[Journalists] Mr. Hamilton's article, a contrarian's view

[Cheryl Wade]

			Thank you, Donna, for making me think a little more.

I thought Mr. Hamilton brought up some good points about the things 
that make us blind people crazy - like the nameless buttons and the 
stupid hotel cards. But I think he made way, way too much fun, and 
exaggeration, about wandering around and trying to find his bed and 
the bathroom, etc. He's mixing real, honest-and-for-true problems 
with stupid things he probably knows well how to do - such as get 
around in a room. Now that I think of it, he makes himself out as 
quite a dolt. I guess that was what I meant last night by saying he 
was to melodramatic. He mixes the real stuff of life with a bunch of 
stupid stuff about wandering around trying to find his bed.

I appreciate your sentiments. I think even for people who are born 
blind, such as myself, we all need to grieve our losses sometimes. I 
know there is a bit of pity in the eyes of one of my best friends, 
and I guess that's just the price of friendship - you take the good 
with the bad. I'm sure she thinks I'm way too hung up on, for 
example, endless navel gazing.

If any of you want a real jolt of literary caffeine related to 
disabilities, read "Nothing About Us Without Us by James I. Charlton. 
He talks much about the whole idea that we as disabled people are 
always having to take things from charity, from people who really 
don't know what we need and who really aren't us, because they aren't 
disabled. I realized that is what makes me feel a little captive 
every time I go to guide dog school. Here's my trainer, saying "OK, 
kids, here we are" when dropping us off in some strange town to do 
our guiding work. It's all about curfews and institutional food and 
having to take the dog they pick for you, even though I knew 
instantly I was allergic to mine. (I do, however, love him and 
believe he is the right dog for me. I take shots because of him.")

What do you folks think about using the newspaper columns on the edi 
page to write about yourself and your disability? I've done it a few 
times: about my dogs, my Braille music camp where I work each summer, 
about perceptions.) It felt a little weird at first, but now it's fun 
and, boy, do people read them!

End of blab.

Cheryl Wade bothered me at first to do it, but boy, do