I got this from a friend today and thought it worth sharing -- I had not seen it before. Good suggestion for expansion. On Wed, 30 Oct 2002, Janina Sajka wrote: > This is old, but always fun to come across again. > > I have a suggested addition ... > > Remember that sighted people are usually unaware of things they can't readily see. For example, they tend to not know > much about what's immediately behind them. So, try to stand directly in front of them if you want their undivided > attention. > > Charles Hallenbeck writes: > > From: Charles Hallenbeck <hallenbeck at valstar.net> > > > > What To Do When You Meet A Sighted Person! > > > > People who use their eyes to receive information about the world are called > > sighted people or "people who are sighted." Legal "sight" means any visual > > acuity greater then 20/200 in the better eye without correction or an angle > > of vision wider than 20 degrees. Sighted people enjoy rich full lives, > > working, playing, and raising families. They run businesses, hold public > > office, and teach your children! > > > > How do Sighted People Get Around? > > People who are sighted may walk or ride public transportation, but most > > choose to travel long distances by operating their own motor vehicles. They > > have gone through many hours of training to learn the "rules of the road" in > > order to further their independence. Once that road to freedom has been > > mastered, sighted people earn a legal classification and a "Driver's > > License" which allows them to operate a private vehicle safely and > > independently. > > > > How Do You Assist A Sighted Person? > > Sighted people are accustomed to viewing the world in visual terms. This > > means that in many situations, they will not be able to communicate orally > > and may resort to pointing or other gesturing. Subtle facial expressions may > > also be used to convey feelings in social situations. Calmly alert the > > sighted person to his surroundings by speaking slowly, in a normal tone of > > voice. Questions directed at the sighted person help focus attention back on > > the verbal rather than visual communication. At times, sighted people may > > need help finding things, especially when operating a motor vehicle. Your > > advance knowledge of routes and landmarks, particularly bumps in the road, > > turns, and traffic lights, will assist the "driver" in finding the way > > quickly and easily. Your knowledge of building layouts can also assist the > > sighted person in navigating complex shopping malls, and offices. Sighted > > people tend to be very proud and will not ask directly for assistance. Be > > gentle yet firm. > > > > How Do Sighted People Use Computers? > > The person who is sighted relies exclusively on visual information. His or > > her attention span fades quickly when reading long texts. Computer > > information is presented in a "Graphical User Interface" or GUI. > > coordination of hands and eyes is often a problem for sighted people, so the > > computer mouse, a handy device that slides along the desk top, saves > > confusing keystrokes. With one button, the sighted person can move around > > his or her computer screen quickly and easily. People who are sighted are > > not accustomed to synthetic speech and may have great difficulty > > understanding even the clearest synthesizer. Be patient and prepared to > > explain many times how your computer equipment works. > > > > How Do Sighted People Read? > > Sighted people read through a system called "Print" this is a series of > > images drawn in a two dimensional plain. People who are sighted generally > > have a poorly developed sense of touch. Braille is completely foreign to > > the sighted person and he or she will take longer to learn the code and be > > severely limited by his or her existing visual senses. Sighted people > > cannot function well in low lighting conditions and are generally completely > > helpless in total darkness. Their homes are usually very brightly lit at > > great expense, as are businesses that cater to the sighted consumer. > > > > How Can I Support A Sighted Person? > > People who are sighted do not want your charity. They want to live, work, > > and play along with you. The best thing you can do to support sighted people > > in your community is to open yourself to their world. These people are vital > > contributing members to society. Take a sighted person to lunch today!" > > > > > > -- > > The Moon is Waning Crescent (34% of Full) > > So visit me at http://www.valstar.net/~hallenbeck > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Speakup mailing list > > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca > > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup > > -- The Moon is Waning Crescent (30% of Full) So visit me at http://www.valstar.net/~hallenbeck
