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Not seeing where it is that your 'SME' as to the insensitivity is coming
from. I took that post to be quite sensitively put. I thought it was a
serious question, too, one that I myself wonder about. 'How does that person
do it?' is the question in my mind.
As another disabled person, I can understand some of the concerns that the
SME might have had, but I think that the post was in no way offensive or
insensitive. In fact, it seemed that Al went out of his way to phrase things
nicely.
I agree that it is truly amazing what people with disabilities are able to
do at times.
Jim Jones
-----Original Message-----
Al Geist wrote
I was just informed off-list that my response to Jodie Gilmore was
"incredibly insensitive." It wasn't meant to be. I really wanted to
understand how someone who is legally blind can be a technical writer, and I
asked that question from ignorance. If I offended Jodie, or anyone else with
a disability, I apologize. I asked the question because technical writing
requires information gathering and for most of us, we use all of our senses.
I find it both interesting and inspiring that Jodie has been able to
overcome that and achieve success in our industry. More importantly, if we
gain and understanding of how Jodie has been able to overcome this
disability, then we will all be better co-workers, managers and employers.
I have a number of friends with disabilities and I always admire those that
do not view a disability as a barrier. I met a man once who was wheelchair
bound and yet he competed in speed skiing events and was one of the driving
forces behind a wheelchair race that starts in Fairbanks and ends in
Anchorage, crossing three mountain ranges in the 365 mile course.
As I said, if I offended anyone with my questions, I apologize. I really
wanted to know how Jodie did it. How was management concerns overcome? Were
co-workers helpful/harmful? I said I asked them our of ignorance and I was
only trying to find answers...
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