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From: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: partials and totals
Message-ID: <13180@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 26 Jul 90 17:21:10 GMT
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[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 WS> first, when I went to the school for the blind, I did  
 WS> not find they taught against guidedogs, but they seem to make a  
 WS> cane shameful, and consequently, I went through college without  
 WS> a cane.  I did have object perception at that time.  I had to  
 WS> be convinced to use a cane after I finished college. 
      
 WS>      As far as the discrimination against guidedog users, I  
 WS>  find that is more discrimination between partials, and totals.  
 WS>   The partials at times seem to be ashamed of the totals.  Now,  
 WS>  before you partials send me mail on this, this is not true of  
 WS>  all of you.  I don't like putting people in a class.  
 
Walter, I have to agree with you on the partial total thing.  I feel qualitied
to speak on this one because I have been both.  I had some vision until about a
year and a half ago, now I have none.  Many, but not all partials lord their
sight over totally blind people.  This is in part because the system has taught
them that some sight is better then none.  Secondly, it is based on a negative
fact of human nature.  Everyone likes to feel superior to someone else.  So,
with society telling you that it is better to have some vision, and you do, it
is tough for a partial to resist those feelings of luck and superiority over
blind people.  They try to help with insturctions etc., but can be very
patronizing and insensative.  I know that some people will jump all over me for
this, but I have been there and have examined my motives then and now, and have
seen both sides.
David Andrews

... Your Sound Alternative

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