[Blindtlk] why is it important to join an organization of the blind?

[Desiree Oudinot]

Hi,
Well, I for one am one of those who don't want to join either
organization. I am on both NFB and ACB listservs, to gain perspective
of what both organizations are doing, and their thoughts on important
issues. If I have a question, I would probably write to the
appropriate listservs pertaining to my question. Admittedly, I usually
don't start threads, as I am a very private person and don't
particularly like broadcasting things over the internet. I respond to
threads from time to time, when I feel the issue is important enough,
as is the case here.
Now I don't know you personally, but here's what I think: have you
ever been asked to convert to a religion when you were perfectly
comfortable with the one you believe in? By constantly asking people
to join an organization for the blind, you're doing much the same
thing. How do you know these people are unhappy with the way they're
living now? If it's more a question of whether or not they've heard of
such groups, one need only do a google search for organizations for
the blind, and I'm sure the NFB and ACB websites will pop up. I'm a
firm believer in informed choice. If someone wants to join either
organization, they will find the info, whether it's coming to someone
such as yourself, or looking it up on the internet. But no one likes
to be put in a corner.
As for staying on top of things that go on in the blind community--and
I use that term loosely, because it truly disgusts me that such a term
exists at all--again, it's as simple as following a few discussion
lists. Some don't like for their inboxes to be flooded, and that's
understandable, but you can go into digest mode, or access the list
archives through the respective sites. Let's not forget, also,
wonderful resources such as the Fred's Head blog which is run by APH,
or the Internet Phone Book of Blindness Resources. Information is
really only a few seconds away in this day and age; if people don't
want to subscribe to a set of beliefs, or deal with any political bs,
let them be.
One more brief point, and then I promise I'll stop. Speaking to other
blind people is not quite the same thing. For this, I think it's great
that there are resources like NFB-link and the AFB Career Connect.
There's nothing quite like finding out you're not alone in the world;
it's empowering, particularly for people who have recently lost their
vision, to be able to speak to someone face to face or over the phone
who understands what they're going through and can give them advice,
support and encouragement along the way. I attended a rehab center
last year (non-NFB-affiliated), and because I've been blind since
birth, many of the clients, some much older than myself, came to me
for advice, or simply watched or asked depending on the level of
remaining vision they still had, how I did things naturally, such as
walking with a cane. It was a win-win situation: they felt more at
ease about losing their vision because they saw I was coping just
fine, and I felt good knowing I had helped people without even really
trying, or meaning to.

On 1/16/12, Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
> Fellow Federationists,
>
> As I have become more and more active in the blind community and
> have met more and more blind people, I notice that a lot of blind
> people are not affiliated with any organization of the blind, for
> one reason or another.  Some say they are put off by the
> political arguments between the NFB and ACB; some say they don't
> want to be "tied" to one organization; some say they don't agree
> with either organization's philosophy and don't want to identify
> themselves with either organization and their philosophy, and
> there are other reasons as well.  I try to explain to them the
> value of the Federation in my life, and how joining an
> organization of the blind connects you with a diverse network of
> resources, who can help answer almost any question they would
> have related to blindness.  I also try to explain to them that if
> they had any problems, being a part of an organization would help
> them with their advocacy efforts; the more people you have
> advocating, the more effective the advocacy is.  But they still
> don't want to be affiliated with an organization.  So I want to
> get your thoughts on these questions; why do you think it is
> important to be a member of an organization of the blind? Of what
> benefit/value is an organization to its members, and to blind
> people at large? Some people have said to me, "Sighted people
> don't have any organizations dedicated to their concerns as
> sighted people; why should I join an organization dedicated to
> blindness?" Still others have said, "Don't you (Federationists)
> want to be equal with sighted people? If so, then why do we
> (blind people) need to be organized in some kind of organization
> exclusively of and for the blind and people associated with the
> blind?" These are some interesting questions; what would your
> responses be to those people? I look forward to hearing your
> thoughts on this!
> Thanks,
>
> Chris
>
> "The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The
> real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that
> exists.  If a blind person has the proper training and
> opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a mere physical
> nuisance."
> -- Kenneth Jernigan
>
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