[nabs-l] why is it important to join an organization of the blind?

[Joshua Lester]

Funny that someone of another race, didn't ask African Americans this
question, when they organized, for Civil Rights.
Blind people are working together, for the equality, they deserve.
I'm proud of our organization, and I'm standing with everyone else!
The benefits of being in an organization like this, (for me,) are as follows.
#1. Conventions give us the opportunity to meet other blind people,
and we can be enspired by their successes.
#2. Advocacy!
#3. If we have questions, we can always go to someone, within the
organization, that can help us.
I've always said, that ever since, 2009, (when I first joined the
NFB,) it has been like a second family.
Blessings, Joshua

On 1/16/12, Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
> Fellow Federationists,
>
> As I have become more and more active in the blind community and
> have met more and more blind people, I notice that a lot of blind
> people are not affiliated with any organization of the blind, for
> one reason or another.  Some say they are put off by the
> political arguments between the NFB and ACB; some say they don't
> want to be "tied" to one organization; some say they don't agree
> with either organization's philosophy and don't want to identify
> themselves with either organization and their philosophy, and
> there are other reasons as well.  I try to explain to them the
> value of the Federation in my life, and how joining an
> organization of the blind connects you with a diverse network of
> resources, who can help answer almost any question they would
> have related to blindness.  I also try to explain to them that if
> they had any problems, being a part of an organization would help
> them with their advocacy efforts; the more people you have
> advocating, the more effective the advocacy is.  But they still
> don't want to be affiliated with an organization.  So I want to
> get your thoughts on these questions; why do you think it is
> important to be a member of an organization of the blind? Of what
> benefit/value is an organization to its members, and to blind
> people at large? Some people have said to me, "Sighted people
> don't have any organizations dedicated to their concerns as
> sighted people; why should I join an organization dedicated to
> blindness?" Still others have said, "Don't you (Federationists)
> want to be equal with sighted people? If so, then why do we
> (blind people) need to be organized in some kind of organization
> exclusively of and for the blind and people associated with the
> blind?" These are some interesting questions; what would your
> responses be to those people? I look forward to hearing your
> thoughts on this!
> Thanks,
>
> Chris
>
> "The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The
> real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that
> exists.  If a blind person has the proper training and
> opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a mere physical
> nuisance."
> -- Kenneth Jernigan
>
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