[nabs-l] [Nfb-or] should the blind adapt to the world, or should the world adapt to us?

[T. Joseph Carter]

Alena,

You ask a thought-provoking question.  In an idealized world, I think 
you're right that it really should be both.  Unfortunately, we don't 
life in one.  The view of the NFB is generally that the blind must 
adapt to the world, so long as the world isn't trying to prevent us 
from doing so.  There's three good reasons for that:

First, it is a realistic perspective.  People with disabilities 
comprise about 10% of the population, and specific adaptations for 
specific disabilities affect even smaller groups.  Some are happy to 
adapt, but others resent the implication that they should have to 
change anything to suit us.  The opposing view may win lawsuits, but 
hearts and minds are not so easily won.

Second, this view provides us with dignity, and more than a little 
pride.  We know that equality means treatment that is no different 
from that of anyone else—no extra breaks, but also no extra barriers.  
While we recognize that sometimes we have to accept the former to 
offset the latter, our preference is not to.  If we can maintain our 
dignity by working a little harder so that we need not accept 
something that may be regarded as a special favor, we will.  I'll 
take up this point in particular in another message.

Third, it gives us the right to a certain amount of respect.  We do 
not always get it, but we demand a certain amount of common respect 
from sighted people.  Adapting to the world makes our case for such a 
demand a little stronger.  Because we adapt to the world, we compete 
with sighted people on their own terms.  As such, we demonstrate that 
we deserve the same respect anyone else would be given.  We are not 
second-class citizens.  We are not defective people.  We are not 
useless eaters.

There are barriers in the world for blind people.  Some are natural.  
Many are artificial.  We know that we can rise to overcome these 
barriers with tenacity and creativity, and we do it often.  We often 
ask for nothing more than the opportunity to do so, if we can find 
the means.

Unfortunately, the real shape of prejudice and "ableism" is that when 
we start to overcome these barriers, there are some out there who try 
to create new barriers for us.  This is usually when you see the NFB 
start to expect the world to change.  It's one thing for a blind 
person to find himself or herself unable to overcome the barriers 
that exist.  It's quite another for the blind person to be prevented 
from having an honest chance to try.

I generally agree with this outlook because it gets results, and I am 
very much a results-oriented person.  I'll come back to the second 
reason in a reply.

Joseph


On Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 09:43:59AM -0700, alena roberts wrote:
>Should the world adapt to the blind, or should we adapt to the world?
>This is the question I posed in my blog today. I believe that it
>should be both. People with disabilities need to be given tools, but
>we also have the right to participate in society which may mean
>accomidating our needs. I would really like to hear other people's
>opinions about this topic. Please visit my blog and let your voice be
>heard. Thanks.
>
>http://www.blindgal.com
>
>-- 
>Alena Roberts
>Blog: http://www.blindgal.com/