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From: David.Tanner@f210.n273.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: getting help
Message-ID: <16561@handicap.news>
Date: 28 Jun 91 16:03:58 GMT
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[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 BL>> I am one who usually accepts help when it's offered.  I figure that if I
 BL>> do, then that person will offer to help the next blind person they see as
 BL>> well

 DS> I don't think this is necessarily true, however I do feel that
 DS> how we refuse help is more important than whether or not we
 DS> refuse it.  If a blind person is rude in refusing help, then
 DS> chances are that person will think twice about offering help,
 DS> but if we are nice about it, refusing with a "no thank you, I'm
 DS> fine" or something along those lines, then I'm sure that
 DS> sighted person wouldn't mind their help being refused and would
 DS> probably offer help to another blind person in the future.
 DS>           Donna

     I have to agree  and wonder how many sighted people have decided
never to speak to another blind person because they got scolded for
petting their guidedog.  Myself, I find it much better to let the person
pet the dog if I am standing waiting for a light to change or for a train
to come to the platform than to be rude and take the chance that the
person will be offended and maybe not help me or some other blind person
when they really need some help.  I have met a lot of really nice sighted
people traveling on the commuter trains here at Phillie and I have
developed several friendships with these people that would not have
happened had I taken the same attitude that a lot of blind folks take
toward accepting a little help whether it is needed or not.
                    D. T.

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