[nabs-l] advocacy efforts

[Jim Reed]

Arielle, 

You did not answer my questions. 

1. What blind student advocacy efforts is NABS currently engaged in? What issues do you see forthcoming in the future? How are the situations/problems requiring NABS attention manifested at the state or local level? How can MABS help?

2. I do have some concerns about engaging MABS in an advocacy effort. First, my
 
goal for engaging MABS in an advocacy effort is to produce a successful
 
outcome that MABS can build on, and hopefully I can use that success to
 
increase recruitment and membership, and to improve the Division
 
membership's motivation and participation. I worry that if we engage in a
 failed advocacy effort, that the failure could seriously endanger the future

of MABS. Second, I worry about how much MABS can really do being that our

Division has only 5 members. I fear that when it comes to national and state

issues that our Division is so small that we will be insignifigant. I also

wonder if there are any problems that are small enough in both size and

scope for MABS advocacy efforts to be affective; but at the same time, the problem MABS chooses to address can't be so small and insignifigant that MABS action is not needed or justified.

Thanks, 
Jim

________________________________________________________________________




Hi Jim and all,

I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to thank Jim for
asking this question, and to say I'd also be interested to know what
other state student divisions have been doing on the advocacy front.
As part of the NFB I definitely feel that every state student division
and NABS should make collective advocacy a priority.

In particular, I'd be interested to hear from anyone who assisted in
getting state-level accessible textbook legislation passed. What role
did you/your student division play in this process?

Have student divisions tackled on-campus issues such as inadequate
accessibility or custodial DSS policies? Have you been successful?

Arielle

On 5/25/09, Jim Reed <jim275_2 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> NABS Officers, Board Members, and State Division Presidents,
>
>
>
> The reason I am writing is because I want to engage the Montana Asociation
> of Blind Students (MABS) in a local or national blind student advocacy
> effort, and I want  to pick your
> brains for ideas regarding local or national issues that MABS could involve
> itself in. I realize that you all will have no clue as to the local issues
> in Montana, just like I have no clue as to the local issues in other states;
> I am asking for examples regarding local issues because it is likely that
> the same state and local issues are evident in most states, and your
> examples will help me determine where to look for advocacy oppertunities.
>
> Additionally, I am curious what other Student Division are doing. This post
> can serve as a chance to brag about
> your Division's accomplishments, and to educate your colleagues as to
> your current efforts.
>
>
>
> To the NABS Officers and Board Members:
>
> What
> blind student advocacy efforts is NABS currently engaged in? What issues do
> you
> see forthcoming in the future? How are the situations/problems requiring
> NABS attention manifested at the state or local level? How can MABS help?
>
>
>
> State Division Presidents:
>
> What
> blind student advocacy efforts are you currently engaged in at the state and
> local levels? What actions have/are you taking? What advocacy efforts (both
> successful and unsuccessful) have you engaged in in the past?
>
> I do have some concerns about engaging MABS in an advocacy effort. First, my
> goal for engaging MABS in an advocacy effort is to produce a successful
> outcome that MABS can build on, and hopefully I can use that success to
> increase recruitment and membership, and to improve the Division
> membership's motivation and participation. I worry that if we engage in a
> failed advocacy effort, that the failure could seriously endanger the future
> of MABS. Second, I worry about how much MABS can really do being that our
> Division has only 5 members. I fear that when it comes to national and state
> issues that our Division is so small that we will be insignifigant. I also
> wonder if there are any problems that are small enough in both size and
> scope for MABS advocacy efforts to be affective; but at the same time, the
> problem MABS chooses to address can't be so small and insignifigant that
> MABS action is not needed or justified.
>
>
>
> I look forward to hearing your ideas, and hopefully MABS can act on some of
> those ideas in the near future.
>
>
>
> Thoughts?
> Jim Reed
> President, Montana Association of Blind Students

Homer Simpson's brain: "Use reverse psychology." 
 Homer: "Oh, that sounds too complicated." 
 Homer's brain: "Okay, don't use reverse psychology."
 Homer: "Okay, I will!"