[nabs-l] Disability in general

[Darian Smith]

I pretty much completely  agree with all of that. thankyou for sharing
this, as I think it's good to hear.

On 3/13/11, Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com> wrote:
> I completely agree with you.
>
> I work in the Network for Disability Awareness office on my campus (it
> is a division of student government) and my approach to all disabilities
> is the same I take towards blindness.
>
> Personally, I feel that blindness is one of the less limiting
> disabilities since we lack no physical or communication barrier, though
> other disabilities seem to receive accomodations before us.  This is not
> to say other disabilities should be viewed the way many people regard
> disability in general, but when you think about it, in terms of physical
> and spacial accomodations, we require little.
>
> In fact, blindness alone should not be considered a physical disability
> since we are not unable to do anything physically.  Rather, blindness is
> simply a sensory disability much like being deaf, or other disabilities
> that do not affect mobility or motion.
>
> However, many who do have true mobility issues such as people with CP or
> spinal chord injuries or the loss of limbs, will a test to the fact that
> life did not stop, and they still found ways to achieve success.
>
> Has anyone ever heard of the guy who was born without legs or arms?  He
> was a state wrestling champ in high school, won a wrestling scholarship
> to college and maintained a high GPA throughout college.  Like us, he
> was not exceptional guy born with a special gene to cope with his
> disability.  He found a way to achieve success, and it is something many
> others could do if they had to.
>
> Each disability certainly has its obstacles, but really any human being
> does.  However, each disability group has devised tools, methods and
> skills that allow them to accomplish goals.  To be honest, I am not
> surprised by news I hear about disabled people accomplishing tasks and
> goals.
>
> In the Federation, we always say we do all the same things, we just may
> use different tools or methods to accomplish those things.  This is how
> all disabilities are.  We all deserve respect and equality, and we all
> are finding means to achieve goals.
>
> As blind people, but especially as Federationist, I think it is unfair
> to hold opinions and views towards other disabilities the way many do
> about blindness.  After all, as I always tell people, until you have
> tried something, you can not say with certainty that something can not
> be done.
>
> Bridgit
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:09:51 -0500
> From: Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
> Message-ID:
> 	
> <20110313040951.11744.86462 at domU-12-31-38-07-3C-65.compute-1.internal>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; format="flowed"
>
> When it comes to other disabilities, I think we reflect the broad views
> of disability held by the general public. I think that because some of
> us are unfamiliar with other disabilities, these disabilities might
> seem like serious handicaps rather than characteristics similar to
> blindness. However, those of us who are more familiar might think that
> other forms of disabilitiy represent an even broader array of human
> characteristics that have some inherent limitations and advantages.
> Still others of us might range in familiarity with other disabilities,
> but still be able to apply jernigan's philosophy of blindness as a
> characteristic. And finally, there will be those who, regardless of
> familiarity or philosophy, will always see other disabilities as
> seriously handicapping conditions. If anything, we will have to
> understand our blindness in the context of other disabilities and
> visa-versa; I'm hoping that we will learn to apply Jernigan's
> philosophy to other disabilities as well as our own.
>
> Respectfully,
> Jedi
>
> Original message:
>> Hi Brice,
>>   You bring to light a very interesting point. I seem to notice a
>> similar trend.  Now, one can argue that  people with multiple
>> disabilities are  the case outside the blind community, but  that
>> wouldn't be  the point here.
>>   a question that might be worth asking is how  will we adjust  to
>> this.  How do we interact with    the deaf-blind members of  our
>> organization? for example.
>>  do we view other disabilities as we view blindness, or do we view
>> other disabilities like the general  public does blindness?
>>    just some thought, not so much answers, as I don't think I could
>> begain to attempt to fashonone.
>>   Darian
>
>
>
>> On 3/7/11, Brice Smith <brice.smith319 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 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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>
>
>
>> --
>> Darian Smith
>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace
>
>> "The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
>
>> ? Robert Byrne
>
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>
> Message: 10
> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:13:06 -0500
> From: Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] (no subject)
> Message-ID:
> 	
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>
> As Edgar Shein points out in his research on organizations, each
> organization has a culture and it is seldom entirely unified. However,
> I do think that NABS might be less likely to have a unified opinion on
> things because we have a membership that's constantly in flux; many of
> our members are quite new to the NFB and so might not be fully aware of
> our philosophy and how it functions. This is true in other NFB
> divisions, but it especially seems true with NABS. I've heard that NABS
> has always exhibited this characteristic from past NABS members.
>
> Respectfully,
> Jedi
>
> Original message:
>> Hi all,
>>   Could I get your thoughts on something?......
>>  How unified  do you think we are as a  large division of students in
>> the NFB?
>
>>  We  represent  most of, if not all of the states, and  have a wide
>> aray of talents, prospectives and ideas.  We  have leaders, we have
>> student divisions in our states, but do you  think we are  as united
>> as we can and should be?
>
>>  Are we as united as, say our state affiliates?
>
>>  If you think the answer is "no", what do you think it will take from
>> each of us to make  this happen?
>
>>  Darian
>
>
>
>> --
>> Darian Smith
>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace
>
>> "The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
>
>> ? Robert Byrne
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 11
> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:18:24 -0500
> From: Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
> Message-ID:
> 	
> <20110313041824.28348.8763 at domU-12-31-38-00-AD-3E.compute-1.internal>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format="flowed"
>
> 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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>>> %40gmai
>>> l.com
>
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>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 12
> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:24:50 -0500
> From: Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
> Message-ID:
> 	
> <20110313042450.28483.75943 at domU-12-31-38-00-AD-3E.compute-1.internal>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format="flowed"
>
> Ah, but then don't we assume that multi-disabled persons do better in
> sheltered shops more than in "the real world?" Something to think about.
>
> Respectfully Submitted
>
> Original message:
>> For example, what if we pushed for rehab agencies to shut down
>> sheltered workshops because many blind people were placed there
>> wrongfully.  What happens to the people with multiple disabilities,
>> which may include blindness, whose lives may have been better from
>> working at these workshops?
>
>
>
>> On Mar 7, 2011, at 8:00 PM, Brice Smith 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
>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/marsha.drenth%40
> gmai
>>>>>> l.com
>
>
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>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>> nabs-l:
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> .com
>
>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> 0gmail.com
>
>
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>
>
>
>>> --
>>> Brice Smith
>>> North Carolina State University, Communication - Public Relations
>>> Brice.Smith319 at gmail.com
>
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>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 13
> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:29:01 -0500
> From: NabslinkAudioWebMaster<djdrocks4ever at gmail.com>
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nabs-l] New Nabs Conference Call Is Available For Download
> Message-ID: <E1PycvN-0006T7-7a at delivery.icastcenter.com>
>
>
>
> Greetings!
> This is an automatic notification to let you know that our latest
> conference call has been uploaded, and is now ready for you to download.
>
> Title: The Nabs Conference Call For March 2011
> Description: On this call, we had the chance to hear about the summer
> programs offered by four of the leading training centers in the country:
> The three major centers in Minnesota (Blind Inc), Colorado (The Colorado
> Center For The Blind), Louisiana (The Louisiana Center For The Blind),
> and Baltimore (Bysm)
> Learn about the various summer programs that these fine centers offer,
> and how you can get involved.
>
>
>
> You can download the show directly at:
> http://www.nabslinkaudio.org/audio/presentations/March2011Call.mp3
>
> Alternatively you can visit the archive page at:
> http://www.nabslinkaudio.org/audio/presentations
> to hear some of the other calls we've done.
> Best regards,
> David Dunphy And The Nabs Membership Committee
> http://www.nabslinkaudio.org
> http://www.nabslink.org
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 14
> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:35:43 -0500
> From: Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
> Message-ID:
> 	
> <20110313043543.11790.74486 at domU-12-31-38-07-3C-65.compute-1.internal>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format="flowed"
>
> Please forgive me for what I'm about to say as it might seem quite
> blunt. On the other hand, I think it needs to be said.
>
> I believe that we as blind people (and especially blind people with
> other disabilities) set low expectations for ourselves, meet them and
> don't go outside of them, thus fulfill our own low expectations and the
> prophecies that come with them. I do think that training at a center is
> a good idea for people who want to improve their skill sets or for
> people who didn't have access to good training from the beginning. I
> also think that we do tend to set our expectations low, then get
> defensive when someone else challenges these low expectations with
> something we don't want to hear; we do this to rationalize our low
> expectations and thus maintain the status quo. I think we've got to be
> careful as it's so easy to do. I've seen people with multiple
> disabilities come leaps and bounds after working at one of our centers.
> I've also seen multi-disabled people battle low expectations about
> their other disabilities while at our centers. It frustrates me, but
> there you have it. The bottom line is that we, as Jernigan pointed out
> so many times, are a reflection of our own society; we also tend to
> accept social biases and expectation levels. Therefore, we absolutely
> must not take anything for granted and consider the possibility that we
> are selling ourselves short (or selling others short). The next time
> (Marsha) that someone challenges you to go to a center, don't take it
> as a judgement regarding your skills or your various disabilities,
> consider it as a challenge to grow and find new and exciting ways to
> accomplish what you currently think of as overwhelming or altogether
> impossible. I'm encouraging you to think of it this way because I truly
> think that was the spirit in which the challenge to attend a center was
> meant. I'm not defending anyone's rudeness, I'm just saying.
>
> Respectfully Submitted,
> Jedi
>
> Original message:
>> Marsha,
>> I'm sorry to hear that.  I hope you told that individual that you have
> a
>> hearing loss and that presented additional challenges.
>> Why is it that some judgemental people in NFB feel any deficit such as
>> travel skills can be rectified by attending a center?
>> People can have other challenges; teaching you can only go so far. For
>> instance I've known people who received cane training for years, some
>> structured discovery, some traditional, who cannot walk straight and
> they
>> veer on streets.  Others have trouble crossing streets and either may
> get
>> assistance with it or ask for an audible signal; training, such as
>> interpreting sound cues, can only go so far.  You got to have some
> sense of
>> direction for it to work well.
>> Hotels are hard for anyone to navigate; especially big ones like
> conventions
>> are in.
>> As much as we talk independence, sight does help navigate crowds.
>> Know why Jernigan and now Dr. Maurer have sighted guides often?
>> Its faster and efficient!
>> In new open areas, that is faster.
>
>> Joshua said he needs help in unfamiliar places and sticks to learned
> routes
>> in those spots.
>> I'm a good cane traveler, but the orientation part is challenging;
> mobility
>> part I can do; I just have trouble making mental maps and organizing
> space.
>> Certainly I've traveled alone a bit in hotels including for state
>> convention, but I memorize main things like where the elevator is.
>
>
>> I've seen people judged also for not reading braille efficiently or
> fast.
>> It may be a number of reasons such as tactile sensativity is lacking.
>
>> I hope nfb comes more open in the future.
>> Ashley
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Marsha Drenth
>> Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 9:02 PM
>> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
>
>> 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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>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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>> _______________________________________________
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 15
> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:57:56 -0500
> From: Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
> Message-ID:
> 	
> <20110313045756.11790.27777 at domU-12-31-38-07-3C-65.compute-1.internal>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format="flowed"
>
> There are a number of disability communities that share similar beliefs
> to our own regarding disability. So, the thing we must do is ally
> ourselves with disability cultures similar to our own.
>
> Respectfully Submitted
>
> Original message:
>> Joe,
>
>> Something must eventually give. I do believe the NFB's prominence may
>> gradually fade if something is not done. You have touched on the
>> arrogance of our organization's leadership in earlier posts, and I
>> think that arrogance and NFB snobbishness may slowly destroy us unless
>> we learn to be more inclusive.
>
>> But while it might sound cold, I did not join the NFB four years ago
>> because I wanted to fight specifically for the disabled community as a
>> whole. I am weary of watering down our policies and core beliefs,
>> assuming we would even need to, to cater to people with multiple
>> disabilities besides blindness. I believe that quality is more
>> important than quantity, and yet our quantity will fade if we don't do
>> something in the future.
>
>> to lead on the cutting edge, I believe we need to recognize diversity
>> and develop working relationships with other organizations. But at
>> what cost, and is our national leadership willing to do this? Can we
>> protect our own core beliefs while becoming more inclusive, or is it
>> time we change the entire philosophy and structure of the
>> organization?
>
>> I cannot tell you what we should do. I am not even sure myself.
>
>> Brice
>
>> On 3/8/11, Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Brice,
>
>>> You are the future of the NFB.  What do you think the organization
> should do
>>> about its operations if you think blindness might not be the only
> disability
>>> affecting the membership?  Don't speculate about what may happen.
> Instead,
>>> tell us what you think should happen.
>
>>> I don't know that I agree with this notion that people are made to
> feel
>>> inferior because they have secondary disabilities.  There have always
> been
>>> similar observations made about guide dog users in the NFB, but the
> people
>>> who disliked and looked down on me before I went and got my guide dog
> were
>>> going to dislike me and look down on me regardless of my choice of
> travel
>>> tools.  I think part of me went and got Gator to show these people
> where
>>> they could stick their condescending views.  Anyway, I guess Eleanor
>>> Roosevelt was more polished when she said "no one can make you feel
> inferior
>>> without your consent."
>
>>> But, seriously, what's this nonsense about the deaf-blind division
> not being
>>> as promoted as the student or parent division?  They all get equal
> access to
>>> the convention program, and if you hear about it more, it might
> simply be
>>> owed to the size comparison between the groups.  If divisions that
> focus on
>>> conditions other than blindness feel as though they're being left
> out, it
>>> might be owed to the fact that the division is not doing anything
> worth
>>> promoting?
>
>>> Mind you, I think the whole concept of divisions in the NFB is bogus.
>>> First, a vast majority of them do absolutely nothing between national
>>> conventions.  Second, they create rifts in the membership when
> power-hungry
>>> members view elections in these divisions as a badge of importance.
> Third,
>>> they distract us from the more important task of chipping away at the
>>> fundamental challenges facing the blindness community.  If I were
> president
>>> of the NFB for a day, my first order of business would be to
> eliminate
>>> divisions in the way they exist today.  There are so many
> professional
>>> organizations out there that we shouldn't create mirror groups within
> our
>>> ranks to create little havens for blind people.
>
>>> My point is this:  The NFB cannot exist without members like you.
> You are
>>> the current youth and will be the future leader.  NFB members spend
> so much
>>> time accepting and not enough time questioning and even less time
> acting,
>>> and that is why several months ago I advanced the controversial idea
> that if
>>> the NFB keeps going down its current path, it will virtually cease to
> exist
>>> in 50 years.  More on that point in a future post, but to answer your
>>> question:  The way you accommodate people with secondary disabilities
> is to
>>> encourage them to get involved.  Get on the boards and make the
> organization
>>> recognize and react to what may be a change in demographics.  A few
> years
>>> ago when a group of people proposed the idea of establishing a GLBT
>>> division, they were told that with enough support, the division would
> be
>>> established.  I think we're still waiting on this group to get their
> act
>>> together about drumming up support.  It's not enough to complain
> about what
>>> you, you in the general sense, think the NFB leadership is or is not
> doing
>>> to accommodate certain members.  Just like the NFB as a whole has to
> make a
>>> good case to the general public that certain issues need to be
> addressed,
>>> blind people with secondary disabilities need to come together and
> make a
>>> case for why we as a whole need to be more conscious of their unique
> needs.
>
>>> Just my twenty dollar's worth,
>
>>> Joe
>
>>> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
> sleeves,
>>> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>
>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/brice.smith319%4
> 0gmail.com
>
>
>
>> --
>> Brice Smith
>> North Carolina State University, Communication - Public Relations
>> Brice.Smith319 at gmail.com
>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
>>
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>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 16
> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:39:31 -0700
> From: Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com>
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> 	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
> Message-ID:
> 	<AANLkTi=1VE7DCgTNLkrNKcFX+AyM_Mnr-y6UJhS=mAFn at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Jedi,
>   I'm still not sold on the idea of a "disability
> culture."...although, I think in the context of working with other
> disability groups with a similar mindset to us, it makes sense.  But,
> for me, the point of the NFB is empowering us to be part of whatever
> culture we feel like with blindness being as minimal a factor as
> possible.  I recognize that others have different interpretations of
> how to apply NFB philosophy, but that's what it means to
> me...blindness will not keep me from any of my goals in the world,
> even though it places some limits in the way I have to overcome.  If
> part of assessing our future is examining what NFB philosophy means to
> each of us, that's probably a good place for me to start.  Thoughts,
> anyone?  Am I missing the mark?
>   Best,
> Kirt
>
> On 3/12/11, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
>> There are a number of disability communities that share similar
> beliefs
>> to our own regarding disability. So, the thing we must do is ally
>> ourselves with disability cultures similar to our own.
>>
>> Respectfully Submitted
>>
>> Original message:
>>> Joe,
>>
>>> Something must eventually give. I do believe the NFB's prominence may
>>> gradually fade if something is not done. You have touched on the
>>> arrogance of our organization's leadership in earlier posts, and I
>>> think that arrogance and NFB snobbishness may slowly destroy us
> unless
>>> we learn to be more inclusive.
>>
>>> But while it might sound cold, I did not join the NFB four years ago
>>> because I wanted to fight specifically for the disabled community as
> a
>>> whole. I am weary of watering down our policies and core beliefs,
>>> assuming we would even need to, to cater to people with multiple
>>> disabilities besides blindness. I believe that quality is more
>>> important than quantity, and yet our quantity will fade if we don't
> do
>>> something in the future.
>>
>>> to lead on the cutting edge, I believe we need to recognize diversity
>>> and develop working relationships with other organizations. But at
>>> what cost, and is our national leadership willing to do this? Can we
>>> protect our own core beliefs while becoming more inclusive, or is it
>>> time we change the entire philosophy and structure of the
>>> organization?
>>
>>> I cannot tell you what we should do. I am not even sure myself.
>>
>>> Brice
>>
>>> On 3/8/11, Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Brice,
>>
>>>> You are the future of the NFB.  What do you think the organization
> should
>>>> do
>>>> about its operations if you think blindness might not be the only
>>>> disability
>>>> affecting the membership?  Don't speculate about what may happen.
>>>> Instead,
>>>> tell us what you think should happen.
>>
>>>> I don't know that I agree with this notion that people are made to
> feel
>>>> inferior because they have secondary disabilities.  There have
> always
>>>> been
>>>> similar observations made about guide dog users in the NFB, but the
>>>> people
>>>> who disliked and looked down on me before I went and got my guide
> dog
>>>> were
>>>> going to dislike me and look down on me regardless of my choice of
> travel
>>>> tools.  I think part of me went and got Gator to show these people
> where
>>>> they could stick their condescending views.  Anyway, I guess Eleanor
>>>> Roosevelt was more polished when she said "no one can make you feel
>>>> inferior
>>>> without your consent."
>>
>>>> But, seriously, what's this nonsense about the deaf-blind division
> not
>>>> being
>>>> as promoted as the student or parent division?  They all get equal
> access
>>>> to
>>>> the convention program, and if you hear about it more, it might
> simply be
>>>> owed to the size comparison between the groups.  If divisions that
> focus
>>>> on
>>>> conditions other than blindness feel as though they're being left
> out, it
>>>> might be owed to the fact that the division is not doing anything
> worth
>>>> promoting?
>>
>>>> Mind you, I think the whole concept of divisions in the NFB is
> bogus.
>>>> First, a vast majority of them do absolutely nothing between
> national
>>>> conventions.  Second, they create rifts in the membership when
>>>> power-hungry
>>>> members view elections in these divisions as a badge of importance.
>>>> Third,
>>>> they distract us from the more important task of chipping away at
> the
>>>> fundamental challenges facing the blindness community.  If I were
>>>> president
>>>> of the NFB for a day, my first order of business would be to
> eliminate
>>>> divisions in the way they exist today.  There are so many
> professional
>>>> organizations out there that we shouldn't create mirror groups
> within our
>>>> ranks to create little havens for blind people.
>>
>>>> My point is this:  The NFB cannot exist without members like you.
> You
>>>> are
>>>> the current youth and will be the future leader.  NFB members spend
> so
>>>> much
>>>> time accepting and not enough time questioning and even less time
> acting,
>>>> and that is why several months ago I advanced the controversial idea
> that
>>>> if
>>>> the NFB keeps going down its current path, it will virtually cease
> to
>>>> exist
>>>> in 50 years.  More on that point in a future post, but to answer
> your
>>>> question:  The way you accommodate people with secondary
> disabilities is
>>>> to
>>>> encourage them to get involved.  Get on the boards and make the
>>>> organization
>>>> recognize and react to what may be a change in demographics.  A few
> years
>>>> ago when a group of people proposed the idea of establishing a GLBT
>>>> division, they were told that with enough support, the division
> would be
>>>> established.  I think we're still waiting on this group to get their
> act
>>>> together about drumming up support.  It's not enough to complain
> about
>>>> what
>>>> you, you in the general sense, think the NFB leadership is or is not
>>>> doing
>>>> to accommodate certain members.  Just like the NFB as a whole has to
> make
>>>> a
>>>> good case to the general public that certain issues need to be
> addressed,
>>>> blind people with secondary disabilities need to come together and
> make a
>>>> case for why we as a whole need to be more conscious of their unique
>>>> needs.
>>
>>>> Just my twenty dollar's worth,
>>
>>>> Joe
>>
>>>> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
>>>> sleeves,
>>>> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>>
>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/brice.smith319%4
> 0gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>>> --
>>> Brice Smith
>>> North Carolina State University, Communication - Public Relations
>>> Brice.Smith319 at gmail.com
>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/loneblindjedi%40
> samobile.net
>>
>> --
>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
>> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>>
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> 0gmail.com
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 17
> Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:48:21 -0500
> From: Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] imergency in Michigan
> Message-ID:
> 	
> <20110313054821.12249.5194 at domU-12-31-38-07-3C-65.compute-1.internal>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format="flowed"
>
> They're just as propaganda-hungry as the die-hard liberal talkshow
> hosts. Just a thought. Bottom line is that one must consider all points
> of view, all facts, and then make their own decisions and do what's
> right according to their own values.
>
> Respectfully Submitted
>
> Original message:
>> Bill ORieley, and Mike Huckabee, are the most trusted. I also like
> Glenn Beck.
>> Kirt, Beck is a Morman, (I thought I'd throw that out there.)
>> Blessings, Joshua
>
>> On 3/11/11, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> :)  And you wonder why I don't much trust talkshow hosts.  On both
>>> sides of the isle.
>>>   Best,
>>> Kirt
>
>>> On 3/11/11, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
>>>> Is that Rachel Maddow? Of course, she can't be taken seriously!
> She's
>>>> a propaganda-hungry liberal!
>>>> This propaganda is not for this list. Thanks, Jorge, I concur with
> you
>>>> on that one.
>>>> Blessings, Joshua
>
>>>> On 3/11/11, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Anyone know where I can look at the other side of this?  Cause,
> just
>>>>> going off of this lady's blatant way of picking out the worst-case
>>>>> outcome of this whole thing...I'm honestly inclined to not take her
>>>>> all that seriously.  Anyone wanna let me know what's really going
> on
>>>>> here?  (and please, if you do reply to me, do so off-list.  Heaven
>>>>> knows this could turn in to something crazy)
>>>>>   Best,
>>>>> Kirt
>
>>>>> On 3/11/11, Jorge Paez <jorgeapaez at mac.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Andy:
>>>>>> With all due respect,
>>>>>> please do not post political propaganda on this list.
>
>>>>>> Jorge
>
>
>>>>>> On Mar 11, 2011, at 6:21 PM, Andi wrote:
>
>>>>>>> I know this is not a national matter, but it is gravely sirious,
>>>>>>> especially for those living in MI.  It is not  exactly a
> blindness
>>>>>>> ishue,
>>>>>>> but will effect anyone on SSI or SSDI, and thoes on a pention
> plan.  It
>>>>>>> will also effect almost every aspect of thoes living in MI for
> the
>>>>>>> worst.
>>>>>>> It is like big brother or something headed that way.  Something
> must be
>>>>>>> done!!  Hear is a link explaining it all.  It is not as in-depth
> as it
>>>>>>> could be about the matter but gives enough details to more than
> just
>>>>>>> raise
>>>>>>> hackles.
>>>>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUpO1QFMDtM
>
>
>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- From: community service Outreach
>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 5:29 PM
>>>>>>> To: nabs-l
>>>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Community service call Sunday March 13
>
>>>>>>> Hi everyone.
>
>>>>>>> It's time for another community service conference call!  We will
> have
>>>>>>> much discussion this Sunday.  We will discuss a possible
> convention
>>>>>>> service project.  We will also have a discussion of summer
>>>>>>> oppertunities for service and especially working with youth.
> Hope
>>>>>>> you're on the call.
>
>>>>>>> When: March 13th 7 P.M. EST
>
>>>>>>> Where: Call  218.339.3600
>>>>>>> Passcode:  808277
>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/adrianne.dempsey
> %40gmail.com
>
>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jorgeapaez%40mac
> .com
>
>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydude%4
> 0gmail.com
>
>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jlester8462%40st
> udents.pccua.edu
>
>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydude%4
> 0gmail.com
>
>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jlester8462%40st
> udents.pccua.edu
>
>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/loneblindjedi%40
> samobile.net
>
> --
> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 18
> Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 01:06:53 -0500
> From: Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
> Message-ID:
> 	
> <20110313060653.29087.71137 at domU-12-31-38-00-AD-3E.compute-1.internal>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format="flowed"
>
> Yes, you are missing the mark. A culture has little to do with whether
> or not you believe you can achieve within the greater society, unless
> that is one of the questions that founds your culture as it is with
> ours.
>
> The blind community actually has at least four cultures that I can
> identify: the NFB, the ACB, the unaffiliated consumer base, and the
> unaffiliated professional base. Professionals affiliated with one of
> the organizations are likely to build their professional values on the
> foundation of their affiliation's values. The unaffiliated
> professionals (and consumers) will have their own cultures, but that
> could be considered a major cultural grouping.
>
> A culture is a group of individuals sharing similar beliefs regarding
> human nature, relationships between time and space, traditions, values,
> etc. Just because one individual belongs to one culture, that does not
> mean that the same individual cannot belong to other cultures
> concurrently; this principle is called intersectionality. It is true
> that an individual can belong to multiple cultural groups, but strongly
> identify with some of their cultural markers over others for just about
> any reason under the sun.
>
> I would be happy to argue the NFB as a culture, but that would take
> some time and a lot of analysis. And frankly, I'm just not up to the
> task at the moment. The bottom line is that, anthropologically
> speaking, the NFB is a culture and that you can certainly belong to
> such a culture and maintain your cultural identity outside of the NFB
> without compromising any and all of your cultural identities. Does that
> make sense? The disability community also has multiple cultures, and
> these may or may not have anything to do with a specific disability,
> but may have more to do with how disability is defined. There are some
> disability cultures that the NFB would most certainly not identify
> with, others with which we would identify with some, and others with
> which we share much in common in terms of our core values related to
> the role of disability in our lives.
>
> Respectfully submitted
>
> Original message:
>> Jedi,
>>   I'm still not sold on the idea of a "disability
>> culture."...although, I think in the context of working with other
>> disability groups with a similar mindset to us, it makes sense.  But,
>> for me, the point of the NFB is empowering us to be part of whatever
>> culture we feel like with blindness being as minimal a factor as
>> possible.  I recognize that others have different interpretations of
>> how to apply NFB philosophy, but that's what it means to
>> me...blindness will not keep me from any of my goals in the world,
>> even though it places some limits in the way I have to overcome.  If
>> part of assessing our future is examining what NFB philosophy means to
>> each of us, that's probably a good place for me to start.  Thoughts,
>> anyone?  Am I missing the mark?
>>   Best,
>> Kirt
>
>> On 3/12/11, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
>>> There are a number of disability communities that share similar
> beliefs
>>> to our own regarding disability. So, the thing we must do is ally
>>> ourselves with disability cultures similar to our own.
>
>>> Respectfully Submitted
>
>>> Original message:
>>>> Joe,
>
>>>> Something must eventually give. I do believe the NFB's prominence
> may
>>>> gradually fade if something is not done. You have touched on the
>>>> arrogance of our organization's leadership in earlier posts, and I
>>>> think that arrogance and NFB snobbishness may slowly destroy us
> unless
>>>> we learn to be more inclusive.
>
>>>> But while it might sound cold, I did not join the NFB four years ago
>>>> because I wanted to fight specifically for the disabled community as
> a
>>>> whole. I am weary of watering down our policies and core beliefs,
>>>> assuming we would even need to, to cater to people with multiple
>>>> disabilities besides blindness. I believe that quality is more
>>>> important than quantity, and yet our quantity will fade if we don't
> do
>>>> something in the future.
>
>>>> to lead on the cutting edge, I believe we need to recognize
> diversity
>>>> and develop working relationships with other organizations. But at
>>>> what cost, and is our national leadership willing to do this? Can we
>>>> protect our own core beliefs while becoming more inclusive, or is it
>>>> time we change the entire philosophy and structure of the
>>>> organization?
>
>>>> I cannot tell you what we should do. I am not even sure myself.
>
>>>> Brice
>
>>>> On 3/8/11, Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Brice,
>
>>>>> You are the future of the NFB.  What do you think the organization
> should
>>>>> do
>>>>> about its operations if you think blindness might not be the only
>>>>> disability
>>>>> affecting the membership?  Don't speculate about what may happen.
>>>>> Instead,
>>>>> tell us what you think should happen.
>
>>>>> I don't know that I agree with this notion that people are made to
> feel
>>>>> inferior because they have secondary disabilities.  There have
> always
>>>>> been
>>>>> similar observations made about guide dog users in the NFB, but the
>>>>> people
>>>>> who disliked and looked down on me before I went and got my guide
> dog
>>>>> were
>>>>> going to dislike me and look down on me regardless of my choice of
> travel
>>>>> tools.  I think part of me went and got Gator to show these people
> where
>>>>> they could stick their condescending views.  Anyway, I guess
> Eleanor
>>>>> Roosevelt was more polished when she said "no one can make you feel
>>>>> inferior
>>>>> without your consent."
>
>>>>> But, seriously, what's this nonsense about the deaf-blind division
> not
>>>>> being
>>>>> as promoted as the student or parent division?  They all get equal
> access
>>>>> to
>>>>> the convention program, and if you hear about it more, it might
> simply be
>>>>> owed to the size comparison between the groups.  If divisions that
> focus
>>>>> on
>>>>> conditions other than blindness feel as though they're being left
> out, it
>>>>> might be owed to the fact that the division is not doing anything
> worth
>>>>> promoting?
>
>>>>> Mind you, I think the whole concept of divisions in the NFB is
> bogus.
>>>>> First, a vast majority of them do absolutely nothing between
> national
>>>>> conventions.  Second, they create rifts in the membership when
>>>>> power-hungry
>>>>> members view elections in these divisions as a badge of importance.
>>>>> Third,
>>>>> they distract us from the more important task of chipping away at
> the
>>>>> fundamental challenges facing the blindness community.  If I were
>>>>> president
>>>>> of the NFB for a day, my first order of business would be to
> eliminate
>>>>> divisions in the way they exist today.  There are so many
> professional
>>>>> organizations out there that we shouldn't create mirror groups
> within our
>>>>> ranks to create little havens for blind people.
>
>>>>> My point is this:  The NFB cannot exist without members like you.
> You
>>>>> are
>>>>> the current youth and will be the future leader.  NFB members spend
> so
>>>>> much
>>>>> time accepting and not enough time questioning and even less time
> acting,
>>>>> and that is why several months ago I advanced the controversial
> idea that
>>>>> if
>>>>> the NFB keeps going down its current path, it will virtually cease
> to
>>>>> exist
>>>>> in 50 years.  More on that point in a future post, but to answer
> your
>>>>> question:  The way you accommodate people with secondary
> disabilities is
>>>>> to
>>>>> encourage them to get involved.  Get on the boards and make the
>>>>> organization
>>>>> recognize and react to what may be a change in demographics.  A few
> years
>>>>> ago when a group of people proposed the idea of establishing a GLBT
>>>>> division, they were told that with enough support, the division
> would be
>>>>> established.  I think we're still waiting on this group to get
> their act
>>>>> together about drumming up support.  It's not enough to complain
> about
>>>>> what
>>>>> you, you in the general sense, think the NFB leadership is or is
> not
>>>>> doing
>>>>> to accommodate certain members.  Just like the NFB as a whole has
> to make
>>>>> a
>>>>> good case to the general public that certain issues need to be
> addressed,
>>>>> blind people with secondary disabilities need to come together and
> make a
>>>>> case for why we as a whole need to be more conscious of their
> unique
>>>>> needs.
>
>>>>> Just my twenty dollar's worth,
>
>>>>> Joe
>
>>>>> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
>>>>> sleeves,
>>>>> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
> Ewing
>
>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/brice.smith319%4
> 0gmail.com
>
>
>
>>>> --
>>>> Brice Smith
>>>> North Carolina State University, Communication - Public Relations
>>>> Brice.Smith319 at gmail.com
>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/loneblindjedi%40
> samobile.net
>
>>> --
>>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
>>> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>
>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>>
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> 0gmail.com
>
>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
>>
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> samobile.net
>
> --
> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 19
> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:18:26 -0700
> From: Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com>
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> 	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Future of the NFB
> Message-ID:
> 	<AANLkTi=C4CeimHjXpLJ552-CFKGXURPKVOvq+GtH-eFT at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Jedi,
>   Fair enough...I'm not up for arguing, especially when lots of it
> would probably involve semantics.  I forfit, you win.  :)  All I will
> say is that your analysis seems a little too cut-and-dry to me, and
> there's very much a grey area between your four cultures.  Maybe I
> belong to all four...heck, I probably do.  But that seems like it
> excludes me from one or the other, because I'm not committed enough to
> any particular organization and I'm not really "anti" any of them.  In
> your definition, we're all part of all sorts of cultures...which begs
> a very important question and, I would say, brings this thread full
> circle.  You said culture is a set of shared common beliefs that
> members adhear to.  What, pray tell, are the common beliefs of the
> NFB?  I'm not sure that question's as easy to answer as it used to be.
>   Best,
> Kirt
>
> On 3/12/11, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
>> Yes, you are missing the mark. A culture has little to do with whether
>> or not you believe you can achieve within the greater society, unless
>> that is one of the questions that founds your culture as it is with
> ours.
>>
>> The blind community actually has at least four cultures that I can
>> identify: the NFB, the ACB, the unaffiliated consumer base, and the
>> unaffiliated professional base. Professionals affiliated with one of
>> the organizations are likely to build their professional values on the
>> foundation of their affiliation's values. The unaffiliated
>> professionals (and consumers) will have their own cultures, but that
>> could be considered a major cultural grouping.
>>
>> A culture is a group of individuals sharing similar beliefs regarding
>> human nature, relationships between time and space, traditions,
> values,
>> etc. Just because one individual belongs to one culture, that does not
>> mean that the same individual cannot belong to other cultures
>> concurrently; this principle is called intersectionality. It is true
>> that an individual can belong to multiple cultural groups, but
> strongly
>> identify with some of their cultural markers over others for just
> about
>> any reason under the sun.
>>
>> I would be happy to argue the NFB as a culture, but that would take
>> some time and a lot of analysis. And frankly, I'm just not up to the
>> task at the moment. The bottom line is that, anthropologically
>> speaking, the NFB is a culture and that you can certainly belong to
>> such a culture and maintain your cultural identity outside of the NFB
>> without compromising any and all of your cultural identities. Does
> that
>> make sense? The disability community also has multiple cultures, and
>> these may or may not have anything to do with a specific disability,
>> but may have more to do with how disability is defined. There are some
>> disability cultures that the NFB would most certainly not identify
>> with, others with which we would identify with some, and others with
>> which we share much in common in terms of our core values related to
>> the role of disability in our lives.
>>
>> Respectfully submitted
>>
>> Original message:
>>> Jedi,
>>>   I'm still not sold on the idea of a "disability
>>> culture."...although, I think in the context of working with other
>>> disability groups with a similar mindset to us, it makes sense.  But,
>>> for me, the point of the NFB is empowering us to be part of whatever
>>> culture we feel like with blindness being as minimal a factor as
>>> possible.  I recognize that others have different interpretations of
>>> how to apply NFB philosophy, but that's what it means to
>>> me...blindness will not keep me from any of my goals in the world,
>>> even though it places some limits in the way I have to overcome.  If
>>> part of assessing our future is examining what NFB philosophy means
> to
>>> each of us, that's probably a good place for me to start.  Thoughts,
>>> anyone?  Am I missing the mark?
>>>   Best,
>>> Kirt
>>
>>> On 3/12/11, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
>>>> There are a number of disability communities that share similar
> beliefs
>>>> to our own regarding disability. So, the thing we must do is ally
>>>> ourselves with disability cultures similar to our own.
>>
>>>> Respectfully Submitted
>>
>>>> Original message:
>>>>> Joe,
>>
>>>>> Something must eventually give. I do believe the NFB's prominence
> may
>>>>> gradually fade if something is not done. You have touched on the
>>>>> arrogance of our organization's leadership in earlier posts, and I
>>>>> think that arrogance and NFB snobbishness may slowly destroy us
> unless
>>>>> we learn to be more inclusive.
>>
>>>>> But while it might sound cold, I did not join the NFB four years
> ago
>>>>> because I wanted to fight specifically for the disabled community
> as a
>>>>> whole. I am weary of watering down our policies and core beliefs,
>>>>> assuming we would even need to, to cater to people with multiple
>>>>> disabilities besides blindness. I believe that quality is more
>>>>> important than quantity, and yet our quantity will fade if we don't
> do
>>>>> something in the future.
>>
>>>>> to lead on the cutting edge, I believe we need to recognize
> diversity
>>>>> and develop working relationships with other organizations. But at
>>>>> what cost, and is our national leadership willing to do this? Can
> we
>>>>> protect our own core beliefs while becoming more inclusive, or is
> it
>>>>> time we change the entire philosophy and structure of the
>>>>> organization?
>>
>>>>> I cannot tell you what we should do. I am not even sure myself.
>>
>>>>> Brice
>>
>>>>> On 3/8/11, Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Brice,
>>
>>>>>> You are the future of the NFB.  What do you think the organization
>>>>>> should
>>>>>> do
>>>>>> about its operations if you think blindness might not be the only
>>>>>> disability
>>>>>> affecting the membership?  Don't speculate about what may happen.
>>>>>> Instead,
>>>>>> tell us what you think should happen.
>>
>>>>>> I don't know that I agree with this notion that people are made to
> feel
>>>>>> inferior because they have secondary disabilities.  There have
> always
>>>>>> been
>>>>>> similar observations made about guide dog users in the NFB, but
> the
>>>>>> people
>>>>>> who disliked and looked down on me before I went and got my guide
> dog
>>>>>> were
>>>>>> going to dislike me and look down on me regardless of my choice of
>>>>>> travel
>>>>>> tools.  I think part of me went and got Gator to show these people
>>>>>> where
>>>>>> they could stick their condescending views.  Anyway, I guess
> Eleanor
>>>>>> Roosevelt was more polished when she said "no one can make you
> feel
>>>>>> inferior
>>>>>> without your consent."
>>
>>>>>> But, seriously, what's this nonsense about the deaf-blind division
> not
>>>>>> being
>>>>>> as promoted as the student or parent division?  They all get equal
>>>>>> access
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> the convention program, and if you hear about it more, it might
> simply
>>>>>> be
>>>>>> owed to the size comparison between the groups.  If divisions that
>>>>>> focus
>>>>>> on
>>>>>> conditions other than blindness feel as though they're being left
> out,
>>>>>> it
>>>>>> might be owed to the fact that the division is not doing anything
> worth
>>>>>> promoting?
>>
>>>>>> Mind you, I think the whole concept of divisions in the NFB is
> bogus.
>>>>>> First, a vast majority of them do absolutely nothing between
> national
>>>>>> conventions.  Second, they create rifts in the membership when
>>>>>> power-hungry
>>>>>> members view elections in these divisions as a badge of
> importance.
>>>>>> Third,
>>>>>> they distract us from the more important task of chipping away at
> the
>>>>>> fundamental challenges facing the blindness community.  If I were
>>>>>> president
>>>>>> of the NFB for a day, my first order of business would be to
> eliminate
>>>>>> divisions in the way they exist today.  There are so many
> professional
>>>>>> organizations out there that we shouldn't create mirror groups
> within
>>>>>> our
>>>>>> ranks to create little havens for blind people.
>>
>>>>>> My point is this:  The NFB cannot exist without members like you.
> You
>>>>>> are
>>>>>> the current youth and will be the future leader.  NFB members
> spend so
>>>>>> much
>>>>>> time accepting and not enough time questioning and even less time
>>>>>> acting,
>>>>>> and that is why several months ago I advanced the controversial
> idea
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> if
>>>>>> the NFB keeps going down its current path, it will virtually cease
> to
>>>>>> exist
>>>>>> in 50 years.  More on that point in a future post, but to answer
> your
>>>>>> question:  The way you accommodate people with secondary
> disabilities
>>>>>> is
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> encourage them to get involved.  Get on the boards and make the
>>>>>> organization
>>>>>> recognize and react to what may be a change in demographics.  A
> few
>>>>>> years
>>>>>> ago when a group of people proposed the idea of establishing a
> GLBT
>>>>>> division, they were told that with enough support, the division
> would
>>>>>> be
>>>>>> established.  I think we're still waiting on this group to get
> their
>>>>>> act
>>>>>> together about drumming up support.  It's not enough to complain
> about
>>>>>> what
>>>>>> you, you in the general sense, think the NFB leadership is or is
> not
>>>>>> doing
>>>>>> to accommodate certain members.  Just like the NFB as a whole has
> to
>>>>>> make
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> good case to the general public that certain issues need to be
>>>>>> addressed,
>>>>>> blind people with secondary disabilities need to come together and
> make
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> case for why we as a whole need to be more conscious of their
> unique
>>>>>> needs.
>>
>>>>>> Just my twenty dollar's worth,
>>
>>>>>> Joe
>>
>>>>>> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
>>>>>> sleeves,
>>>>>> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
> Ewing
>>
>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/brice.smith319%4
> 0gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Brice Smith
>>>>> North Carolina State University, Communication - Public Relations
>>>>> Brice.Smith319 at gmail.com
>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/loneblindjedi%40
> samobile.net
>>
>>>> --
>>>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
>>>> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>>
>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
> for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydude%4
> 0gmail.com
>>
>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>>
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> samobile.net
>>
>> --
>> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
>> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
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> 0gmail.com
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 20
> Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 08:48:52 -0400
> From: Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> 	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] improving our divisions
> Message-ID:
> 	<AANLkTim7Lg0RdtskHs0BjX71wBcDd8KwqQ+O5h4Z-Ty7 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Sean,
> I also appreciate the Slate a lot. It's a good newsletter. Are you on
> the NFB Editors list? We've been talking about newsletter construction
> lately.
>
> On 3/12/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Sean,
>> I appreciate the efforts to get the slate out regularly!  I found the
>> articles of high quality and
>> inspiring.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Sean Whalen
>> Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 1:25 PM
>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] improving our divisions
>>
>> Not to split hairs here, but the Student Slate has come out every
> quarter,
>> September, December, March and June, since this board was elected.
> That is
>> not "fairly" regularly, that is clockwork. Karen Anderson and I
> promised
>> that we would adhere to a schedule of quarterly publication, and we,
> with
>> the help of many of you who have written or helped to find articles,
> have
>> done exactly that. This is the first time in my limited memory that
> this has
>> been achieved, and, if I get the chance, I hope to do the same over
> the next
>> two years. I really encourage everybody on the list to at least glance
>> through each issue to see if there are articles that pique your
> interest. I
>> feel that we have, generally speaking, had a very high level of
> quality in
>> the articles we have put out. The March 2011 issue will be out shortly
> for
>> those who are interested, and back issues can be found on
> www.nabslink.org.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sorry, I'm not trying to shamelessly plug our work, but want everybody
> to
>> know that the resource is out there, as many of us put a good amount
> of work
>> into bringing each newsletter together.
>>
>>
>>
>> Take care,
>>
>>
>>
>> Sean
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40ea
> rthlink.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40
> gmail.com
>>
>
>
> --
> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>
>
> End of nabs-l Digest, Vol 53, Issue 17
> **************************************
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
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>


-- 
Darian Smith
Skype: The_Blind_Truth
Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace

"The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

— Robert Byrne