Re: [AI] Blindness—Concepts and Misconceptions by Kenneth Jernigan

[Shreedhar TS.]

Hi,

Good piece of info; and worth sharing. Me too liked the article.
Further, I think unintentionally / unknowingly, some of us are
encouraging this attitude in publice; or perhaps we are not doing
enough to change public attitude. Even with regards to interacting
with general public. I feel, along with public attitude towards
blinds, our presentation to the general public is also need to undergo
a drastic change. These are my personal views. Hope much elaberation
is not needed.

On 12/30/15, Shweta Mishra  wrote:
> thanks every one for appreciating!
> I found this article on google, and liked it very much after reading.
> that's why shared on the list.
> I too feel every one should read it at least once!
>
> On 12/30/15, avinash shahi  wrote:
>> Excellent piece indeed. We all should read it.
>>
>> On 12/29/15, Misbah  wrote:
>>> An excillent peace. thanks for sharing..
>>>
>>> On 12/29/15, Shweta Mishra  wrote:
 Blindness—Concepts and Misconceptions
 by Kenneth Jernigan

 When an individual becomes blind, he faces two major problems: First,
 he must learn the skills and techniques which will enable him to carry
 on as a normal, productive citizen in the community; and second, he
 must become aware of and learn to cope with public attitudes and
 misconceptions about blindness—attitudes and misconceptions which go
 to the very roots of our culture and permeate every aspect of social
 behavior and thinking.
 The first of these problems is far easier to solve than the second.
 For it is no longer theory but established fact that, with proper
 training and opportunity, the average blind person can do the average
 job in the average place of business—and do it as well as his sighted
 neighbor. The blind can function as scientists, farmers, electricians,
 factory workers, and skilled technicians. They can perform as
 housewives, lawyers, teachers, or laborers. The skills of independent
 mobility, communication, and the activities of daily living are known,
 available, and acquirable. Likewise, the achievement of vocational
 competence poses no insurmountable barrier.
 In other words the real problem of blindness is not the blindness
 itself—not the acquisition of skills or techniques or competence. The
 real problem is the lack of understanding and the misconceptions which
 exist. It is no accident that the word "blind" carries with it
 connotations of inferiority and helplessness. The concept undoubtedly
 goes back to primitive times when existence was at an extremely
 elemental level. Eyesight and the power to see were equated with
 light, and light (whether daylight or firelight) meant security and
 safety. Blindness was equated with darkness, and darkness meant danger
 and evil. The blind person could not hunt effectively or dodge a
 spear. In our day society and social values have changed. In civilized
 countries there is now no great premium on dodging a spear, and
 hunting has dwindled to the status of an occasional pastime. The blind
 are able to compete on terms of equality in the full current of active
 life. The primitive conditions of jungle and cave are gone, but the
 primitive attitudes about blindness remain. The blind are thought to
 live in a world of "darkness," and darkness is equated with evil,
 stupidity, sin, and inferiority. Do I exaggerate? I would that it were
 so. Consider the very definition of the word "blind," the reflection
 of what it means in the language, its subtle shades and connotations.
 The 1962 printing of the World Publishing Company's college edition of
 Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language defines
 "blind" as follows: "without the power of sight; sightless; eyeless.
 lacking insight or understanding done without adequate directions or
 knowledge: as, blind search. reckless; unreasonable. not controlled by
 intelligence: as, blind destiny. insensible. drunk. illegible;
 indistinct. In architecture, false. walled up: as, a blind window."
 The 1960 edition of Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary says: "blind.
 Sightless. Lacking discernment; unable or unwilling to understand or
 judge; as, a blind choice. Apart from intelligent direction or
 control; as, blind chance. Insensible; as, a blind stupor; hence,
 drunk. For sightless persons; as, a blind asylum. Unintelligible;
 illegible; as, blind writing." There are a number of reasons why it is
 extremely difficult to change public attitudes about blindness. For
 one thing, despite the fact that many achievements are being made by
 the blind and that a good deal of constructive publicity is being
 given to these achievements, there are strong counter-currents of
 uninformed 

Re: [AI] Blindness—Concepts and Misconceptions by Kenneth Jernigan

[Misbah]

An excillent peace. thanks for sharing..

On 12/29/15, Shweta Mishra  wrote:
> Blindness—Concepts and Misconceptions
> by Kenneth Jernigan
>
> When an individual becomes blind, he faces two major problems: First,
> he must learn the skills and techniques which will enable him to carry
> on as a normal, productive citizen in the community; and second, he
> must become aware of and learn to cope with public attitudes and
> misconceptions about blindness—attitudes and misconceptions which go
> to the very roots of our culture and permeate every aspect of social
> behavior and thinking.
> The first of these problems is far easier to solve than the second.
> For it is no longer theory but established fact that, with proper
> training and opportunity, the average blind person can do the average
> job in the average place of business—and do it as well as his sighted
> neighbor. The blind can function as scientists, farmers, electricians,
> factory workers, and skilled technicians. They can perform as
> housewives, lawyers, teachers, or laborers. The skills of independent
> mobility, communication, and the activities of daily living are known,
> available, and acquirable. Likewise, the achievement of vocational
> competence poses no insurmountable barrier.
> In other words the real problem of blindness is not the blindness
> itself—not the acquisition of skills or techniques or competence. The
> real problem is the lack of understanding and the misconceptions which
> exist. It is no accident that the word "blind" carries with it
> connotations of inferiority and helplessness. The concept undoubtedly
> goes back to primitive times when existence was at an extremely
> elemental level. Eyesight and the power to see were equated with
> light, and light (whether daylight or firelight) meant security and
> safety. Blindness was equated with darkness, and darkness meant danger
> and evil. The blind person could not hunt effectively or dodge a
> spear. In our day society and social values have changed. In civilized
> countries there is now no great premium on dodging a spear, and
> hunting has dwindled to the status of an occasional pastime. The blind
> are able to compete on terms of equality in the full current of active
> life. The primitive conditions of jungle and cave are gone, but the
> primitive attitudes about blindness remain. The blind are thought to
> live in a world of "darkness," and darkness is equated with evil,
> stupidity, sin, and inferiority. Do I exaggerate? I would that it were
> so. Consider the very definition of the word "blind," the reflection
> of what it means in the language, its subtle shades and connotations.
> The 1962 printing of the World Publishing Company's college edition of
> Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language defines
> "blind" as follows: "without the power of sight; sightless; eyeless.
> lacking insight or understanding done without adequate directions or
> knowledge: as, blind search. reckless; unreasonable. not controlled by
> intelligence: as, blind destiny. insensible. drunk. illegible;
> indistinct. In architecture, false. walled up: as, a blind window."
> The 1960 edition of Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary says: "blind.
> Sightless. Lacking discernment; unable or unwilling to understand or
> judge; as, a blind choice. Apart from intelligent direction or
> control; as, blind chance. Insensible; as, a blind stupor; hence,
> drunk. For sightless persons; as, a blind asylum. Unintelligible;
> illegible; as, blind writing." There are a number of reasons why it is
> extremely difficult to change public attitudes about blindness. For
> one thing, despite the fact that many achievements are being made by
> the blind and that a good deal of constructive publicity is being
> given to these achievements, there are strong counter-currents of
> uninformed and regressive publicity and propaganda. It is hard to
> realize, for instance, that anyone still exists who actually believes
> the blind are especially gifted in music or that they are particularly
> suited to weaving or wickerwork. It is hard to realize that any
> well-educated person today believes that blind people are compensated
> for their loss of sight by special gifts and talents. Yet, I call your
> attention to a section on blindness appearing in a book on government
> and citizenship which is in current use in many public high schools
> throughout our country. Not in some bygone generation, but today,
> hundreds of thousands of ninth-grade students will study this passage:
> Caring for the Handicapped
> The blind, the deaf, the dumb, the crippled, and the insane and the
> feeble-minded are sometimes known collectively as the defective—people
> who are lacking some normal faculty or power. Such people often need
> to be placed in some special institution in order to receive proper
> attention.
> Many blind, deaf, and crippled people can do a considerable amount of
> work. 

Re: [AI] Blindness—Concepts and Misconceptions by Kenneth Jernigan

[avinash shahi]

Excellent piece indeed. We all should read it.

On 12/29/15, Misbah  wrote:
> An excillent peace. thanks for sharing..
>
> On 12/29/15, Shweta Mishra  wrote:
>> Blindness—Concepts and Misconceptions
>> by Kenneth Jernigan
>>
>> When an individual becomes blind, he faces two major problems: First,
>> he must learn the skills and techniques which will enable him to carry
>> on as a normal, productive citizen in the community; and second, he
>> must become aware of and learn to cope with public attitudes and
>> misconceptions about blindness—attitudes and misconceptions which go
>> to the very roots of our culture and permeate every aspect of social
>> behavior and thinking.
>> The first of these problems is far easier to solve than the second.
>> For it is no longer theory but established fact that, with proper
>> training and opportunity, the average blind person can do the average
>> job in the average place of business—and do it as well as his sighted
>> neighbor. The blind can function as scientists, farmers, electricians,
>> factory workers, and skilled technicians. They can perform as
>> housewives, lawyers, teachers, or laborers. The skills of independent
>> mobility, communication, and the activities of daily living are known,
>> available, and acquirable. Likewise, the achievement of vocational
>> competence poses no insurmountable barrier.
>> In other words the real problem of blindness is not the blindness
>> itself—not the acquisition of skills or techniques or competence. The
>> real problem is the lack of understanding and the misconceptions which
>> exist. It is no accident that the word "blind" carries with it
>> connotations of inferiority and helplessness. The concept undoubtedly
>> goes back to primitive times when existence was at an extremely
>> elemental level. Eyesight and the power to see were equated with
>> light, and light (whether daylight or firelight) meant security and
>> safety. Blindness was equated with darkness, and darkness meant danger
>> and evil. The blind person could not hunt effectively or dodge a
>> spear. In our day society and social values have changed. In civilized
>> countries there is now no great premium on dodging a spear, and
>> hunting has dwindled to the status of an occasional pastime. The blind
>> are able to compete on terms of equality in the full current of active
>> life. The primitive conditions of jungle and cave are gone, but the
>> primitive attitudes about blindness remain. The blind are thought to
>> live in a world of "darkness," and darkness is equated with evil,
>> stupidity, sin, and inferiority. Do I exaggerate? I would that it were
>> so. Consider the very definition of the word "blind," the reflection
>> of what it means in the language, its subtle shades and connotations.
>> The 1962 printing of the World Publishing Company's college edition of
>> Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language defines
>> "blind" as follows: "without the power of sight; sightless; eyeless.
>> lacking insight or understanding done without adequate directions or
>> knowledge: as, blind search. reckless; unreasonable. not controlled by
>> intelligence: as, blind destiny. insensible. drunk. illegible;
>> indistinct. In architecture, false. walled up: as, a blind window."
>> The 1960 edition of Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary says: "blind.
>> Sightless. Lacking discernment; unable or unwilling to understand or
>> judge; as, a blind choice. Apart from intelligent direction or
>> control; as, blind chance. Insensible; as, a blind stupor; hence,
>> drunk. For sightless persons; as, a blind asylum. Unintelligible;
>> illegible; as, blind writing." There are a number of reasons why it is
>> extremely difficult to change public attitudes about blindness. For
>> one thing, despite the fact that many achievements are being made by
>> the blind and that a good deal of constructive publicity is being
>> given to these achievements, there are strong counter-currents of
>> uninformed and regressive publicity and propaganda. It is hard to
>> realize, for instance, that anyone still exists who actually believes
>> the blind are especially gifted in music or that they are particularly
>> suited to weaving or wickerwork. It is hard to realize that any
>> well-educated person today believes that blind people are compensated
>> for their loss of sight by special gifts and talents. Yet, I call your
>> attention to a section on blindness appearing in a book on government
>> and citizenship which is in current use in many public high schools
>> throughout our country. Not in some bygone generation, but today,
>> hundreds of thousands of ninth-grade students will study this passage:
>> Caring for the Handicapped
>> The blind, the deaf, the dumb, the crippled, and the insane and the
>> feeble-minded are sometimes known collectively as the defective—people
>> who are lacking some normal faculty or power. Such people 

Re: [AI] Blindness—Concepts and Misconceptions by Kenneth Jernigan

[Shweta Mishra]

thanks every one for appreciating!
I found this article on google, and liked it very much after reading.
that's why shared on the list.
I too feel every one should read it at least once!

On 12/30/15, avinash shahi  wrote:
> Excellent piece indeed. We all should read it.
>
> On 12/29/15, Misbah  wrote:
>> An excillent peace. thanks for sharing..
>>
>> On 12/29/15, Shweta Mishra  wrote:
>>> Blindness—Concepts and Misconceptions
>>> by Kenneth Jernigan
>>>
>>> When an individual becomes blind, he faces two major problems: First,
>>> he must learn the skills and techniques which will enable him to carry
>>> on as a normal, productive citizen in the community; and second, he
>>> must become aware of and learn to cope with public attitudes and
>>> misconceptions about blindness—attitudes and misconceptions which go
>>> to the very roots of our culture and permeate every aspect of social
>>> behavior and thinking.
>>> The first of these problems is far easier to solve than the second.
>>> For it is no longer theory but established fact that, with proper
>>> training and opportunity, the average blind person can do the average
>>> job in the average place of business—and do it as well as his sighted
>>> neighbor. The blind can function as scientists, farmers, electricians,
>>> factory workers, and skilled technicians. They can perform as
>>> housewives, lawyers, teachers, or laborers. The skills of independent
>>> mobility, communication, and the activities of daily living are known,
>>> available, and acquirable. Likewise, the achievement of vocational
>>> competence poses no insurmountable barrier.
>>> In other words the real problem of blindness is not the blindness
>>> itself—not the acquisition of skills or techniques or competence. The
>>> real problem is the lack of understanding and the misconceptions which
>>> exist. It is no accident that the word "blind" carries with it
>>> connotations of inferiority and helplessness. The concept undoubtedly
>>> goes back to primitive times when existence was at an extremely
>>> elemental level. Eyesight and the power to see were equated with
>>> light, and light (whether daylight or firelight) meant security and
>>> safety. Blindness was equated with darkness, and darkness meant danger
>>> and evil. The blind person could not hunt effectively or dodge a
>>> spear. In our day society and social values have changed. In civilized
>>> countries there is now no great premium on dodging a spear, and
>>> hunting has dwindled to the status of an occasional pastime. The blind
>>> are able to compete on terms of equality in the full current of active
>>> life. The primitive conditions of jungle and cave are gone, but the
>>> primitive attitudes about blindness remain. The blind are thought to
>>> live in a world of "darkness," and darkness is equated with evil,
>>> stupidity, sin, and inferiority. Do I exaggerate? I would that it were
>>> so. Consider the very definition of the word "blind," the reflection
>>> of what it means in the language, its subtle shades and connotations.
>>> The 1962 printing of the World Publishing Company's college edition of
>>> Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language defines
>>> "blind" as follows: "without the power of sight; sightless; eyeless.
>>> lacking insight or understanding done without adequate directions or
>>> knowledge: as, blind search. reckless; unreasonable. not controlled by
>>> intelligence: as, blind destiny. insensible. drunk. illegible;
>>> indistinct. In architecture, false. walled up: as, a blind window."
>>> The 1960 edition of Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary says: "blind.
>>> Sightless. Lacking discernment; unable or unwilling to understand or
>>> judge; as, a blind choice. Apart from intelligent direction or
>>> control; as, blind chance. Insensible; as, a blind stupor; hence,
>>> drunk. For sightless persons; as, a blind asylum. Unintelligible;
>>> illegible; as, blind writing." There are a number of reasons why it is
>>> extremely difficult to change public attitudes about blindness. For
>>> one thing, despite the fact that many achievements are being made by
>>> the blind and that a good deal of constructive publicity is being
>>> given to these achievements, there are strong counter-currents of
>>> uninformed and regressive publicity and propaganda. It is hard to
>>> realize, for instance, that anyone still exists who actually believes
>>> the blind are especially gifted in music or that they are particularly
>>> suited to weaving or wickerwork. It is hard to realize that any
>>> well-educated person today believes that blind people are compensated
>>> for their loss of sight by special gifts and talents. Yet, I call your
>>> attention to a section on blindness appearing in a book on government
>>> and citizenship which is in current use in many public high schools
>>> throughout our country. Not in some bygone generation,