[nabs-l] Future of the NFB

Joshua Lester jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu
Tue Mar 8 02:05:32 UTC 2011


Maybe, we should change our purpose statement, and advocacy style, to
include other disabilities. Blessings, Joshua

On 3/7/11, Brice Smith <brice.smith319 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Kirt,
>
> While I think everyone can agree with your message in principle,
> reality and common sense tell us it's not always so easy.
>
> Advocacy and nonprofit organizations must, above all, align their
> resources and programs with their mission and beliefs. Our
> organizations purpose states that we "Help blind persons achieve
> self-confidence and self-respect and to act as a vehicle for
> collective self-expression by the blind." It's great if we can help
> people with additional disabilities in this framework without
> compromising our own beliefs. Unfortunately, that cannot always
> happen.
>
> Certainly we must embrace diversity and balance the common good with
> our own individual interest. But, our legislation and advocacy speak
> directly, often exclusively, to blind people in America. What do we do
> when these are not always compatible, and what should we do in the
> future if we want to stay relevant to Americans and on the
> cutting-edge?
>
> As Darian has said, there are no easy answers. Still, it's a question
> that we need to consider as we move forward.
>
> Brice
>
> On 3/7/11, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> 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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>
>
> --
> Brice Smith
> North Carolina State University, Communication - Public Relations
> Brice.Smith319 at gmail.com
>
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