[Home-on-the-range] Can Peace Prevail Amongst Blind Organizations?

[Dianne Hemphill]

Hello Timothy...it was a pleasure to hear your review of those articles that impacted you in the current journals for both ACB and NFB. Having both consumer organization's journals easily available via fingertips, will help us better understand the philosophy's and practical approaches used to forge our road ahead. Just as every interest group out there, has their own perspective, so do the blind. Progress is slow, as you noted, especially if you're in the middle of situations that appear to be  otherwise simple if the disability wasn't factored in...It is my perspective, and for those who subscribe to home on the range, that the NFB has been able to make the most sense and progress in "changing what it means to be blind" in the most positive way... I do not know if the blind can "work together"  but I'm willing to put my time and effort into the work that I fully support...and, thus the federation. The Independent Living Center philosophy has generally left the blind out of their "flat world" focus and I've never seen them really make any meaningful positive impact on behalf of the blind...I was once on the wichita ILRC board and had a lot of trouble following their philosophy, which was one that focused primarily on housing and that everyone should get the same thing - and that was determined by those who had the largest number of a disability group. I felt their time might be better spent on focusing on employment issues as once we are able to "get a job" we can have the home and the life that can come with it...thank-you for writing such an insightful and thoughtful note to us. I hope we'll hear more from you. Dianne
On Jun 18, 2013, at 10:16 AM, Timothy Hornik wrote:

> Happy Tuesday Everyone,
> 
> Last night I finally read over the latest Braille Monitor and ACB Braille Forum. The pieces that stuck out for me from the Braille Monitor involved the controversy with the Oklahoma "Vision Services" and Iowa's issues with potential fraudulent spending by the former Director. Both of these makes me reflect on the lack of services here within Kansas, and the numerous Federal audits that swept through our CIL's and SILCK.
> 
> The ACB Braille Forum article that captivated my attention in balls a letter similar to the title of this email. The brief summary is that they do not feel the various blind organizations will ever be able to provide a unified front as a whole, but maybe able to collaborate together on some issues. Maybe I am a little naïve, but I hope this is not true.
> 
> At the last SILCK Board Meeting, yes I am a board member, I commented on how I would love to see the date when all of the disability organizations placed a representative in the seats behind me. Only then might we be able to wield enough power to change the state's position on various issues. For example, Voc Rehab and employment centers are truly hit or miss when providing assistance for the visually impaired. However the Director feels they are more than capable. We seen this with the overwhelming support (sarcasm) VR showed in the planning leading up to the job fair in Lawrence. Likewise as a Veteran, the VA's own Voc Rehab services only desired to aid me so much based on limited power and the VA's own willingness to employ the visually impaired outside of blind rehab services, and this is without commenting on 508 compliancy issues faced by blind employees.
> 
> Here I sit, wondering whether the future will improve, and acknowledging that only will it improve with our own actions. 
> 
> Like a tree growing from a mountain, progress is slow and steady. However, the strongest weather and whipping winds fail to uproot the tree.
> 
> Thank you for your assistance,
> Timothy Hornik, LMSW
> President
> Kansas Regional Group
> Blinded Veterans Association
> Mobile: (785) 330-3503
> E-Mail: timothy.hornik at gmail.com
> LinkedIn Profile: http://tiny.cc/7bfa5 
> www.facebook.com/ksrgbva
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Home-on-the-range mailing list
> Home-on-the-range at host.nfbnet.org
> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/home-on-the-range_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Home-on-the-range:
> http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/home-on-the-range_nfbnet.org/diannehemphill%40cox.net