i-adLVle ... I 'Pav I N • . 1he... Co"po~a.1 . -- "ltD,455"8 THE RTHOLIC ~OUR T-he Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy REV. PAUL ~ LACKNER JUL. Y 12, 1959 oeactdtled ~~ Apostolate ,To The Blind~~ Blindness is a very severe handicap. It is severe for those who are born with- out sight, or who lose it in childhood. It is severe for those who are deprived of vision, whether suddenly, or slowly, in their adulthood. For these, it means the end of a life of sight, am the be- ginniI¥J of a life of blindness, with all that such a life implies. Blindness is accompanied by certain losses. Some of these are quite obvi- ous. Let me dwell on three of them for a moment: First, there is the loss of mobility - a loss that makes one unable to get from place to place, one that fixes the blinded person to the spot where he stands, causing him to be a very dependent being. Second, there is the loss of the means of intellectual growth. The blind man cannot pick up the newspaper and turn to a favorite sports column, or take a monthly trade roogazine, or a monthly religious publication and read them from -1- cover to cover, as does a person with sight. And, of course, the world of books, a very enjoyable pursuit for many, is a world closed for the untrained blind. '. Third, there is the loss of the tech- niques of daily living, such as, dialing a telephone, personal hygiene, eating and drinking, dressing and personal grooming - this is indeed a loss that brings in its wake a thousand frustra- tions and embarrassmmts. There are other losses, but it is not within the scope of this address to enu- nerate or analyze them. But all is not los t when vision is lost. It is possible to restore or replace many of the losses throu:;Jh rehabilitation. Here I mean the rehabilitation that is given and experi- enced at a center where the staff is lYD- fessional and competent. Indeed, there are many blind people who have gone to such "institutions /I .and have profited very greatly from the training they have received. I have spoken briefly, very briefly, on three losses. They were chosen be- calEe volunteers can be of very great service to the blind in those particular areas as I shall explain a little later on. Anyore wishing to becone a volun';' teer to help the visually handicapped -2- should offer his services to a recognized agency engaged in work fa- the blind. A prospective volunteer may be put to work as a staff assistant in the office - in addressing envelopes, typing letters, or in helping in fund-raising campaigns. All of these chores are impa-tant in helping the agency perform its general over-all program for the blind. Or, the I!'ospective volunteer may be assigned to a blind person to help him for any number of reasons. We sincerely hope that agency officials will do the proper screening before such an assign- is made. Certainly motives should be questioned and analyzed, and this should be followed by a period of indoctrination on the nature of blindness, and the losses that come when blindness occurs after the age of reason. During such a period, the director of volunteers will be able to measure the ability of all who are being trained and assign each to his area of specific competency. Such a period of study will give the teacher the opportunity to erase many mistaken notions commonly held by many about the blind - notions, for ex- ample, that blind persons are different than other people; that in compensation for the loss of sight they are endowed with a sixth sense; that all blind people -3- are geniuses, or that all are morons; that most blind people are good musi- cians. And, I repeat all these notions are false. Once assigned to work with the visu- ally handicapped, the volunteer should remember this important rule. It is his primary duty to be /leyes for the blind./I This cannot be stressed too much. He should not ass ume the role of mother, or father, or protector. He should not seek in any way to dominate or direct the life of the person to whom he is assigned. But, I repeat, he should /lbe the eyes for the blind./I The Catholic Guild for the Blind of the Archdiocese of Boston has composed a pledge for the volunteer. It contains a philosophy to which I fully agree. Per- mission for Ire to read it to you was graciously given by officials of the Guild. It is as follows: "1 pledge myself to be the eyes of the blind. I will try with all that lies within me to be free of false feelings about blindness - feelings that blind persons are strange or different - feelings that they have a sixth sense, or a miraculous compensation - feelings that they are geniuses, or that on the other hand, they have warped or twisted personalities. -4- I will attempt to know completely what I am now beginnfng to recognize, that there is no common personality plt- tern among blind persons. And I will try always to see each individual blind per- son with whom I ceine in contact as an imividual human person with an in- dividual human personality. I promise in sJ)eaking of my work never to attempt to raise a false pity for the blind - but only to teach people the truth about blin~ss, a most severe handicap to which human beings react in their own imividual ways. And my actual relationship to the person to whom I am assigned will be the relaU .... lMtt which is assigned to me. I accept thitse volunteer opportu- nities in order th~ I my assist persons who are blind. Generally speaking, the very best assistance is that in which I am only 'substitute eyes.' This will mean toot I will refrain from any attempt to influence the life or actions of the person . who is blind - leaviDJ this to others whose responsibility it may be. I will not try to be mothet cr father or sister or brother to the person who is blind. I will not allow myself to be fiooncial benefactcc to him. Nor will I own or possess him. Nor lI'tIke him de- pement on me - nor myself dependent ~5- on him. I pledge myself to be the eyes of the blind - and not to attempt to be some- thing more. If this I do and this I do for God - then my time is indeed well spent - no matter what otOOr problelIJ3 there may be that I myself would wish to solve." The volunteer, the eyes of too blind, can be helpful in many, many ways. He can act as a guide, thereby helping to restore the loss of mobility. To perform this service inte lligently requires that he walk about a half step in front, while the blind person holds his elbow, or holds his forearm, just in front of the elbow. This method prevents the blind person from being propelled, or pulled by the volunteer. Rather does it rrean that he is being guided, as he should be. The traired volunteer can be of great service in going with the blind for a walk, on a shopping trip, to church, to visit a friend, to a baseball game - yes, to anyone of the hundreds of places that sighted per- sons are accustomed to go in daily life. The volunteer can serve as a reader, not just to read a book - but whatever · that person wishes to be read to him. It may be an item in a rewspaper, an arti-· de in a magazine, a recipe from a cook book, the schedule of Masses in a Church -6- bulletin, an advertiserrent that came through the mail, the Dick Tracy comic strip. Again, our volunteer may be needed to help in some household chores. This may be true for the aged blind, espe- cially those who have lost their sight very late in life and who have had no trainirlJ in adjustment to the years of blindness that lie ahead. There will be assistance in the preparation of meals, the mending of clothes, the writing of letters, the repair of a screen door. In all these acts of kindness and charity, the volunteer should realize all of them are important, even the little things. When they are done out of love, they are reminiscent of the love shown by Him Who when He walked the earth gave sight to the blind. "Caecus Venit, Cmistus Venit." This is a Latin ex- press ion which loosely translated means: "Whenever the blind person corres and is aided, then Christ is present and our charity is charity to Him in the person of one of His members". Sin::e many within the range of my voice are members of the Catholic faith, I should like to rrnke a strong appeal that their kindness, not only to the visu- ally handicapped, but to all who may be -7- served by them, be not confined to Cath- olics alone, but be given regardless of race, color or cteed. This, I believe, is the true Christian spirit, symbolized by the arms of Christ extended on th~ cross to embrace everyone. There are rrony volunteers working with the blind in this country, not only through state and local agencies, but also through the some twelve Catholic Guilds for the Blind that have been or- ganized in the last twenty-five years. These guilds provide volunteers to act as guides on retreats, as guides for at- tending Mass and the Sacraments, as in- structers of Catechism classes for blind children. Of special note are the hun- dreds of volunteers who braille Catholic literature for the Xavier Society of the Blind, an agency under the jt.risdiction of the Society of Jesus. This institu- tion, with headquarters in New York City, has been in existence mere than fifty years, and is rightly considered the pioneer Catholic agency engaged in work with the blind. It provides Catholic literat ure through its lending library, as well as rrokes available missals and prayer books. And in recent years it has arranged for the recording of the New Testament, The Lives of the Saints, and the Catechism for those who prefer to -8- use the talking book. Many of you listening to this broad- cast may never have the opportunity to engage in volunteer work for the blind. Yet, sometime during your life, you have or will, meet a blind person. Here are a few helpful hints to follow - hints that will avoid unpleasantries for both you and him: HELPFUL HINTS TO EASY STEPS WHEN YOU MEET A BLIND PERSON DON'T BE EMBARRASSED ... When you are introd uced to a blind person, don't assume that you are meeting someone odd or different. He's the same as any other stranger. After you get to know him, you may like him - or you may not. But at least give yourself a chance to make a new friend. DON'T KEEP EVERYTmNG TO YOUR- SElF ... Don't take it for granted that a blind person won' t be interested in the book or magazine you're reading just be- cause he can't see it. If it appeals to you, it may be interesting for him. Give him a chance to find out. Try discuss- ing the contents with him. DON'T "CARRY" A BLIND MAN ... If. - ,9-, his only handicap - is blindness, he is perfectly capable of walking on his own two feet. Let ·him take your arm - . the movements of your body will guide him. He'll walk along with you so naturally that most of the people who pass you won't realize that he is blind. _ DON'T LET YOUR SYMPATHY SHOW ... Most blind people have learned to live with their handicap. _ Openly ex- pressed pity is a sign of bad manners. Of course, you may meet a martyr type occasionally; you meet them in all walks of life. They're not much fun to be with, but thank goodness, they're not typical. DON'T "GEE" WHEN YOU MEAN "HAW" ... A blind person can't see the way you're pointing - so don't say "left" when you mean "right". A wrong turn could lead him into danger - at the very least, it could make him lose his way. DON'T INVITE A BLACK EYE ... Half- open doors can be very dangerous. A blind person could injure himself seri- ously by bumping into one. Keep all doors which may be used by the blind either fully dosed or opened flat against the wall. -10- DON'1' BE MUM .•. When you enter a room which is occupied by a blind per- son, or he comes into the one you're in, speak to him. If he doesn't recognize your voice, tell him who you are. You'd do the same for a sighted person, wouldn't you? DON'T STAND LIKE A Sl1CK ... Always shake hands with a blind person when meeting or leaving him. Remem- ber, a cordial handshake and a word or two are the same as the friendly smile he can't see. DON'T MAKE A PRODUCTION OF IT ... You needn't be too obvious, but try to see that a blind friend meets the people around him - at a party or in any group. If you can, identify each person by a word or phrase and don't fail to mention each name. DON'T BEHAVE LIKE A KEEPER ... A blind person can make up his own mind about what he wants to do - , where he wants to go - , what he likes to eat. These are things he can decide for him- self. Give him any help he asks for, but don't try to assume responsibilities which are rightfully his. -11- LSE YOUR COMMON SENSE ... Many blind people can do most things for themselves, and some of them, like mcmy sighted persons, don't want help unless they ask for it. Use your common sense and give each blind person credit for being a normal, intelligent person. DON'T OOH AND AAAH ... Take it in your stride when a blind person does the ordinary thing in a routine manner. Don't gasp with audible wonder when he con- sults his watch, dials a phone number, or signs his name. He's learned to do these things by study and practice, not by a miracle. DON'T SLAM THAT DOOR ••• A blind person depends on his fingers. They serve as his eyes for reading, to tell the time, to do any number of things. So don't slam doors of rooms, or buildings, or autormbiles, if there is a · blind person around. In fact, it's rude to slam doors at cmy time. DON'T CLOSE THE WINDOW ON LIFE ... A blind person doesn't necessarily lose his interest in life when he loses his vision. He still knows what is going on in the world,cmd he's probably still keenly interested in many of the things -12- he used to do. DON'T PUSH ... Never push a blind per- son ahead of you into a strange place. In fact, don't ever do it whether the place is strange or not. Let him take your arm. When he "sees" what you are doing, he'll follow wi. thout hesitation. DON'T SHOVE ... Tell a blind person where the seat is, or put his hand on the arm or back of the chair. He can sit down without your help. Pushing him might make him fall, an embarrassing situation for both of you. BEWARE OF THE DOG ... That is, be- ware of diverting the attention of a guide dog. He is a working dog, doing a very important job. Patting him or offering him food might distract him. DON'T FADE OUT OF THE PICTURE ... Never leave a blind person so quietly or so abruptly that he ooesn't know you've gone. He might find himself talkil'XJ foolishly to the empty air. And you know how silly you'd feel dOing that. DON'T SHOUT ... Just because a blind person can't see you, don't nnke up your - 13- mind that he can't hear you - or doesn't understand English. . He is probably a very normal person except for the handi- cap of blindness. DON'T EXPECT DIE IMPOSSmLE ... Rerrember that each blind person is an indiv.idual - with individual character- istics. He has his own likes and dis- likes - his own capabilities and limita- tions. Treat him as you would anyone else. It is a fallacy to believe that all blind people are either geniuses or morons. -14 - ADDITIONAL COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR S. 10 EACH . OULK LOTS MAY ALSO BE HAD AT THE FOLLOWING RATES: 10 TO 99 COPIES •• •••• • •••.•••• •• . ••• ••.••.••••••• S.05 @ 100 COPIES AND OVER •••••••. .••.••.•••••.• • •• ••. 04 (il THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC MEN 1312 Massachusetts Avenue, N. W. Washington, D. C. Presented by THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC MEN 826954-001 826954-002 826954-003 826954-004 826954-005 826954-006 826954-007 826954-008 826954-009 826954-010 826954-011 826954-012 826954-013 826954-014 826954-015 826954-016 826954-017 826954-018 826954-019 826954-020