[bksvol-discuss] Re: How I read

  • From: "solsticesinger" <solsticesinger25@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2006 09:10:56 -0600

I was standing by the door at the university, waiting for my ride, and this lady comes up to me and says, "You're so brave." I asked her why, and she said she didn't know exactly why. I just was. So, I began to wonder whether I was brave for attending grad school, or for waiting alone for a ride.


I don't always have the patience to educate people either. I do try, but the role of constant educator gets old fast, especially if people are insensitive to start with.

Shannon

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----- Original Message ----- From: "Lora" <loravara@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 10:49 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: How I read


Hi E.,

I completely agree. People remark on everyday tasks I take for granted, and treat them as mysterious and marvelous. I've been complimented for walking
down stairs, for crossing streets, even for going to get my mail.

And those who ask personal questions, like, "How do you get dressed for work
in the morning?" don't seem to care that they're being intrusive.  They
think they have the right.

And sometimes I just don't know how to respond.  The co-worker who
complimented me for walking down two flights of stairs angered me so much
that I wanted to turn and snap at her. But every instinct demands that I be
professional at work.  Some might say I should have educated her, but I
don't always have the patience to be instructive, and sometimes I feel I
have the right to be angry or frustrated. Of course, if we give into that,
then we're somehow angry about our disability, which is the furthest thing
from the truth.  I just don't want it to be what defines me to others, and
sometimes, no matter how I try, that seems to be all they see.

On a positive note, the team I'm on treats me as an equal, for better or
worse. I take my turn at overtime, with the on-call pager, everything, and they know that I can get it done. I'm assigned projects, from small things
to large-scale efforts that everyone will see the results of, and no one
questions my ability to complete my assigned duties.





-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Elizabeth and
Burton
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 9:41 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: How I read

Actually that bothers me too. I am also bothered by strangers walking up to me and saying "I have never watched a blind person ((fill in the blank such
as eat a salad or do some task.)  I am happy to talk about myself but this
is different than having no boundaries where my being blind means I am on
display for the interest of others or need to interrupt what I am doing to
discuss my life with you.

I am also amazed at the fact that total strangers have come up to me and
asked me things about my personal life. It would never occur to me to walk up to someone and say "Do you live alone?" "Do you have children?" and such.
I mean if I am having a conversation with you you might ask me that if you
knew me a bit but total strangers somehow figure they have the right to ask
personal things because we are visibly disabled.

E.

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