[nfb-talk] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 124 - Blindness or Treason

[Robert Leslie Newman]

NFBtalk members
RE:  Blindness or Treason 

The newest THOUGHT PROVOKER is what I call a "what if" type of scenario; not
a classic blindness issue type. Here we have a blind guy being asked to
teach a newly blinded guy alternative techniques, blindness skills and he is
possibly going to get into trouble for doing too good of a job in doing it.
If you have not read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect
responses and post them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn
from and that URL is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info  If you wish to receive
THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at-
newmanrl at cox.net 


THOUGHT PROVOKER 124
Blindness or Treason

I am waiting to be judged. Some say I aided and abetted an enemy of our
country, a terrorist. I say I just helped a newly blinded guy adjust to his
blindness. It all started...

"That's one of those new state quarters, can you tell?" Said the man, who
had brought his tray up and handed money to the cafeteria's cashier.

Kevin, blind and manager of all food service within the federal prison,
lightly fingered the coin. "Nebraska."

"You amaze me."

"Bob, dealing with blindness is skills, confidence, and determination."
Patiently answered Kevin. 
 
"Hey, hear we've got that blind terrorist com'in in? Released him from the
hospital." Rejoined Bob. "Bet he's not a super blind guy like you."

Kevin knew Bob referred to the recent discovery of a terrorist cell.  Its
violent resistance resulting in three of the member's deaths and the
blinding of the remaining survivor. "Going from being sighted to being blind
takes some getting used to." Assured Kevin.

A couple of weeks later, Kevin was disassembling a coffee machine when
footsteps approached. "Kevin, I'm Dr. Anderson." said the man. "I'm the team
leader working with the surviving cell member who was blinded. The staff
here tells me you have consulted with them on visually challenged inmates?" 

"I have." Answered Kevin, wondering if this was going where he thought it
might. 

"We believe if we can get Abdul to be more independent, it would help our
program. He is struggling with basic life skills, orientation to his
surroundings, eating, general self-care types of things. Would you be open
to work with us on this?"

Kevin's first visit with Abdul was in a small room; two guards were present.
"I have not seen the blind caring for themselves in my country." said Abdul.
He had a Middle Eastern accent but his English was good. "And working .
there are very few of the blind who work alongside the sighted. It is not
expected of them. We care for our young and elders and the handicapped, as
the Koran instructs."

"Yes, I believe that is the general rule for your culture. Dealing with a
disability is like so many other human conditions; what people think about
it and do about it tends to be culture-specific, the actions having come
about for various reasons. But here we are and I understand that you and the
staff wish for you to become more independent. If we agree to work together,
know that I will be coming from the belief that if you have good blindness
skills, have confidence in yourself, and if you are determined, then
blindness will not stop you from accomplishing what is important to you."

"Show me." 

"Let us start with the cane. Stand up, please." Putting the long white shaft
into the other man's hands, Kevin said, "This is a travel tool. Let me show
you how to work it."

They met twice a week. Cane travel was a priority, starting with traveling
within the building, later going out onto the extensive prison property
where there were sidewalks, street crossings and the like; two guards were
with them at all times. 

In every visit, Kevin mixed in travel with independent living skills, like
eating, grooming, and more. He told Abdul, "I will help you the most by
teaching you how to think like a blind person has to think. Then you will be
able to figure out things on your own."

Braille was taught. Abdul learned fast with a goal of being again able to
read the Koran, and was writing in contracted Braille in less then a month
and a half.

During their visits, they talked about their lives. Abdul once asked, "What
is it like to live in your community?" 

Another time Kevin asked, "Tell me of your culture. What do you want? What
can you give?"

Three and a half months after starting to work with Abdul, Kevin heard three
men coming down the hall to where he worked in a storeroom, preparing for
the dinner hour. 

The lead man spoke. "Kevin, Dr. Anderson here. We need to talk. Have you
seen Abdul today?" Seeing Kevin's startled look, Anderson said, "He has been
missing since after breakfast."

The note that Abdul had Brailled for Kevin yesterday, now made sense. "Thank
you Kevin. It was good of you to work with me. I learned that blindness does
not change a person; it is the new challenges that change him. Thanks to you
I again have good skills. I am confident again. Now I must go and do what is
important to me. May Allah be with you." 


Robert Leslie Newman
E-Mail- newmanrl at cox.net
Web Site- thoughtprovoker.info

-------------- next part --------------
New THOUGHT PROVOKER 124 - Blindness or Treason
NFBtalk members
RE:  Blindness or Treason
The newest THOUGHT PROVOKER is what I call a "what if" type of scenario; not a classic blindness issue type. Here we have a blind guy being asked to teach a newly blinded guy alternative techniques, blindness skills and he is possibly going to get into trouble for doing too good of a job in doing it. If you have not read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect responses and post them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn from and that URL is-
Http://thoughtprovoker.info
Http://thoughtprovoker.info
  If you wish to receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at-  newmanrl at cox.net
THOUGHT PROVOKER 124
Blindness or Treason
I am waiting to be judged. Some say I aided and abetted an enemy of our country, a terrorist. I say I just helped a newly blinded guy adjust to his blindness. It all started...
"That's one of those new state quarters, can you tell?" Said the man, who had brought his tray up and handed money to the cafeteria's cashier.
Kevin, blind and manager of all food service within the federal prison, lightly fingered the coin. "Nebraska."
"You amaze me."
"Bob, dealing with blindness is skills, confidence, and determination." Patiently answered Kevin.
 
"Hey, hear we've got that blind terrorist com'in in? Released him from the hospital." Rejoined Bob. "Bet he's not a super blind guy like you."
Kevin knew Bob referred to the recent discovery of a terrorist cell.  Its violent resistance resulting in three of the member’s deaths and the blinding of the remaining survivor. "Going from being sighted to being blind takes some getting used to." Assured Kevin.
A couple of weeks later, Kevin was disassembling a coffee machine when footsteps approached. "Kevin, I'm Dr. Anderson." said the man. "I’m the team leader working with the surviving cell member who was blinded. The staff here tells me you have consulted with them on visually challenged inmates?"
"I have." Answered Kevin, wondering if this was going where he thought it might.
"We believe if we can get Abdul to be more independent, it would help our program. He is struggling with basic life skills, orientation to his surroundings, eating, general self-care types of things. Would you be open to work with us on this?"
Kevin's first visit with Abdul was in a small room; two guards were present. "I have not seen the blind caring for themselves in my country." said Abdul.  He had a Middle Eastern accent but his English was good. "And working … there are very few of the blind who work alongside the sighted. It is not expected of them. We care for our young and elders and the handicapped, as the Koran instructs."
"Yes, I believe that is the general rule for your culture. Dealing with a disability is like so many other human conditions; what people think about it and do about it tends to be culture-specific, the actions having come about for various reasons. But here we are and I understand that you and the staff wish for you to become more independent. If we agree to work together, know that I will be coming from the belief that if you have good blindness skills, have confidence in yourself, and if you are determined, then blindness will not stop you from accomplishing what is important to you."
"Show me."
"Let us start with the cane. Stand up, please." Putting the long white shaft into the other man's hands, Kevin said, "This is a travel tool. Let me show you how to work it."
They met twice a week. Cane travel was a priority, starting with traveling within the building, later going out onto the extensive prison property where there were sidewalks, street crossings and the like; two guards were with them at all times.
In every visit, Kevin mixed in travel with independent living skills, like eating, grooming, and more. He told Abdul, "I will help you the most by teaching you how to think like a blind person has to think. Then you will be able to figure out things on your own."
Braille was taught. Abdul learned fast with a goal of being again able to read the Koran, and was writing in contracted Braille in less then a month and a half.
During their visits, they talked about their lives. Abdul once asked, "What is it like to live in your community?"
Another time Kevin asked, "Tell me of your culture. What do you want? What can you give?"
Three and a half months after starting to work with Abdul, Kevin heard three men coming down the hall to where he worked in a storeroom, preparing for the dinner hour.
The lead man spoke. "Kevin, Dr. Anderson here. We need to talk. Have you seen Abdul today?" Seeing Kevin's startled look, Anderson said, "He has been missing since after breakfast."
The note that Abdul had Brailled for Kevin yesterday, now made sense. "Thank you Kevin. It was good of you to work with me. I learned that blindness does not change a person; it is the new challenges that change him. Thanks to you I again have good skills. I am confident again. Now I must go and do what is important to me. May Allah be with you.”
Robert Leslie Newman
E-Mail- newmanrl at cox.net
Web Site- thoughtprovoker.info