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<h1><b>President’s Notebook<br><br>
<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
<br>
Mark A. Riccobono<br><br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">
officeofthepresident@nfb.org<br><br>
<br>
</a>(410) 659-9314</b></h1> <br>
Dear Fellow Federationists,<br>
<br>
This past weekend an organization released a social media campaign with
the hashtag HowEyeSeeIt. The people using this hashtag are making videos
of themselves attempting to do everyday tasks under blindfold with the
misguided view that this experience will help them know what it is like
to be blind. The motivation for the campaign is to raise funds to
eliminate blindness. We in the National Federation of the Blind know that
blindness doesn't hold us back. We also know that living with blindness
requires learning the techniques blind people use to do everyday tasks
without vision. We are not opposed to medical research, but the way to
generate interest in medical research is not by further spreading the
fear of blindness and strengthening misconceptions about the lived
experience of blind people.<br>
<br>
The current videos being circulated with the #HowEyeSeeIt campaign are
perpetuating the idea that blindness is something to be feared and that
blind people adhere to low expectations. Some of the tasks people are
encouraged to do in this campaign are having a friend give them an
unidentified amount of cash and then, under blindfold, attempting to pay
for a meal with this money. Another particularly outrageous example is
people are asked to attempt to take care of their child for one minute
while blindfolded. At a time when we have launched new efforts for blind
parents who have their children taken away because of misconceptions
about blindness, this is dangerous and offensive. These examples and the
dozens of others used in the campaign rely on the notion that vision is a
requirement for success, but we know the truth—blindness does not define
us or our future.<br>
<br>
We've published a blog,
"<a href="https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/challenging-fear-blindness">
Challenging the Fear of Blindness</a>,"ť that I encourage you to
share. See below for some related critical actions.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2>Challenging the Fear of
Blindness - #HowEyeSeeIt:<br>
It is critical that we now join together to combat this harmful campaign.
I urge all Federation leaders to lead by example and to encourage the
members of the Federation in your state to join with me in changing the
perception that blindness is something to be feared and something that
significantly limits our lives. Now is the time to turn our fear into
power and that power into action. We have the opportunity to demonstrate
how we live the lives we want as blind people in a commanding way. All
you have to do is:<br><br>
1. Make a video of yourself
accomplishing an everyday task as a blind person. For example, show how
you dance, sing, exercise, care for your children, go to school or work,
play sports, manage your finances, travel, participate in social events,
enjoy your hobbies—in short, take a video of yourself living the life you
want.<br><br>
2. At the end of your video, say that
you're a proud member of the National Federation of the Blind, and tag
three friends or family members to keep the trend going. You can also
urge your audience to make a donation to the NFB.<br><br>
3. Upload your video to social media
using the hashtag #HowEyeSeeIt. Make sure to link to our website,
<a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a>, and tag the NFB in your
Tweet, Facebook, or Instagram post. If the people you mentioned in your
video are on social media, be sure to tag them, too. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2>Space Available Program:<br>
Norma Crosby, president of the NFB of Texas, has written an article
addressing the issue with the Space Available program. The article can be
found at
<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/293784-support-thornberrys-bid-to-fix-space-available-program">
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/293784-support-thornberrys-bid-to-fix-space-available-program</a>
.<br>
<br>
Video:<br>
The most recent video, featuring Dave Hyde, can be found at
<a href="https://youtu.be/mO8MxX_tZwQ">https://youtu.be/mO8MxX_tZwQ</a>
.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Reminders: </b></h2>Meet
the Blind Month:<br>
Meet the Blind Month is fast approaching. We’d love to hear about what
members of your affiliate are doing to go out into the community and
educate folks about blindness. This year’s hashtag is MTBM16; please be
sure to share your activities on social media. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in
Mind:</b></h2>*
<a href="https://nfb.org/state-conventions">Fall Conventions</a><br>
* September 30-October 2: NFB
BELL Academy Training Seminar (Advanced) in Baltimore, Maryland<br><br>
<h2><b>* September 26:
<a href="https://nfb.org/free-accessibility-training-boutiques">Free
Accessibility Training Boutique</a>: Accessible Websites, Made
Accessibly: An Introduction to
Drupal</b></h2>* October 20-23:
NFB BELL Academy Training Seminar (Novice/Intermediate) in Baltimore,
Maryland<br>
<br>
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.<br>
<br>
<br>
Mark A. Riccobono, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place<br>
Baltimore, Maryland 21230<br>
Phone: (410) 659-9314<br>
Fax: (410) 659-5129<br>
Email:
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">
officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><br>
Twitter: @Riccobono and @NFB_Voice<br>
Web: <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a><br>
<br>
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.<br>
<br>
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