[nabs-l] Future of the NFB

[Jedi]

What complicates the issue is that there is a lot of variation in how 
multiply disabled persons view each of their disabilities in turn. I 
had an opportunity to visit the deaf-blind division and was seriously 
disappointed. I hoped that the division would have as positive 
philosophy about their deafness as they did about their blindness. 
Instead, I found that they treated their hearing loss as most sighted 
people treat vision loss: they tried to maximize their hearing and 
seemed like they didn't want to be identified as deaf. I hope things 
have changed since then; I visited in 2004, I think. I'm pretty sure 
that there are other deaf-blind individuals who feel differently about 
their deafness; differences like these may make it difficult to form a 
unified division such as the deaf-blind division. Hell, if i were deaf, 
I'd just apply Jernigan's philosophy and move on from there. I'd learn 
the alternative techniques of deafness, integrate them with my 
alternative techniques of blindness, learn about new and exciting 
technologies and techniques for achieving whatever I'd like to achieve, 
and have a good time at it. That's just me though.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
>> 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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