A bit of a rant!

[SusanDoris]

The first Rehab Officer who came to my house in about 1992 when I had been registered blind, butwhenI still had a little reading vision left, took one ook at me and saw that I was most definitely not an 'oh dear, there, there, you poor thing'sort of person, but one who wanted practical help. She was exactly right!

Every now and again, I try a variety of google searches using different wording to see if I can find something new and interesting to do at home, ;independently, which requires actual thinking, and which is not simply a passive use of my senses.

Well today, having finished the Cryptic yesterday,  I thought I'd have another try. I do realise, of course, that the cryptics set by the more crafty and devious of compilers will probably still take me several days thinking, but I've learnt quite a lot in the last two years.

'Golden Carere' or something came up with 'twenty activities for the blind' and, ever optimistic, I listened. Oh dear … … as usual it was advice about what other people can do for the blind. But

I DON'T NEED ADVICE ON HELPFUL GADGETS, OR CONFIDENCE, OR HOW TO MANAGE MY LIFE. I AM NOT DEPRESSED, OR WORRIED (in fact I'm probably less so than many sighted people!) I DON'T WANT TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE LITTLE CLAY MODELS OR MAKE THINGS WITH  PAPER,LISTEN TO THE LOCAL NEWS, OR TRY TO WATCH FILMS WITH AUDIO COMMENTARY - NONE OF THOSE THINGS INTEREST ME ANYWAY - AND I DON'T NEED SYMPATHY, ESPECIALY FROM CHAT ROOMS WITH PEOPLE SAYING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS WITH SIGHT LOSS.

Okay, sorry about that, but thank you for letting me write it!  Of course, it sounds the same to me when I listen back as Synthetic Dave reads it exactly the same, whether I've  typed it in capitals or not! :d

Shall I delete it? No, I hope it will raise a laugh or two!

[SusanDoris]

Deleted - that's quite enough of that!!

[Anchorman]

Been there, done that, had the "Why don't you try a basket weaving class" rubbish, Susan. I think I have an advantage over you, though - I live in a semi rural area, thirty miles or more from a resource centre or the like. That means the V.I. community have to rely on their own resources. So thirty years ago, we started a blind club. Now don't go there, I have seen what do-gooders think is a blind club; sit down, have a chat, play braille dominoes and listen to some old dear play 'Daisy Daisy' on the piano. We were determined never to go down THAT road. Right at the outset, we decided to do it our way. Our aim was to get those newly registerd to realise they could still learn and laugh. So we've had them on holidays, taken them to historic places of interest, wangled hands-on with exhibits in museums, started discussion groups on various subjects, and, to try to increase several long cane trainee's self esteem, hasd them walking down the town dressed as chickens - yes, chickens - using the canes - and it's worked - don't ask me how. We're at the stage now where social work rehab ask US for advice at times. We're active in local issues; members of the access panel which is consulted by the council when planning buildings, roads, etc - in other words, we're not in the background. And not a single basket in sight. Mind you we HAVE been called 'basket cases' occasionally....possibly because our semi-official T shirt has the club name on the front, and 'May contain nuts' on the back.

[SusanDoris]

Anchorman

Thank you for your interesting post. I think I would like to have done similar if I were younger! However, nowadays my physical strength is much less than it used to be. I go to the local Blind Club - run by kind and well-meaning people and suits most of those who go but I go only if there is an interesting talk or activity.

  Fortunately at the moment I am reading a braille book called 'The Serengeti Rules' by Sean Carroll and have already learnt about some interesting pioneers in the various fields of science.

I have kept a copy of my little rant in case I feel the need to post it again!!!

Today I hope to become a great-grandmother - watch this space!!

[Anchorman]

Anchorman

Thank you for your interesting post. I think I would like to have done similar if I were younger! However, nowadays my physical strength is much less than it used to be. I go to the local Blind Club - run by kind and well-meaning people and suits most of those who go but I go only if there is an interesting talk or activity.

  Fortunately at the moment I am reading a braille book called 'The Serengeti Rules' by Sean Carroll and have already learnt about some interesting pioneers in the various fields of science.

I have kept a copy of my little rant in case I feel the need to post it again!!!

Today I hope to become a great-grandmother - watch this space!!

   


First, you'll be biting your fingernails up to your armpits in anticipation of a happy event - keep us in touch!
Second, one of the rules of the club - and to be accepted by the local authority we have to have a constitution which we happily ignore - is that, if the most disabled member of the club can't do something, none of us do either.
We won't allow anyone to be left out.
One of our members is a lady who had lost most of her mobility and all her vision as a result of a stroke, and was confined to a wheelchair as a result. She is a pretty clued up lady; used to be a chemistry teacher - so we kind of press ganged her into being chair of the club for five years, neaning that she shaped what everyone else could or could not do - OK, it might have cramped the style of the more mobile members, but it didn't stop us finding ways round various outings, visits, etc.
Yes, I know many blind clubs are run by sighted folk who have the best of intentions, but we wanted something different - so the majority of our steering committe, including the officebearers, are always registered blind, even though, of course, we depend on sighted guides.
Those who are sighted are treated as equal in every way, except that they can never have more than a third of the members on the steering committee or hold office.

[SusanDoris]

   First, you'll be biting your fingernails up to your armpits in anticipation of a happy event - keep us in touch!

No need - phone call just now, baby Reuben arrived around 9:0 a.m. today at 7 lb 8 ozs. All well.

Second, one of the rules of the club - and to be accepted by the local authority we have to have a constitution which we happily ignore - is that, if the most disabled member of the club can't do something, none of us do either.
We won't allow anyone to be left out.
One of our members is a lady who had lost most of her mobility and all her vision as a result of a stroke, and was confined to a wheelchair as a result. She is a pretty clued up lady; used to be a chemistry teacher - so we kind of press ganged her into being chair of the club for five years, neaning that she shaped what everyone else could or could not do - OK, it might have cramped the style of the more mobile members, but it didn't stop us finding ways round various outings, visits, etc.
Yes, I know many blind clubs are run by sighted folk who have the best of intentions, but we wanted something different - so the majority of our steering committe, including the officebearers, are always registered blind, even though, of course, we depend on sighted guides.
Those who are sighted are treated as equal in every way, except that they can never have more than a third of the members on the steering committee or hold office.

Sounds just right and much credit to you all.

[jeremyp]

No need - phone call just now, baby Reuben arrived around 9:0 a.m. today at 7 lb 8 ozs. All well.

Congratulations.

[Gordon]

No need - phone call just now, baby Reuben arrived around 9:0 a.m. today at 7 lb 8 ozs. All well.

Congratulations, Susan: smashing news.

[SusanDoris]

Thanks for comments. I've been sent a photo, but I'll have to get my neighbour to come and point out what's what init!!

My second granddaughter is staying at her sister's house to dog-sit and help which is just perfect.

[Alan Burns]

Congratulations!
Hope all is well.

[Anchorman]

Great news, Susan; congratulations.