[nabs-l] Future of the NFB

bookwormahb at earthlink.net bookwormahb at earthlink.net
Tue Mar 8 03:42:27 UTC 2011 

I also wish we worked with other disability consumer groups sometimes.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Kirt Manwaring
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 9:28 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB

Bryce,
  I agree with you to a point, we aren't the National Federation of
the Disabled.  And we need to as an organization focus on advocating
for the needs of most of our members.  But it becomes a real problem
when we treat others the way we are too often treated.  Our
organization as a whole isn't going to draft much legal language, for
example, to help specificly the deaf blind.  I see that as something
teh Deaf blind devision can work on though, as they're the experts in
that area.  Just an example, but I think you see the principle.  And
we're all hypocrits if we rail against the sighted public for abusing
us and descriminating and stereotyping and judging, then we turn
around and do the same thing.  Normal, maybe.  But we can be bettter
than normal.  Will we?  That's another question entirely.
  Now on to another point.  There is very little which irritates me
about the Federation as a whole.  But our refusal to work with other
disabled consumer groups, in fear of our purpose being "watered down"
does bother me a little.  I'm not saying we do all our work with other
disability advocacy organizations.  Some things need to be handled by
us exclusively as a blind organization.  But when another group has a
good idea that could help us, why do we too often ignore it?  And why
do we generally not cooperate with other disability groups?  No wonder
many think us arrogant and self centered.  I would, if I hadn't been
in the Federation and seen firsthand the good we do.  But I guess the
Reading Rights coalition was a step in the right direction, I hope we
do more along that same vain in the future.
  Best,
Kirt


On 3/7/11, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
> That individual was disrespectfull! I hope said person isn't on this
> list. People need to understand that you have to depend on your other
> senses, since you don't have sight. When you don't have the sense of
> hearing, either, you definitely have trouble traveling. I can hear
> just fine, but I had trouble navigating the hotel in Dallas. I'm a
> great cane traveler, but i've never been out of Arkansas by myself.
> This was a challenge, and I hope to be able to go to Orlando, but I
> hope the hotel won't be a nightmare for me, like the one in Dallas
> was. In new places, I get around better with a guide. It's good to
> know certain routes, but when I've got a deadline, and I need to get
> somewhere fast, a guide is the way to go for me. I have problems
> getting around, and I need that help. It wasn't as much of a problem
> then, as it is now. Blessings, Joshua
>
> On 3/7/11, Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Kirt,
>>
>> Very well said. And I agree completely. As a blind person, as a person
>> with
>> other disabilities, I never ever judge anyone for their abilities or 
>> their
>> lack of skills, or the alternative ways they may do something. I do not
>> judge others, because I do not want to be judged.
>>
>> Prime example, at the national convention. It's a huge hotel, I got a
>> little
>> disorientated. Granted I have been in this hotel 3 times now. And when I
>> asked for help, I was treated as though my skills were not "good enough".
>> Its not my skills that need help, its my ears that do not work. And when 
>> I
>> explained this to said person I asked for help from, they said I needed 
>> to
>> go to a center for training. The hotel in Detroit was a nightmare for me
>> to
>> navigate.
>>
>> Okay, I'll get off my soap box now. I am not even saying any of you would
>> be
>> so judgmental, but people do need to think of these things.
>>
>> Marsha
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Kirt Manwaring
>> Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 8:27 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
>>
>> 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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