[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.24,0:00:06.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, stepping down out of the bus,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.23,0:00:08.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I headed back to the corner
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.02,0:00:11.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to head west en route to a braille training session.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.45,0:00:13.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was the winter of 2009,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.59,0:00:15.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I had been blind for about a year.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.92,0:00:17.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Things were going pretty well.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.98,0:00:19.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Safely reaching the other side,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.89,0:00:21.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I turned to the left,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.64,0:00:23.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pushed the auto-button
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.28,0:00:25.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.00,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and waited my turn.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As it went off, I took off
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and safely go to the other side.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Stepping on to the sidewalk,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I then heard the sound of a steel chair
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,slide across the concrete sidewalk in front of me.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know there's a cafe on the corner,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they have chairs out in front,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I just adjusted to the left
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get closer to the street.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I did, so slid the chair.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just figured I'd made a mistake,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and went back to the right,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so slid the chair in perfect synchronicity.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I went back to the left,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so slid the chair,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,blocking my path of travel.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I was officially freaking out.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I yelled,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Who the hell's out there? What's going on?"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just then, over my shout,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I heard something else, a familiar rattle.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It sounded familiar,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I quickly considered another possibility,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I reached out with my left hand,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as my fingers brushed against something fuzzy,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I came across an ear,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the ear of a dog, perhaps a golden retriever.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's leash had been tied to the chair
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as her master went in for coffee,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she was just persistent in her efforts
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to greet me, perhaps get a scratch behind the ear.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who knows, maybe she was volunteering for service.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that little story is really about
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the fears and misconceptions that come along
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the idea of moving through the city
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without sight,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seemingly oblivious to the environment
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the people around you.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let me step back and set the stage a little bit.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On St. Patrick's Day of 2008,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I reported to the hospital for surgery
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to remove a brain tumor.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The surgery was successful.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two days later, my sight started to fail.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the third day, it was gone.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Immediately, I was struck by an incredible sense
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of fear, of confusion, of vulnerability,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like anybody would.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as I had time to stop and think,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I actually started to realize
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had a lot to be grateful for.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In particular, I thought about my dad,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who had passed away from complications
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from brain surgery.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was 36. I was seven at the time.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So although I had every reason
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be fearful of what was ahead,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and had no clue quite what was going to happen,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was alive.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My son still had his dad.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And besides, it's not like I was the first person
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ever to lose their sight.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I knew there had to be all sorts of systems
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and techniques and training to have
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to live a full and meaningful, active life
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without sight.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So by the time I was discharged from the hospital
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a few days later, I left with a mission,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a mission to get out and get the best training
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as quickly as I could and get on to rebuilding my life.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Within six months, I had returned to work.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My training had started.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I even started riding a tandem bike
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with my old cycling buddies,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and was commuting to work on my own,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,walking through town and taking the bus.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a lot of hard work.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what I didn't anticipate
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through that rapid transition
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was the incredible experience of the juxtaposition
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of my sighted experience\Nup against my unsighted experience
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the same places and the same people
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,within such a short period of time.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From that came a lot of insights,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or outsights, as I called them,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things that I learned since losing my sight.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These outsights ranged from the trival
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the profound,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the mundane to the humorous.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As an architect, that stark juxtaposition
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of my sighted and unsighted experience
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the same places and the same cities
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,within such a short period of time
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has given me all sorts of wonderful outsights
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the city itself.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paramount amongst those
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was the realization that, actually,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cities are fantastic places for the blind.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then I was also surprised
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the city's propensity for kindness and care
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as opposed to indifference or worse.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then I started to realize that
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it seemed like the blind seemed to have
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a positive influence on the city itself.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was a little curious to me.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let me step back and take a look
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at why the city is so good for the blind.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Inherent with the training for recovery from sight loss
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is learning to rely on all your non-visual senses,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things that you would otherwise maybe ignore.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's like a whole new world of sensory information
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,opens up to you.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was really struck by the symphony
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of subtle sounds all around me in the city
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you can hear and work with
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to understand where you are,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how you need to move, and where you need to go.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Similarly, just through the grip of the cane,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can feel contrasting textures in the floor below,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and over time you build a pattern of where you are
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and where you're headed.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Similarly, just the sun warming one side of your face
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the wind at your neck
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gives you clues about your alignment
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and your progression through a block
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and your movement through time and space.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But also, the sense of smell.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some districts and cities have their own smell,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as do places and things around you,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if you're lucky, you can even follow your nose
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to that new bakery that you've been looking for.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All this really surprised me,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I started to realize that
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not my eye-sighted experienced
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was so far more multi-sensory
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than my sighted experience ever was.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What struck me also was how much the city
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was changing around me.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you're sighted,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,everybody kind of sticks to themselves,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,minds your own business.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lose your sight, though,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's a whole nother story.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I don't know who's watching who,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I have a suspicion that\Na lot of people are watching me.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm not paranoid, but everywhere I go,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm getting all sorts of advice:
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,go here, move there, watch out for this.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of the information is good.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of it's helpful. A lot of it's kind of reversed.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You've got to figure our what they actually meant.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of it's kind of wrong and not helpful.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's all good in the grand scheme of things.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But one time I was in Oakland
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,walking along Broadway, and came to a corner.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was waiting for an audible pedestrian signal,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and as it went off, I was just about\Nto step out into the street,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when all of a sudden, my right hand
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was just gripped by this guy,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he yanked me arm\Nand pulled out into the crosswalk
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and was dragging me out across the street,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,speaking to me in Mandarin.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's like, there was no escape\Nfrom this man's death grip,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he got me safely there.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What could I do?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But believe me, there are more polite ways
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to offer assistance.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don't know you're there,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it's kind of nice to say "Hello" first.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Would you like some help?"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But while in Oakland, I've really been struck by
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how much the city of Oakland changed
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as I lost my sight.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I liked it sighted. It was fine.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a perfectly great city.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But once I lost my sight
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and was walking along Broadway,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was blessed every block of the way.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Bless you, man."
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Go for it, brother."
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"God bless you."
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I didn't get that sighted.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even without sight,\NI don't get that in San Francisco.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I know it bothers some of my blind friends,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's not just me.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Often it's thought that
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's an emotion that comes up out of pity.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I tend to think that it comes\Nout of our shared humanity,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out of our togetherness, and I think it's pretty cool.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, if I'm feeling down,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just go to Broadway in downtown Oakland,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I go for a walk, and I feel better like that,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in no time at all.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But also that it illustrates how
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,disability and blindness
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sort of cuts across ethnic, social,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,racial, economic lines.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Disability is an equal-opportunity provider.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everybody's welcome.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, I've heard it said in the disability community
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there are really only two types of people:
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are those with disabilities,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there are those that haven't\Nquite found theirs yet.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a different way of thinking about it,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I think it's kind of beautiful,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it is certainly far more inclusive
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the us-versus-them
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the able-versus-the-disabled,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's a lot more honest and respectful
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the fragility of life.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So my final takeaway for you is
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that not only is the city good for the blind,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the city needs us.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm so sure of that that
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to propose to you today
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the blind be taken as\Nthe prototypical city dwellers
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when imagining new and wonderful cities,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not the people that are thought about
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after the mold has already been cast.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's too late then.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if you design a city with the blind in mind,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you'll have a rich, walkable network of sidewalks
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a dense array of options and choices
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all available at the street level.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you design a city with the blind in mind,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sidewalks will be predictable and will be generous.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The space between buildings will be well-balanced
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between people and cars.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, cars, who needs them?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you're blind, you don't drive. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They don't like it when you drive. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you design a city with the blind in mind,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you design a city with a robust,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,accessible, well-connected mass transit system
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that connects all parts of the city
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the region all around.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you design a city with the blind in mind,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there'll be jobs, lots of jobs.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Blind people want to work too.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They want to earn a living.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, in designing a city for the blind,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope you start to realize
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it actually would be a more inclusive,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a more equitable, a more just city for all.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And based on my prior sighted experience,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it sounds like a pretty cool city,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether you're blind, whether you have a disability,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or you haven't quite found yours yet.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So thank you.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)