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From: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: H E L L O !!!
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Date: 12 Jul 90 21:27:41 GMT
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Index Number: 9108

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Hi Mitch,

Well, you know, it sounds like you and I deal with our life
situations in a very similar fashion. I also get the impression
that we share some of the same feelings and frustrations. I
especially relate to your comments about "our" having to work so
hard expending energy to make others comfortable around us and
working extra hard at being social so that we do have contacts and
that we are seen as fun and worthwhile people to know and to wrok
and play with!

I also, have some interests in participating with the deaf blind,
but more along the lines of perhaps working with them in some
capacity as opposed to building my social life around deaf blind. I
am far too active and live too much in the world of the non
physically handicapped.

To answer your questions about where I am at. Geographically, I
live in Sacramento, California. In terms of my disability I am
legally blind with visual acuity beyond 20/2400 in each eye, though
I can see colours up close, have good but painful light perception,
and can see shapes and people, though my vision is fuzzy and
cloudy. I do have useable peripheral vision though.

I have been losing my hearing to Otosclerosis with some other
complications and had to be prescribed Binaural hearing aids and
assistive listening devices and my right ear is still fighting to
hang in there and even works pretty good in very quiet
environments. I have had a mild hearing loss in my left ear for
years and it just started to really roll not too long ago and then
suddenly lost a considerable amounnt of hearing within the past six
or seven months.  So, I am not as well adjusted to losing my
hearing as I am to my vision loss.

I also am a very severe allergic with chronic and sometimes severe
bronchspasm and everything from house dust to a short walk outside
could set me off, so I have a Pulmo Aide and other goodies and meds
and since someone decided all this wasn't enough, they decided to
toss in some hypoglycemia and a suspected floppy heart valve (The
less serious of the two types.)

But, I am actually, very social, very active and my blindness is my
only obvious disability until one of the others lays me out for
awhile heheh.  However, I am "happily maladjusted and enjoy life
and all that. But I look good and that is something heheheh!

Ah, the politics of sexuality and disability! Generally, I do quite
well in this department, at least as far as those guys who are not
frightened by my sight or hearing loss or the toys I use to get
around them! Men certainly do seem to take an interest in me, but I
will share that I have shared some of the same pains in this area
as other disABLED people. I have had those guys who I liked very
much who just could not see past my physical limitations. Too bad,
they would have found out just how unlimited I really am heheh! But
all in all, I do pretty good.

I am looking forward to sharing more thoughts and ideas with you!

Keepin' the faith!

.                         Vixen

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