[nabs-l] Future of the NFB

Mon Mar 14 03:46:38 UTC 2011

I don't think anyone would advocate shutting down sheltered shops
completely. The mere presence of the sheltered shops doesn't preclude
us from finding competitive employment alternatives. For decades NFB
has pushed to improve working conditions at sheltered shops, such as
increasing the wages and allowing blind employees to advance to
higher-status positions within the shops, and preventing people from
being forced to work at the shops against their will.

Arielle

On 3/13/11, Greg Aikens <gpaikens at gmail.com> wrote:
> I wouldn't make that generalization about all people with multiple
> disabilities.  I would submit that for some portion of the population,
> sheltered employment may offer a meaningful contribution to quality of life,
> such as the opportunity to express agency or self-determination by earning a
> wage.  I don't think those opportunities would be available in a competitive
> employment environment.  I would love to be wrong about this.  Please share
> any alternative solutions you know of.
>
> -Greg
>
> On Mar 12, 2011, at 10:24 PM, Jedi wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
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>>
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>>
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>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>>>> --
>>>> Brice Smith
>>>> North Carolina State University, Communication - Public Relations
>>>> Brice.Smith319 at gmail.com
>>
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-- 
Arielle Silverman
President, National Association of Blind Students
Phone:  602-502-2255
Email:
nabs.president at gmail.com
Website:
www.nabslink.org