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

[wmodnl wmodnl]

I love youre response.  Keep up the hard work.  That is what we all need, perseverance.  Let's connect, I am working with a group of people to start a group.  One that is a cross of both NFB, ACB, and some own Independant-thinking behind what and how we should become more united within the blindness community, not divided.  Have a good day.


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On Apr 9, 2013, at 9:11 PM, "Robert William Kingett" <kingettr at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.
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