[nabs-l] Wanted to share my experience living at Friedman Place, a supportive living community for blind adults in Chicago

[Ashley Bramlett]

Robert,
Thanks for sharing your perspective. I don't have enough time to comment on 
a deep issue like this.
In short though, I agree with you. Independence means different things to 
different people.
Living on your own takes so much responsibility. If we think of it, most 
people, and I mean sighted nondisabled people, often don't want to live 
alone. Why? Because we like companionship and interdependence despite the 
notion of American society of  independence and individualism.
People want someone to confide in; someone to share the chores and cooking 
with, and someone to act as a security buffer.
If you feel free enough and independent, that is what matters. It may not 
follow NFB philosophy completely since the philosophy supports integration 
into society meaning we live in the same housing as everyone else. But IMO 
you should not base your
life on one philosophy. Do what is best for your individual circumstances 
and live life to its fullest.
Nice thread.
Ashley


-----Original Message----- 
From: Robert William Kingett
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 9:10 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Wanted to share my experience living at Friedman 
Place, a supportive living community for blind adults in Chicago

I too am a member of Friedman place and a competent member of the
blindness community, even if I have someone cook for me. I've raised
money to donate to the NFB and ACB to help their cause, even supporting
my fellow peers with advocacy related matters. I believe that Friedman
place is just the right fit for me. What I don't agree with is the
notion that people, and yes, I've looked at the archives, have tried to
make others do what they deem as independent. I have to ask this very
simple question. What is independence anyway? I believe independence is
freedom, individuality, liberation. I believe that it is freedom from
dependence on or control by another person, organization, or state. I'm
both a member of the NFB and ACB, and I have been nominated to be
president of the LGBT chapter in the ACB, even though I live in a place
that fosters stereotypes and makes people think blind people can't take
care of themselves, apparently. Independence, as stated above, is very
different for people. Someone who's independent is free, and that, I
believe, should be celebrated and applauded. Since a lot of people have
said that the NFB is the optimal way to live I don't understand
something. This is my understanding of the NFB, and correct me if I'm
wrong. The mission of the National Federation of the Blind is to achieve
widespread emotional acceptance and intellectual understanding that the
real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight but the
misconceptions and lack of information which exist. We do this by
bringing blind people together to share successes, to support each other
in times of failure, and to create imaginative solutions. Acceptance is
a key part of showing sighted people, and people who have stereotypical
perceptions that the NFB are a powerful organization and not just an
organization to adopt a one size fits all policy. Instead, as I have
said before and state again, independence should be celebrated. We’re
paying our bills and we’re paying for our food. When we rise in the
morning to brighten up the world we choose, with care, the clothes we
wear even if we have help with washing them. No one dictates my path and
I have achieved my level of independence that I'm very satisfied with.
Ii have my own apartment and I'm a very strong advocate for both the
LGBT community and the blindness community as well. When I hear that
someone is living on their own and paying their own bills, even if they
have someone cook for them. There independent and it makes me happy.
Why? Because that’s a blind person that has broken down the stereotype
of living at home with their parents all of their lives, and I celebrate
that with congratulatory words all the way. They're an independent
person, living how they want to live. It sure does feel good. As I have
said, that's something to be celebrated because, they're changing what
it means to be blind, those beautifully independent people.


_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
nabs-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net