[nabs-l] Future of the NFB

Tue Mar 8 01:45:05 UTC 2011

Well said Kirt.

On Mar 7, 2011, at 8:27 PM, Kirt Manwaring wrote:

> Darian, George, Brice, Joshua, Marsha and all,
>  I would hope that us as blind people wouldn't judge those with other
> disabilities.  We understand what it's like to be judged, doubted and
> ignored.  Would we want any of our multi-disabled friends, especially
> within our organizations, to feel that same judgment?  In that regard,
> we seem to share an eary resemblence to the sighted public so many of
> us love complaining about.
>  True other disabilities doubtless pose challenges.  So does
> blindness, and we overcome those inconveniences as best we know how.
> Why shun or belittle someone whose other disabilities make it
> impossible, or at least more difficult than practical, to use the same
> techniques we do?  Our alternative techniques should never be seen as
> a one size fits all kind of system.  Because others, and I'm talking
> about people like Marsha who have disabilities in adition to
> blindness, may use a different approach.  I'm disappointed in anyone
> who thinks their way works for everyone.  As Batman said, "it's not
> who we are that defines us.  It's what we do."  So let's all help each
> other to do the best we can with all our various challenges and
> disabilities, not just blindness.
>  Best,
> Kirt
> 
> On 3/7/11, Jorge Paez <jorgeapaez at mac.com> wrote:
>>> 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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>> 
>> 
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