[nabs-l] Braille Vs Technology: is there room for only one in town?

[Darian Smith]

(sorry about  the early send)...   there are people who don't know how
 to read and are ashamed to admit it. because in society we tend to
look down upon someone  with a "deficiency"  when  we might be better
served to support. To me, it's as much about what we don't say  when
we trumpet the saying "braille readers are leaders" and  take the
stance we do.  Our aim as an organization is to secure better
education and  the aquisition of braille skills, and this is
wonderful, but sometimes it sounds as if we do look down upon.  If
this is so it's unfortunate to see people who have generally belooked
down upon do the same to members of it's own community.
  call it me thinking out loud but just figured I would share some of
my thoughts with you. Best,
  Darian

On 1/6/10, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
> I do agree with Briley's  stated  opinion   that I don't think it's
> Harsh to expect anybody at all to know how to read. But  there are
> many people (both blind and sighted) that
>
> On 1/6/10, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>> personally, I find validity and what everybody  has said.
>>  However I do think it's rather short- sighted to say that  it's more
>> essential to use one medium over another.  I think the beauty of the
>> cross-section  of individuals in the NFB and their degree of success
>> using different alternitive techniques speaks to how it's probably not
>> the best thing to say that one  particular skill  will make you
>> successful.  Are there individuals (sighted and blind alike) that may
>> not know  how to read very well, yet still hold jobs?   Indeed there
>> are.   Consider for a moment the idea of saying that "Cane users are
>> leaders".  Like  braille readers, are there successful cane travelers?
>>  Yes.  That said, are there  people who don't use canes and are just
>> as successful?  Yes.   So, what then determines success?    Do I think
>> Braille should be offered as anoption for those who want it? I
>> absolutely do.   But, I wouldn't want to see it forced or
>> peer-pressured.  The main thing is, can somebody read? can they
>> survive?  Can they be successful as they see it?  In much the same way
>> as I view braille I view the ability to travel; can one get from
>> point A to point B? can they do so without putting other people around
>> them in a  position where they feel they have to take care of   the
>> blind individual?  The end  result I would like is to see  a high
>> level of education for blind people, and the option for the blind
>> person to take it.  I won't judge  the blind person who doesn't want
>> to read braille nor the blind person who wants to(nor am I suggesting
>> that anybody would ),but what i will do is fight for either to have
>> the  choice to access  whatever  medium they like.
>>  Respectfully,
>>   Darian
>>
>> On 1/6/10, Liz Bottner <liz.bottner at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I'm with Jedi and Briley on this issue. Harsh? Perhaps, but it is what
>>> it
>>> is.
>>>
>>> Liz
>>>
>>> email:
>>> liz.bottner at gmail.com
>>> Visit my livejournal:
>>> http://unsilenceddream.livejournal.com
>>> Follow me on Twitter:
>>> http://twitter.com/lizbot
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> The National Federation of the Blind has launched a nationwide teacher
>> recruitment campaign to help attract energetic and passionate
>> individuals into the field of blindness education, and we need your
>> help!   To Get Involved  go to:
>> www.TeachBlindStudents.org
>>
>>
>> "And if you will join me in this improbable quest, if you feel destiny
>> calling, and see as I see, a future of endless possibility stretching
>> before us;
>> if you sense, as I sense, that the time is now to shake off our
>> slumber, and slough off our fear, and make good on the debt we owe
>> past and future generations,
>> then I'm ready to take up the cause, and march with you, and work with
>> you. Together, starting today, let us finish the work that needs to be
>> done, and
>> usher in a new birth of freedom on this Earth."- Baraq Obama
>>
>
>
> --
> The National Federation of the Blind has launched a nationwide teacher
> recruitment campaign to help attract energetic and passionate
> individuals into the field of blindness education, and we need your
> help!   To Get Involved  go to:
> www.TeachBlindStudents.org
>
>
> "And if you will join me in this improbable quest, if you feel destiny
> calling, and see as I see, a future of endless possibility stretching
> before us;
> if you sense, as I sense, that the time is now to shake off our
> slumber, and slough off our fear, and make good on the debt we owe
> past and future generations,
> then I'm ready to take up the cause, and march with you, and work with
> you. Together, starting today, let us finish the work that needs to be
> done, and
> usher in a new birth of freedom on this Earth."- Baraq Obama
>


-- 
The National Federation of the Blind has launched a nationwide teacher
recruitment campaign to help attract energetic and passionate
individuals into the field of blindness education, and we need your
help!   To Get Involved  go to:
www.TeachBlindStudents.org


"And if you will join me in this improbable quest, if you feel destiny
calling, and see as I see, a future of endless possibility stretching
before us;
if you sense, as I sense, that the time is now to shake off our
slumber, and slough off our fear, and make good on the debt we owe
past and future generations,
then I'm ready to take up the cause, and march with you, and work with
you. Together, starting today, let us finish the work that needs to be
done, and
usher in a new birth of freedom on this Earth."- Baraq Obama