[nabs-l] NFB and Independence

Thu Apr 11 17:33:16 UTC 2013

The link to the text of Dr. Jernigan's speech is https://nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/convent/addres93.htm

I find Dr. Jernigan's discussion of the three phases of independence helpful, particularly because I have seen it in my own life and the lives of others around me who are blind.  I  agree that these stages are rarely rigid or concrete, and their order can vary.  I would also say that people experience these phases over and over again as they adapt to new life circumstances.  As I get older and have more experience, I find myself functioning in the more balanced stage.  However, from time to time I find myself functioning in the timid or rebelliously independent phases as I adapt to new life situations, such as moving to a new place or starting a new job.  It makes sense that it will take some time to determine the most efficient way to do things with the least inconvenience to myself and others around me.  In general, many of the techniques I use will be the same, but my context will determine the specifics of what that independence looks like.  That period of adjustment might involve me being timid or wanting to prove to my new co-workers exactly how independent I can be.  Fortunately these variations are short-lived and I can quickly return to my balanced approach.  

Thanks for bringing our attention to this speech Arielle.  Finding people within the NFB who embraced this kind of philosophy helped me get past what I perceived to be "militance" within the organization.  That militance is a huge turn off for our generation, but we should remember that it was born out of an era in which blind people did not have many of the rights we now enjoy and take for granted.  The reason we have so many options and tools to choose from often stems from the fact that we have forbearers who were bold, committed, and took hard, even radical stances to change laws and policies that kept blind people from equal access.  

I still get uncomfortable with some of the NFBs  positions and ideas sometimes, but I am committed to the organization because I have found a community of people who are committed to improving the lives of blind people.  They truly believe blind people are capable and they work hard to equip people to live fulfilling and meaningful lives, reaching their potential through training, advocacy, legislation, research, etc.  That, and the fact that I have found so many talented and professional blind people to connect with and learn from.  

What a great topic to discuss!  I think it really gets at the heart of the organization and challenges some foundational misconceptions that keep people from signing up.  

Best,
Greg

On Apr 10, 2013, at 11:37 AM, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:

> It's almost like I've never had true equal status except in spots, and it
> wasn't without great effort.  I'm not trying to complain or anything; it is
> what it is. 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
> Silverman
> Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2013 11:24 AM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] NFB and Independence
> 
> I was also bothered by the stages presented in that speech for similar
> reasons as Desiree. I don't really like stage models in general because I
> think everyone's experience is different and few people will move in a nice
> clean sequence from one stage to the next. I know I have exhibited
> rebellious independence at times, but it usually happens when I feel like my
> basic dignity is being threatened. When I was at the Louisiana Center for
> the Blind I didn't experience rebellious independence much at all because my
> basic dignity was affirmed. However, when I was a teenager I think I showed
> both fearful insecurity and rebellious independence at the same time because
> I was conflicted about whether or not I was deserving of independence and
> dignity.
> I have also felt that the blind-from-birth experience isn't always given due
> attention in NFB literature, and in some ways our experiences are a lot more
> complex than those who become blind later in life. In many ways being born
> blind is like being born an alien on a foreign planet where everybody else
> has some capacity you don't have. It's a lifelong process of adjusting to
> this foreign world, and your marginalized status within it, not a process of
> adjusting to any kind of loss.
> Arielle
> 
> On 4/11/13, Joseph C. Lininger <devnull-nabs-l at pcdesk.net> wrote:
>> Well, I have immediate examples I can present for both the second and 
>> the third phase. First, the balanced independence.
>> 
>> I work on an Air Force base. I could certainly get there by bus if I 
>> had to, but there are problems. First, the route would take me over an 
>> hour each way, even though I only live about 15 minutes from the base 
>> just because of how the buses run. Second, the bus does not enter the 
>> military base so I would have to walk from the gate to the building I 
>> work in. I have a family member who drives me to and from work. To 
>> compensate her for this, I pay her auto insurance payment every month, 
>> as well as gas if she needs it. (sometimes the gas is not just for my 
>> trips, it's for others she makes as well) Some would argue it's 
>> dependence, but I see it more as compensating for the fact I don't 
>> have a car. I'm simply exercising one option for dealing with that 
>> fact. A sighted person who couldn't or simply didn't drive might do 
>> something similar.
>> 
>> Now, the militant thing. I'm not overly aggressive about this, but I 
>> hesitate to ask people in the office for rides. I'll accept one if 
>> it's offered, like if everyone in the office is going to a social 
>> function or something like that. However, I won't even ask for a ride 
>> to the gate or to one of the other locations on base. The reason for 
>> this is that I know peple tend to make snap judgements about 
>> blindness, and I don't want to give anyone in the office an excuse to 
>> do that by asking for a ride or something like that. It's probably a 
>> bit irrational, honestly, because there are other things I will 
>> sometimes ask for help with and it's never a problem. For instance, 
>> they put a keypad with raised buttons at the entrence to the two main
> buildings my department uses.
>> The standard one is this touch sensitive thing, and it makes it hard 
>> to enter the PIN once I swipe my access card. I could do it if I had 
>> to using my very limited sight and a little luck, but this way makes 
>> it so I can do it much faster. Most people in my office know precisely 
>> why at least one door in each of the buildings has a keypad like that 
>> now where it didn't before. So yeah, I'm probably being rediculous 
>> about the not asking for rides policy.
>> 
>> Joe
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/arielle71%40gmail.
>> com
>> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/justin.williams2%40gmail
> .com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/gpaikens%40gmail.com