[nabs-l] Future of the NFB

[Jorge Paez]

> Marsha:
I think in that regard we have the same issue as the sighted.

Just as some sighted judge us on our sight, or lack thereof, I think we as the "vanila blind" to use your words, have a very similar issue.

Jorge



On Mar 7, 2011, at 7:58 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote:

> This is a very interesting question. Lets take those of us who are hearing
> impaired and blind. Now blindness is my primary disability, but I am hard of
> hearing. Yes we have a deafblind division, but is it promoted as much as say
> the parents, or the students? No, not at all. Are these disabilities any
> less than our blindness? No, not at all. But then my question is that why
> are those of us who are hard of hearing, deaf, hearing impaired, or whatever
> you want to call it, second class to those vanilla blind persons in the NFB?
> Why are those vanilla blind people so quick to judge those of us who can't
> do things in the same as everyone else?Its the judgement of people, that has
> kept some away from the NFB. I feel like a broken record in this matter. But
> frankly blind people are very quick to judge others who are blind for their
> abilities or the lack of skills. And its those same people who judge others
> for the additional disabilities they may have. 
> 
> Just my two cents,
> Marsha       
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Brice Smith
> Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 7:26 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
> 
> I spoke to one of my old VI teachers last week who gave me some
> interesting observations to consider. At least from the perspective of
> this professional, more and more students who are blind often have
> multiple disabilities. She suspects that medical advancements have
> made it so that children who previously did not survive are now living
> longer lives, but often  with more profound impairments. She notes
> that it is a "rare treat" for VI professionals to work with students
> who are simply visually impaired. Please understand that I do not have
> any hard data or research to back up any of these observations.
> 
> I realize the NFB respects and values other disabilities. there are
> many divisions within the NFB including the Diabetes Action Network.
> However, I think most people can agree that our organization is
> concerned primarily with blindness and not other physical or mental
> disabilities.
> 
> This is not meant as a criticism of the NFB. Advocacy organizations
> simply cannot be everything to everyone, and I think it is a testament
> to our strength that we gather thousands of blind people and raise a
> unified voice that might otherwise go unheard. But if the number of
> people with blindness as their only disability is shrinking, what does
> this mean for our future?
> 
> There has been discussion on this and other NFB lists about the future
> of the organization with regards to membership recruitment and
> legislation and advocacy. If more and more people with visual
> impairments are born with multiple, "profound" disabilities, I'm
> curious what, if any, impact would this have on the NFB in the future
> and years to come.
> 
> Any thoughts are welcome.
> 
> Brice
> 
> -- 
> Brice Smith
> North Carolina State University, Communication - Public Relations
> Brice.Smith319 at gmail.com
> 
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