[il-talk] Matilda Ziegler Magazine -- weekly edition September 30

Wed Oct 2 12:03:25 UTC 2013

Good morning all,

I have not traveled to other states and been involved in other NFB related events. But I can say without a doubt, there is definitely a need for the National Federation Of The Blind. We have not arrived yet. Most people don't think we live full lives and when you get right down to it, really don't believe we have something significant to contribute to society.

I was traveling to church last Sunday, and a woman I was riding with said she was talking to someone, and saying how intelligent she thought I was etc, even though I was blind. Well actually she said visually impaired because you see she does not use the word blind. I expressed that there is nothing wrong with saying I am blind because I am. She said, "No I don't like to use that word." The driver responded I just say visually impaired. 
Most of us who are comfortable in our skins have no problem with people noting that we are blind. And in fact, I as the blind person should be able to say whether the term is offensive.
On another day, I went to a store, and asked for help. So the young lady called on the radio to her manager and said, I have a blind customer who needs my assistance, can you send someone to cover. Her manager told her, don't use that term. I  said to her that you are perfectly fine to say blind. There was no derogatory  tone, and nothing politically incorrect about it.
I have gone into an Apple store, and been stopped, obviously knowing right where I am going up the stairs, and the person says hey, "don't you want to take the elevator." No, I say, the stairs are just fine. But they insist on getting on the elevator.

I had this very thing happen while Debbie, Steve and myself were looking for the escalator at O'Hare airport. When an attendant saw us, she asked "don't you want the elevator." We told her no, on at least three occasions. finally, someone did come over and offered some assistance without being intrusive or insulting.

The individual is critical of the NFB for engaging in fund raising. But he fails to answer the questions. How do we do the many programs we do if there is no money? Does he think a program like BELL is important? How do we litigate a case of discrimination if there is no money? Does he feel that discrimination against blind people exist?

Well, misunderstanding , disrespect and discrimination as it relates to blind people remains. 
The federation has work to do.

Denise Avant
dravant at ameritech.net

P.S.  Please give to the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois Annual
Appeal by sending your tax deductible donation to NFBI c/o Glenn Moore III,
Treasurer P.O. Box 1065 Elgin, IL 60121.

On Oct 1, 2013, at 11:53 PM, "Cathy Randall" <chr47 at mchsi.com> wrote:

> I agree with Patti's comment in a later message.
> 
>                                                                               Cathy
> Please donate to the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois (NFBI) Annual Appeal by sending your tax deductible donation to Treasurer Glenn Moore, PO Box 1065,  Elgin, IL 60121.  Thank you.
> 
> Cathy Randall
> 217-243-3529
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Syed Yousufuddin" <syedy2003 at hotmail.com>
> To: <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, September 30, 2013 1:16 PM
> Subject: [il-talk] Matilda Ziegler Magazine -- weekly edition September 30
> 
> 
>> Below, please find a submission from the reader's forum in this week's Ziegler magazine.
>> 
>> I, being a NFB member, find it intrusive, and yet thought provoking.
>> 
>> Any thoughts?
>> 
>> Disclaimer: this content does not reflect my views, this is the opinion of Dave, a Ziegler reader.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The second response to the reader's forum is about Bob Branco's input on blindness organizations like ACB and NFB. I agree with him that they are having trouble getting younger members. It's because of a few reasons, such as long term office and board positions. Many people in both groups think they are the only ones who can do anything concerning the blind. With the economy being in the state it is in, things are pretty tight. I have had many people tell me they are turned off by the NFB because it seems the NFB wants and craves money, money, money. My local chapter is just that way, it's like a social status: if you don't have fund raising skills or money you don't fit in. The biggest problem with the NFB as far as getting younger members is I think is they don't feel needed or appreciated when they do join. I've seen many members in my local chapter come and join and attend a couple of meetings then drop out, it's not for them, like Bob said, many younger blind people really don't feel the need for membership in either the ACB or the NFB because they are mainstreaming into the sighted world, the ones who stay in the ACB or NFB have been there a long time to keep things going, but what are we going to do when our current today's leaders die off or drop out? The reason why blind people aren't joining is they can't take over because of the ones that are in the ACB or NFB those leaders are afraid to let newer younger people in. It is a power issue, there is a lot of insecure blind people in the ACB and NFB who really don't know how to let go and move on and let others learn and grow. I may drop out at the end of this year because of the way the local chapter president treats some of us. I don't need the stress, aggravation, criticizing and judgmental attitude towards me or anyone else. I've put with it for 30 plus years. That's a lot of why both groups are having trouble getting new and younger members.
>> 
>> 
>> 
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