Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!130!10!Linda.Iverson
From: Linda.Iverson@f10.n130.z1.fidonet.org (Linda Iverson)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Input
Message-ID: <16075@handicap.news>
Date: 17 Jun 91 15:37:37 GMT
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[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Hi, Verna!

Good thoughts.  I suspect you hear everything when the lights are out
because things are quieter; and, as you say, your hearing picks up
when you don't have the visual cues to depend on as you do during the
day.

Yep, I'm totally blind; I used to have light perception when about
five or six--up to that age I should say, but never could just walk
into a room and tell if the light was on or not.  I had to be very
close to the source of light before it mattered.  One day I went to
the doctor and he asked if I could see the light.  I couldn't and that
was that.

I do have a braille printer and several braille translator programs
which allow texts to be printed in braille.  I also have a voice synthesizer
which converts what appears on the screen into speech.

I agree with your comment about people trying to make Jonathan feel
special by asking if he's helping; however, it has happened so often
and in so many different situations, and to other blind parents that
I suspect sometimes people really do think he's the parent and I'm
the kid.  It doesn't bother me really.  I, as I said, will answer any
question--well, almost--if asked in sincerity, but will never let Jonathan
be the parent.  Yes, he helps, but that's part of being a family.

I, too, have heard that rumor that blind people can identify money.
 I don't believe it; the paper isn't different for each denomination.

 Now, coins--I can tell the difference in coins when dropped, but they're

all different in size and weight, so that's not hard.

Must go my time is up here.  I enjoy our chats also.  Hope you hear
from MENSA soon.

Take care,

Linda

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