to address some of the arguments I've heard (quite frequently) in a very straight-forward, no-bull kind of manner. Yes, my opinions are inserted quite frequently...but it's my blog, so there!

You are taking away the student's vision when you put them under a blindfold:
First, I am not nearly powerful enough to take away some one's vision if that were the case I'd get rid of mine. My intentions are not to take away anything, but to give them more. By learning skills completely non-visually you become so proficient without your, often inaccurate vision, that when the shades do come off, you have learned to trust your cane and you are not relying on your un-reliable vision. I myself, use my vision every day including when I'm using my cane, the difference is, I am USING my vision not RELYING on it. I am so much more proficient as a traveller since I learned to use more non-visual techniques, under a blindfold.

You have to teach your students how to use their vision:
First I'd like to know, how in the HECK do you teach someone to use their vision? Are we sat down as a toddler and given a lesson by our parents on how to see? The answer is No! We have vision and we use it, there is no learning process, you see what you see; we use our vision without there having to be a thought process involved. Learning things non-visually ultimately helps you to use your vision more reliably when the blindfold comes off. And when the blindfold comes off...the vision will still be there you will now know better when to trust it and when not to...O&M instructors DO NOT have the ability to teach someone to use vision...I think it's a ridiculous concept.

Now you know how I really feel.

"Some professionals believe they know what’s best for the clients because they have a degree in O&M and years of experience teaching blind people...but we need to let the client decide what's best."
I thought having a Master's Degree did make you an expert on a topic!?! I thought years of experience teaching, did give you a little expertise? DID I JUST WASTE A WHOLE YEAR IN GRADUATE SCHOOL!? I do feel like I know what's best for my students because I have put a lot of time into learning about this particular subject.

Roll with me on this one...

So I take my laptop to the computer fixer people (you can see how up on my technology I am) and you ask them to tell you what's wrong with your computer and how to fix it. They tell you and you say to them, "Well, I think you should do THIS to my computer, just cause you're a computer fixer guy doesn't mean you know the best way to fix my computer!" WHAT!?!?! Yes it does mean he knows how to fix my computer...I have no clue...he's an expert on the topic!

And yes...I'm in a position where I can insist my students wear shades and I would not make them do this if I didn't truly feel it was to their benefit in the end. I don't want them to do something crappy to their computer and have to keep coming back to me to fix it...let me fix it once (unless I do want your money...then that makes this a bad example). But, my point is, I do feel I am more qualified to talk to my student about what is best for them, I have a degree and I'm blind myself. This may sound cocky and arrogant but the truth is, when I go to a teacher, any teacher, to teach me something I would hope they are an expert in that area, not some joe-shmoe on the street corner.

Sleepshades are the most important tool (next to the cane of course) to truly gaining independence! I personally struggled in the beginning to use them, I understand my student's fears, but in the end I saw the impact it had on my life...and I want others to feel what I feel now...and I very much give a lot of credit to the "dreaded" blind fold!

So there's my 2 center, whether you wanted it or not!