Let me get the record straight. I am not and never have been ashamed of using my BN or any other adaptive device. My point is this: there are circumstances when a person is required to dress in a certain way. Blind people are not exempted from these requirements. On occasions like this, the sighted people in charge want everyone to look "uniform." In college, I sang in an Oratorio Society and we were required to wear black. So I wore black shoes and a black dress etc. We had to stand up and sing. I was allowed to use a music stand for my braille music. But in high school, I wasn't allowed to do so and I was the only one required to memorize all the music. I didn't like it, but I couldn't thumb my nose at the director and do what I wanted to.
Here is where the BN comes in: I want to use my BN safely while standing but the music stand provided is not very safe because it moves quite easily. On the other hand, standing up in front of a group of people with a BN strapped onto me would have to meet the approval of the choir director and it could not obstruct the sight of those in back of me. I believe if I am diplomatic, I should be able to come up with a solution which would allow me to use my BN safely without jeopardizing the appearance of the choir. But if I appear with a ramrod approach of, "I'm going to use my BN whether you like it or not," then I would cause unnecessary friction and my goal wouldn't be achieved. If PDI could make a stand designed especially for the BN, it would fill the bill for my particular situation. Terri, Amateur Radio call sign, KF6CA. Army MARS call sign, AAT9PX California
