Let’s take a break at writing and reading serious disability-related issues and have a good laugh at Lisa’s post — Help! I’m crying coz I can’t see the internet!

Recently googled searches to my site:

(1) “Why do I have to make sites accessible for blind people when they can’t see the internet” and different versions of “Crazy boss wants me design webpage so blind people can see it!!!”

I love how people write whole paragraph searches. And what kind of results do they expect from multiple exclamation points? But anyway, yeah. Searcher/web designer dude? The internet is only the biggest information access revolution for blind people since Braille. To give you an idea of how the internet (when accessible) has transformed the lives of blind people, consider:

* Not being able to look up a phone number in the phone book, but being able to on the internet.
* Not being able to read a menu at a restaurant, but finally choosing what you want because you looked at an online menu before hand.
* Not being able to look for jobs in newspapers or help wanted signs, but being able to search jobs on the internet.
* Not being able to see handouts in your college classes, but when your professors posts them on their website, you’ve got ‘em.
* Not being able to read a newspaper or magazine, but having access to any news in the world on the internet.
* Not being able to read a bus schedule, but being able to look up when your bus will come on the internet.
* Not being able to just run to the library to do research, but having access to a universe of research materials online.
* Not being able to look up a word in the dictionary, but being able to use a dictionary, spell checker, thesaurus online.
* Having to go through a huge hassle to shop for groceries at the store, but being able to easily shop and have your groceries delivered online.
* Having no way to transport larger items you want to purchase, but being able to shop online for anything you want and get it delivered.
* Being able to keep in touch in written form with friends who don’t know Braille or who aren’t really in to sending you an audio tape.
* In some cases, mapping out directions of new places to go. Finding the nearest bank/drugstore/whatever when you don’t have the visual reference from driving around to know what all is out there.
* Not being able to see bulletin boards and flyers of interest, but being able to get most of that information online through Craigslist or community calenders.
* Being able to blog about using the internet, so web designers might realize how important creating accessible sites are. We probably won’t ever visit a site again that we can’t easily access.

(2)”Can blind people cry?”

Only when reading their Google search stats.

Seriously.. One of Lisa’s readers, Linda, asked a question that I wanted to ask too. I mean, I’ve come across bloggers who are visually-impaired in the Blogathon forum, but I’ve never asked them how they “read” despite being unable to see because I didn’t want to offend anybody. And trust me, even the best intentions can go awry when not dealt with properly over the internet, aww, I digressed. Anyway, this was what Linda asked:

Can you explain how you use the internet? I mean, obviously you do and I know there is adaptive equipment out there, but since I like to picture how things actually work, can you explain? Does your keyboard look like mine? How is your screen different? How do you read other blogs and emails?

And another reader, Angela, replied:

I use a program called JAWS. It is a screen reader and speaks what is on the screen. Everything is just like a normal computer just with additional software.

So yeah, says who technology is harmful and misleading and brings bad than good?? As far as I’m concerned, technology has enabled more people with disabilities to do whatever their peers could not do in the last decade or so!

Many people like to use the word cacat or cacat-ed to describe things that are spoilt or damage or not perfect. It is so often used that it has almost become a habit for everyone.

For example,

“My hair is a bit cacat today because I have no time to style it.”

“The new teacher is a bit cacat-ed and none of us know what he is talking about.”

“You look cacat in that photo.”

And so on…..

I know a lot of people who pepper the words in their language all the time. Bloggers too like to use it. I do try to keep reminding myself not to utter it. And as a mom, I forbid my kids even though they pick it up from school and the word popped out sometimes.

Because if you are a person who is really cacat physically or mentally, how do you think you will feel to see people playing around with the word?

Yeah, the same word ‘retard’ too is so common.

‘You look retarded in that shirt.”

“That reviewer is such a retard, they cannot even do a proper review.”

How do you think the parents of those children with disabilities feels?

- Lilian -

Mr. Man’s Wife shared with her readers her frustrations when her family members kept pressuring her to visit them, and to start a family.

Mr. Man’s Wife’s brother and his family live in Norway, and for the past four or more years he’s been inviting Mr. Man’s Wife to visit them but time and again, Mr. Man’s Wife said that she would love to visit him in Norway but Mr. Man wouldn’t be well enough for the journey, and he couldn’t cope with being away from the home for more than a few nights, either in Norway or in a respite home.

Everyone keeps telling me how it would do Mr Man so much good if he would go - the fresh mountain air and picnics by the sea; it’s so tranquil – as if one trip to Norway will cure him forever. My brother recently sent me this beautiful picture of the scenery where he lives, and asked me the same question yet again, as if somehow seeing the view will miraculously make Mr Man well enough to go.

When will people understand that when their “gentle encouragement” doesn’t help me find a solution, it just depresses me? I’ve learnt to accept my situation the way it is, so why can’t other people just accept it as well? Why do they have to keep reminding me of what I can’t have instead of encouraging me to be grateful for what I’ve got?

Mr. Man’s Wife has the same problem with her family when it comes to babies. When they got married, it was actually she who was the sick one. Then of course Mr. Man became ill too. They always said they would review the baby situation when they had been married for 5 years, but on their 5th anniversary, Mr. Man was an in-patient on a Psychiatric ward. He had been there for 5 long months and had attempted suicide 3 weeks earlier.

It’s probably because we seriously considered parenthood for a while that I now have problems with my family going on about children again.
“You’re not getting any younger, it might be too late soon.”
“Thank you Mum, I’m aware of that.”

What exactly am I supposed to do about it? I don’t have a magic wand. I can’t make Mr. Man well. I can’t make myself well. I can’t make us fertile!

Mr. Man’s Wife is right that other people’s “gentle encouragement” can be very depressing, especially when it comes to matters that only one knows best. Outsiders may claim that they’ve been there and done that, but seriously, everybody’s situation and worries are NOT the same.

Perhaps we should learn to keep our “gentle encouragements” to ourselves unless it is really necessary to voice them out. Otherwise, we may as well be pushing our loved ones nearer to the brink of depression.