[nabs-l] NFB Philosophy

[Steve Jacobson]

>From what I remember, we passed a resolution a long time back favoring accessible currency, but we 
wanted to see it done as part of a currency redesign rather than have it done as a separate activity.  
There have been some currency redesign activities since our resolution that really didn't deal with 
accessibility, though.

I, for one, have always felt that currency accessibility was an exaggerated problem but did not feel 
that having it considered when changes were made to the currency was a bad idea.  I also felt very 
uneasy, though, having accessibility of currency called out as a separate activity having the cost of 
all changes hung on us when there are changes that are made to currency from time to time that do 
generate changes to vending machines as such.  I also objected strongly to some of the pictures painted 
by those favoring accessibility in the press some time back that implied we were not able to manage at 
all with currency as is, when most of us have been managing for years with various techniques.  That 
kind of publicity hurts us.  I find it upsetting that some organizations and people would trample on our 
image to gain a political goal, but I digress.

One can always choose to support or oppose particular efforts by either of the major consumer 
organizations, and getting support on specific issues is useful.  On the other hand, to be able to truly 
influence either organization, one needs to be a part of that organization.  I have no problem 
supporting efforts of the NFB for which I might be less enthusiastic knowing that others who may not be 
enthusiastic about my positions will support them if I get them adopted by the organization.  Clearly, 
if one gets to the point that they are opposing what an organization does more often than supporting 
that organization, it is probably time to go organization shopping.

I also get very nervous when people compare organizations with religions because there are implications 
there that I don't think truly hold.  While it is true that religion and philosophy have always been 
hand in hand, a philosophy doesn't imply religious bindings.  Both major political parties have a 
philosophy and those who follow a party's philosophy with devotion will tell you that it affects their 
lives.  I think our philosophy goes beyond politics to some degree because it gives me a way of viewing 
my blindness that helps me get through situations that are difficult.  It is not religious, though, but 
an outgrowth of our collective experience as blind people together with some very thoughtful writings of 
our leaders.  While it is true that many of us are probably like-minded, what I don't think is 
understood is that we are not like-minded because a leader told us to think alike.  We tend to be like-
minded because we have come to the NFB because something attracted us about its philosophy.  We have 
come to see many issues similarly because of that philosophy.  Still, there is a good deal of diversity 
in our thinking.  One can see that diversity in some of our resolutions.  We also have adjusted 
positions over time based upon changes in society.  Still, We do have a viewpoint that comes through 
much of what we do.  If that were not the case, I would be organization shopping.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson



>On 7/20/12, Desiree Oudinot <turtlepower17 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Thank you, Tyler. Those were my thoughts exactly. One thing you've got
>> slightly wrong though is that the new money identifiers really aren't
>> clunky. The IBill, in fact, can easily fit into your pocket. Then you
>> just slide a bill into it and it identifies it for you. It can respond
>> by vibration, a series of beeps, or by speaking the denomination of
>> the bill. I have one of them, and not only is it inexpensive, but it
>> works well.
>> On the issue of accessible currency, I'm not in favor of that, either.
>> For one thing, it would take quite awhile for the old money to be
>> phased out. It would remain in circulation for years, thus you would
>> still have the old, inaccessible bills handed to you in most cases for
>> a long time. Second, think of how many things would have to be
>> modified--vending machines, cash registers, even things like arcade
>> games that might take dollar bills, all to fit the new currency. That
>> would be extremely costly. God knows that the government doesn't have
>> the money to spend on something like that. No, they're too busy
>> wasting it on pointless crap...Everything to do with every other
>> country's business, never stepping up to help our own people.
>> Back on topic, as far as the NFB's philosophy goes, I have to agree
>> with what Arielle said about not needing to be in an organization for
>> or of the blind to have a positive attitude about blindness. That's
>> like saying that one must be religious to have morals. No, I don't
>> want to know if people think that's true or false--I've heard enough
>> of that debate to last a lifetime--I'm just saying it to make a point.
>> While some people are certainly bolstered by being members of such an
>> organization, gaining something from being surrounded by like-minded
>> individuals, that's definitely not me. I'm not a member of either
>> organization, nor do I intend on becoming one. I use listservs of both
>> because I think that, like the core philosophy, the exchange of ideas,
>> support and thoughts should not be limited to what team you play for
>> so to speak. For the most part, it isn't. We're all people, and we all
>> deserve to be heard, no matter what flag we wave in the name of our
>> own self-discovery.
>> Oh, and Joshua, get your facts straight. Michael Capell decided to
>> stay with the ACB. I really don't think you should spread rumors about
>> people without knowing the whole story.
>>
>> On 7/20/12, Littlefield, Tyler <tyler at tysdomain.com> wrote:
>>> Josh,
>>> you really are an idiot. It's not to often that I just drop all sarcasm
>>> and really go for it, but I have to.
>>> You start out introducing nothing to the list but bad information and
>>> one-line "I agree," "I have those too," then you jump into bashing me
>>> when I ask about the philosophy of NFB. From there, we move into "Dam
>>> the ACB for not voting for fair wages. NFB voted against something, but
>>> hey, that's ok because we'd put the manufacturers of equipment and
>>> software out of business," and we go on to "omg it would cost lots of
>>> money to make this accessible."
>>>
>>> It's people like you who drive people away. Maybe you did just get
>>> Michael capell, congratulations, but there are people that switch back
>>> and forth all the time. If you have to wait for someone like Sean and
>>> the others on this list to give you an intelligent cogent philosophy you
>>> can grab on to as a lifeline so you can hop back up on your
>>> self-righteous confederationist soapbox, then all the more power to you.
>>> Might I propose though, that you go from being a mindless
>>> confederationist zombie who spews random crap and calls it fact, and
>>> actually consider thinking for yourself. Your arguments for the NFB not
>>> passing the accessible money is not logical at all. In fact, if I
>>> remember correctly, you were one of the ones screaming about things
>>> costing to much a few messages back.
>>>
>>> I don't want what I said to be taken as an attack on the NFB, either. I
>>> believe every organization has good members who can give good, valid
>>> information like Sean, Arielle and others have, but they also have a
>>> high percentage of mindless bafoons, like our dear friend, as well.
>>>
>>> I understand that it would cost money to make currency brailled and
>>> accessible, but hey, on the flip-side, it would cost money to pay
>>> disabled people fair wages, too, so lets just drop that, because we
>>> can't have something costing money now, can we?
>>>
>>> As for my idea of currency, I really have no idea how this would work
>>> out, since the braille could get smashed. Maybe there could be a strip
>>> of thicker paper at one end of the bill that would have the braille on
>>> it; it would not prevent it from getting pushed down, but it would
>>> certainly help, and we wouldn't have to walk around with one of them
>>> clunky expensive money readers, or hold the bill in front of the IPhone
>>> for 5 minutes rotating it every which direction until it picks it up and
>>> announces it.
>>> On 7/19/2012 11:43 PM, Joshua Lester wrote:
>>>> Also, do you know how much it would cost to make the money accessible?
>>>> My idea, when Alan Ramos first presented it to me, was a Brailled
>>>> currency.
>>>> What is your idea of accessible currency?
>>>> I'm curious!
>>>> Thanks, Joshua
>>>>
>>>> On 7/20/12, Littlefield, Tyler <tyler at tysdomain.com> wrote:
>>>>> I did attend the convention. I did not, however go to every general
>>>>> session from 8 to 5.
>>>>> But hey. lets bash the ACB for not voting for fair wages, for whatever
>>>>> reason they did, but not make money accessible because gosh, we sure
>>>>> don't want to put the manufacturers of a program out of business. Your
>>>>> logic is flawless, my friend.
>>>>> On 7/19/2012 11:20 PM, Joshua Lester wrote:
>>>>>> Well, did you attend the convention?
>>>>>> You should know!
>>>>>> I'm not "bashing," but am concerned that they claim to be of the
>>>>>> blind, but they vote against fair wages.
>>>>>> BTW, they voted for the accessible currency, but we voted against it.
>>>>>> I've heard from both sides of the issue, and I take the NFB's
>>>>>> position, because accessible currency would put the manufacturers of
>>>>>> the IBill out of business.
>>>>>> Blessings, Joshua
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 7/20/12, Littlefield, Tyler <tyler at tysdomain.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Josh,
>>>>>>> Like I said, before you go organization bashing and flap your lips,
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> should probably ask someone in ACB who knows about it. There's been
>>>>>>> things that the NFB has voted against too, I'm sure.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 7/19/2012 10:30 PM, Joshua Lester wrote:
>>>>>>>> Arielle: that was a great post.
>>>>>>>> I just have one question about this.
>>>>>>>> If our philosophies aren't at odds, then why did the ACB vote, "Do
>>>>>>>> Not
>>>>>>>> Pass," on the "Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act,"
>>>>>>>> resolution at their convention?
>>>>>>>> Evidently, they're okay with disabled workers being paid below the
>>>>>>>> federally mandated minimum wage.
>>>>>>>> Hmmm!
>>>>>>>> Thanks, Joshua
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 7/19/12, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>> I think Sean's description of "NFB philosophy" as he sees it was
>>>>>>>>> excellent. I would also add two things:
>>>>>>>>> 1. I don't think the NFB has a patent on this philosophy. In fact,
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> would argue that most committed ACB members and many other
>>>>>>>>> successful
>>>>>>>>> blind people who choose not to affiliate with organizations also
>>>>>>>>> espouse the positive philosophy of blindness that Sean described.
>>>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>>>> NFB has chosen to make this philosophy a central focus, but that
>>>>>>>>> does
>>>>>>>>> not mean that non-NFB members cannot live by it themselves or
>>>>>>>>> encourage others to accept it. It is important to remember that the
>>>>>>>>> ACB split off from the NFB, and although I am not an expert on what
>>>>>>>>> happened, everything I've read about the split suggests that it
>>>>>>>>> occurred because of disagreements about how leadership in the
>>>>>>>>> organization should be structured, not about fundamental philosophy
>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>> blindness. In more recent years the NFB and ACB have taken
>>>>>>>>> differing
>>>>>>>>> approaches to some policy issues, but that does not necessarily
>>>>>>>>> mean
>>>>>>>>> that their core philosophies of blindness are at odds. I don't
>>>>>>>>> think
>>>>>>>>> the two organizations should merge into one super-organization of
>>>>>>>>> blind Americans because I like the fact that individuals have
>>>>>>>>> choices
>>>>>>>>> about which organization to join and that there's not one big group
>>>>>>>>> monopolizing the organizational stage. But I also think that the
>>>>>>>>> NFB
>>>>>>>>> and ACB have more in common in terms of their goals for changing
>>>>>>>>> what
>>>>>>>>> it means to be blind than we might think on first glance.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 2. To address Marc's point about universal design: In the nine
>>>>>>>>> years
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> have been a part of the NFB, I have observed that the NFB
>>>>>>>>> increasingly
>>>>>>>>> takes a pragmatic dualistic approach to promoting both individual
>>>>>>>>> coping with accessibility barriers and advocacy to bring them down.
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> would urge you to read the NFB 2012 resolutions once they become
>>>>>>>>> available online, and you will find that most of these resolutions
>>>>>>>>> address access barriers in one form or another and advocate for
>>>>>>>>> their
>>>>>>>>> removal. I believe the NFB is moving further in the direction of
>>>>>>>>> pushing for accessibility and I have seen change on this front even
>>>>>>>>> since the time when I first joined nine years ago. However, though
>>>>>>>>> we
>>>>>>>>> are committed to doing what we can to promote universal access for
>>>>>>>>> blind people, we also are aware that, realistically, it will take
>>>>>>>>> time
>>>>>>>>> for all those in power to make it happen. In the meantime, we are
>>>>>>>>> also
>>>>>>>>> working to help blind individuals figure out how to adapt to those
>>>>>>>>> barriers we are not yet able to control. For example, we will fight
>>>>>>>>> for full access to educational technology, but instead of waiting
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> enroll in college until this access happens, we will also work to
>>>>>>>>> harness the support of human readers and other adaptations so that
>>>>>>>>> we
>>>>>>>>> can still be successful in spite of these barriers. In other words,
>>>>>>>>> instead of pitting individual adaptation and universal design
>>>>>>>>> against
>>>>>>>>> each other as mutually exclusive options, why not take a dual
>>>>>>>>> approach
>>>>>>>>> toward both of these goals?
>>>>>>>>> Arielle
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On 7/19/12, Justin Salisbury <PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> I have a few notes for a few different people on this thread.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Tyler:
>>>>>>>>>> I understand the hesitancy about getting involved when you don't
>>>>>>>>>> fully
>>>>>>>>>> agree
>>>>>>>>>> with everything that everyone else believes.  I once had that
>>>>>>>>>> hesitation
>>>>>>>>>> about getting involved with organized religion.  I started going
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>> campus
>>>>>>>>>> ministry at my college because a friend sold me on the free
>>>>>>>>>> dinner,
>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>>> quickly learned that no church is homogenous in beliefs.  In some
>>>>>>>>>> churches,
>>>>>>>>>> the leadership will try like mad to perpetuate the idea that
>>>>>>>>>> everyone
>>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> church believes exactly what they do and that anyone who disagrees
>>>>>>>>>> slightly
>>>>>>>>>> is against them.  In my church, we aren't like that, and we
>>>>>>>>>> understand
>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>> people have differing views.  We unite under the idea that it's
>>>>>>>>>> okay
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> disagree on individual issues and discuss them, but we have
>>>>>>>>>> generally
>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>> same core beliefs.
>>>>>>>>>> That's how we are in the Federation.  If you don't agree with
>>>>>>>>>> something
>>>>>>>>>> we're doing, I'll make an effort to help you come to terms with it
>>>>>>>>>> because
>>>>>>>>>> that's my individual personality.  I often find that, when someone
>>>>>>>>>> disagrees
>>>>>>>>>> with something we're doing, it is because of a lack of
>>>>>>>>>> understanding
>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>> what
>>>>>>>>>> we're doing or the underlying issue.  At the end of the day, I
>>>>>>>>>> won't
>>>>>>>>>> shun
>>>>>>>>>> you.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Marc Workman:
>>>>>>>>>>     Of course we, in the Federation, fight to break down the
>>>>>>>>>> barriers.
>>>>>>>>>> Why
>>>>>>>>>> do
>>>>>>>>>> you think we do legislative lobbying?  Washington Seminar is an
>>>>>>>>>> absolutely
>>>>>>>>>> amazing experience, and you should try it!  We honor adaptability
>>>>>>>>>> because
>>>>>>>>>> there's no sense in being helpless in the meantime while we work
>>>>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>>>> those
>>>>>>>>>> barriers.
>>>>>>>>>> On the mention of Sean's place in social stratification:  I am a
>>>>>>>>>> colored
>>>>>>>>>> person, I'm the first person in my family to go to college, and I
>>>>>>>>>> don't
>>>>>>>>>> bother wallowing in the lack of advantage that I face because of
>>>>>>>>>> it.
>>>>>>>>>> Quite
>>>>>>>>>> frankly, I'm not even convinced that I am disadvantaged by being a
>>>>>>>>>> colored
>>>>>>>>>> person.  With the first generation college student part, I have to
>>>>>>>>>> seek
>>>>>>>>>> mentors in the academic process from outside my family, and I know
>>>>>>>>>> many,
>>>>>>>>>> many educated Federationists who have eagerly fulfilled that role
>>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>>> me.
>>>>>>>>>> Lastly, I've made comments like "i've had this conversation with
>>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>>> before"
>>>>>>>>>> in a public manner to other people-trust me, I have-but I've
>>>>>>>>>> realized
>>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>> retrospect that it only creates distance between everyone who
>>>>>>>>>> hears
>>>>>>>>>> me
>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>> myself.  A lot of people take that as an implied personal attack.
>>>>>>>>>> I'm
>>>>>>>>>> not
>>>>>>>>>> saying Sean took it that way, but I'm sure plenty of people did
>>>>>>>>>> read
>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>> way.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Brandon Keith Biggs, I loved reading this part of your email:
>>>>>>>>>> In my book, there is no larger crime than depriving someone of
>>>>>>>>>> their
>>>>>>>>>> dreams
>>>>>>>>>> and the second biggest crime is taking away the chance for people
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> reach
>>>>>>>>>> for those dreams. For while there are dreams, there is hope. With
>>>>>>>>>> hope
>>>>>>>>>> life
>>>>>>>>>> always has enough energy to turn the corner and keep going.  The
>>>>>>>>>> NFB
>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> me
>>>>>>>>>> is that hope and the rock and refuge that is always there for me
>>>>>>>>>> if
>>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>>> need
>>>>>>>>>> it.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Yours in Federationism,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Justin Salisbury
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Justin M. Salisbury
>>>>>>>>>> Class of 2012
>>>>>>>>>> B.A. in Mathematics
>>>>>>>>>> East Carolina University
>>>>>>>>>> president at alumni.ecu.edu
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> 
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens
>>>>>>>>>> can
>>>>>>>>>> change
>>>>>>>>>> the world; indeed, its the only thing that ever has.

>>>>>>>>>> MARGARET
>>>>>>>>>> MEAD
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Take care,
>>>>>>> Ty
>>>>>>> http://tds-solutions.net
>>>>>>> The aspen project: a barebones light-weight mud engine:
>>>>>>> http://code.google.com/p/aspenmud
>>>>>>> He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool;
>>>>>>> he
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> dares not reason is a slave.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Take care,
>>>>> Ty
>>>>> http://tds-solutions.net
>>>>> The aspen project: a barebones light-weight mud engine:
>>>>> http://code.google.com/p/aspenmud
>>>>> He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he
>>>>> that
>>>>> dares not reason is a slave.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Take care,
>>> Ty
>>> http://tds-solutions.net
>>> The aspen project: a barebones light-weight mud engine:
>>> http://code.google.com/p/aspenmud
>>> He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he
>>> that
>>> dares not reason is a slave.
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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