[nabs-l] Lives Worth Living disability documentary to air

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Dave,

I agree, and the reason I bring up any other leader in the movement is
because others here have stated others as the "father" of the disability
rights movement. I would certainly agree that Tembroek, and later
Jernigan, were probably fathers of the early blind rights movement, and
of course they contributed to the movement as an entirety, but again,
when broadening the picture, others were equally instrumental in
establishing a firm voice seeking independence and equality for all with
disabilities.

And it's very true that we all have built upon the work that has come,
and is happening, to support the cause as a whole. My intention was
never to imply otherwise; I'm just concerned that some, not all,
consider the Federation as the only organization to do anything pushing
for the disability rights movement. This isn't diminishing the role of
the NFB, but rather adding the other puzzle pieces to the picture.

I think a lot of people seek a poster-child promoting all disabilities.
I've found myself in similar circumstances before, and it is
intimidating  trying to speak on behalf of all disabilities; it must be
how the president feels when trying to serve all the various groups,
parties and peoples of this country.

Our over-all goal and message may be similar- independence for all, and
with certain accommodations and positive mindsets, we can all achieve
personal levels of independence. But when dealing directly with
individual disabilities, a lot of variables are in play and the
accommodations are equally varied. What I might require as a blind
person isn't necessarily what a paraplegic requires or someone with CP.
We can't exactly put one face to this collective.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 12
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:06:35 -0500
From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Lives Worth Living disability documentary to air
	on PBS
Message-ID: <auto-000033563712 at mailfront3.g2host.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Bridgit:

It would probably be difficult, if not impossible to name one 
"father" of the disability rights movement.  Each person builds on 
what others before him or her accomplished.  I have heard of Ed 
Roberts, and he certainly did a lot for the Independent Living 
movement, particularly for those in wheelchairs.  Most of this was in 
the 70's.  If tenBroek, and others hadn't done what they did in the 
40's, the IL stuff might not have happened, people wouldn't have 
thought it possible.  That is why I say each of us builds on what 
came before us.  It is impossible to say what caused what etc.

You are right that we tend to be blind-centric in the NFB.  On the 
one hand, it may close us off from other things that we could benefit 
from, and on the other hand, it is part of the reason we have 
accomplished as much as we have for blind persons.

For a brief time in the early 1980's I was heavily involved in an 
Independent Living Center.  I got involved because of some assistance 
they gave me, and I wanted to help them some.  I soon found myself 
being put in the role of being a spokesperson for all disabled 
persons in that area.  I was not comfortable with this -- as I didn't 
know what the problems were for other disabled groups in any detail.

Dave