[Blindtlk] Action Alert: Your action is needed to save accessible textbook program
Hyde, David W. (ESC)
david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us
Fri May 20 20:22:27 UTC 2011
Chris, you have a right to do anything that is legal, whether people agree with you or not. What we do not do, however, is take positions on behalf of the organization, stating that is it is the Federation's position. Now I am a Democrat. There are a lot, most in fact, of things the Democrats do that I believe are right. Therefore, I support them. Occasionally I agree with republicans too.
Please contact your representative and senators about anything you want. If you feel strongly, that the Federation should take a position, write a resolution and bring it to the national convention. The intent is not to stifle political expression, but to make it clear when you and I speak for ourselves, and when we speak for the Federation. I can speak for us when I tell my legislators that the Federation has a strong commitment to the maintenance of public transit systems. I could not, this year, go representing the Federation, to our Capitol here in Wisconsin to protest all the things that our governor is doing.
So, be an advocate. Contact elected officials. Before you take a position on behalf of all of us, talk to Jessie and John and our national office. In your state, talk with your state president. We need advocates.
-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Âris Nusbaum
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2011 3:01 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Action Alert: Your action isneeded tosaveaccessible textbookprogram
Hi, Steve,
I don't have a problem with taking advice from our leaders to put into our lives. Our leaders, like Dr. Maurer, John Par?and the rest of the governmental affairs department, Dr. Jernigan, Dr.
Ten'Broek, and others have a lot of wisdom and experience that we can listen to and take into our own lives. However, what I do have a problem with is the general idea of not taking any action in personal advocacy, especially with * your * government (yes, contrary to some people's belief, the government is there to answer to the people, not the other way around according to the
Constitution) unless you have "orders" from the leaders of the NFB. There comes a time where you have to be a leader and take advocacy into your own hands, regardless of whether the governmental affairs leaders at NFB have caught on to it. You have to lead in your own self-advocacy and that of other blind people, in our case! Because we are a minority, we can't wait for others to either do it for us or ask us to advocate in the name of an organization or group of like-minded people. We must lead in our own advocacy, in my opinion! What do you think Dr.
Ten'Broek and the other founders of the Federation did back in 1940? They didn't wait for some higher-up to do it for them, they said "We need to fight for our rights as blind people," and thus started the NFB to do just that, and that's what we've been doing for 70 plus years. That's where I come from on this!
Chris
"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
--- Sent from my BrailleNote
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org Date sent: Thu, 19 May 2011 15:45:21 -0500
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Action Alert: Your action isneeded
tosaveaccessible textbookprogram
Chris,
Speaking for myself, I think it is risky to run out and give unconditional support based upon an appeal from the agency who is trying to get the funding. It isn't that they would be dishonest, but they would present the issue in the way that would benefit them the most. What is this "competition" that they mention? Personally, I would just as soon see them survive, but if you don't want to take orders from our leaders, and those are your words not mine, why are you taking orders from Learning Ally, unquestioning acting on their letter? When I act upon the advice of our leaders it is partly because I trust them, but it is also partly because I am somewhat familiar with the issue.
The exact nature of this issue was not spelled out as far as I can tell. I am probably even a little miffed that one week they take us out of their name but the next week they want our support, but that is a little childish on my part and I'm past that.
<smile
Best regards,
Steve Jacobson
.
On Thu, 19 May 2011 15:57:40 -0400, ?is Nusbaum wrote:
Great! Way to advocate for yourself! I also passed that email on to the NFB Talk list, where I got a reply from a guy saying that he wouldn't act without orders from John Par? Jesse Hartle, or Lauren McLarney. By the way, in case some of you don't know, they're the people in charge of the governmental affairs department at NFB. Really? The NFB is trying to teach us to be self advocates, not to only advocate when orders come from the NFB higher-ups. Um... independence?
Chris
"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
--- Sent from my BrailleNote
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com
To: <blinddog3 at charter.net>,"Blind Talk Mailing List"
<blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 18 May 2011 01:41:38 -0400
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Action Alert: Your action is needed
tosaveaccessible textbookprogram
I passed this on to the NFB-FL list. I believe it is a worthwhile endeavor.
I used their services throughout high school and college. I would have had a really difficult time getting books without them.
Sherri
Have you visited my personal page at
http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/Sherri.Brun
If so, Thank you for changing what it means to be blind.
If not, please go there now!
Thank you.
flmom2006 at gmail.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Johnson" <blinddog3 at charter.net
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Action Alert: Your action is needed to saveaccessible textbookprogram
Chris, I love your individual advocacy plea...that is what being an independent blind person is all about. I don't need to, nor will take directions from anyone on an issue that I personally feel will impact myself or my peers, so again, thanks for the heads-up!
Steve
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Chris Nusbaum
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 3:44 PM
To: Blind Talk list; NABS list; nfbmd at nfbnet.org; nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blindtlk] Action Alert: Your action is needed to save accessible textbookprogram
Please pass this on and take action yourself!
Chris Nusbaum
"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities
motto)
--- Sent from my Braille-Note
---- Original Message ------
From: "Learning Ally, formerly RFB&D" <advocacy at learningally.org
Subject: Action Alert: Your action is needed to save accessible textbookprogram Date sent: Tue, 17 May 2011 14:12:41 -0400 (EDT)
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Advocates' Action Alert
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May 17, 2011
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Your immediate action is needed to help hundreds of thousands of students with print disabilities.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is wavering on his commitment to hold a competition to fund accessible educational materials and textbooks for the hundreds of thousands of students who cannot use a standard textbook.
You need to e-mail Secretary Duncan's office today to urge him to hold the competition and preserve the program.
Under the FY 2011 budget passed by the Congress, Secretary Duncan has the discretion to hold a competition for the development, production and distribution of educational materials in accessible formats to students with visual impairments and other print disabilities. The US Department of Education has supported this project for more than 30 years, and President Obama included it in his FY 2011 budget plan. Now the Secretary might use these funds for other projects!
The Secretary needs to hear from you today to prevent the shifting of funds away from this vital program.
The Secretary might make his decision as soon as the end of the week so we need you to e-mail him today. Your voice and that of hundreds of other supporters urged the Congress to preserve the funding in the budget, and Congress heard you and took action. Now we need your voice to urge Secretary Duncan to preserve the funding for accessible materials and to hold the competition.
Hundreds of thousands of students benefit from this program each year and if the Secretary does not fund it this year its future is unknown. We need your voice to be heard again!
Please e-mail Secretary Duncan's office today. We have included the sample language below to help you in making your e-mail. Please add your personal story, name and hometown to your message!
Secretary Duncan's e-mail is arne.duncan at ed.gov [mailto:arne.duncan at ed.gov]
RE: Urgent Support Needed for Students with Print Disabilities
Dear Secretary Duncan:
I am writing to share with you my support for the accessible educational materials project and Learning Ally.
Learning Ally has a long-established relationship with the Department of Education and has had broad support in Congress, state departments of education and 10,000 schools from coast to coast. I urge you to continue that support by holding a competition for the development, production and distribution of educational materials in accessible formats to students with visual impairments and other print disabilities.
Learning Ally is a critical partner in the success of hundreds of thousands of students, and federal support of their efforts, leveraged with private philanthropy, has made much of their work possible. Continue USDE's 30-year commitment to students with disabilities and hold the competition.
Sincerely,
As we keep the pressure up on the Department with our allies in Congress, we will update our Policy Advocates' Center
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with developments as they occur. We will also share critical Advocates' Action Alerts with you when key decisions are to be made.
Your support has helped to preserve this program so far, and will be a key to its future!
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A national nonprofit since 1948 - LearningAlly.org
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