[nabs-l] NFB and conservatism/liberalism

[Sophie Trist]

Ryan,=20that=20was=20a=20great=20post=20and=20I=20pretty=20much=20agree=20w=
ith=20
everything.=20I=20do=20believe=20that=20some=20things=20the=20NFB=20deals=20=
with=20are=20
genuine=20civil=20rights=20issues,=20such=20as=20the=20subminimum=20wage=20=
issue=20
(it's=20slave=20labor=20no=20matter=20what.)=20But=20if=20there's=20an=20in=
accessible=20
website,=20I'm=20not=20gonna=20flip=20out=20about=20it.=20I=20don't=20have=
=20time=20for=20
that.=20We=20all=20have=20our=20lives=20to=20live=20that=20are=20separate=20=
from=20
blindness=20or=20the=20NFB.=20I've=20seen=20people=20who=20live=20for=20the=
=20
organization,=20who've=20memorized=20all=20the=20speeches=20and=20the=20his=
tory.=20
I=20enjoy=20being=20a=20part=20of=20the=20NFB,=20but=20it's=20not=20my=20li=
fe.=20I=20just=20
work=20around=20things=20like=20inaccessability=20by=20either=20using=20ano=
ther=20
website=20or=20getting=20a=20reader=20to=20help=20me=20out.=20Unless=20it's=
=20a=20MAJOR,=20
and=20I=20mean=20EPICALLY=20MAJOR,=20issue,=20fighting=20and=20suing=20is=20=
not=20the=20
answer.=20Self-advocacy=20is.=20And=20I'm=20talking=20about=20the=20kind=20=
of=20
advocacy=20where=20you=20politely=20approach=20the=20offending=20person/gro=
up=20
and=20hold=20a=20civil=20conversation=20with=20them=20where=20you=20calmly=
=20and=20
eloquently=20state=20your=20problem,=20using=20logic=20instead=20of=20threa=
ts=20or=20
belligerence.=20These=20are=20just=20my=20thoughts,=20and=20I=20look=20forw=
ard=20to=20
more=20of=20this=20discussion.

Yours=20sincerely,
Sophie

=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
From:=20Ryan=20Silveira=20<ryan.l.silveira at gmail.com
To:=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list=20
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date=20sent:=20Thu,=203=20Apr=202014=2021:24:16=20-0400
Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20NFB=20and=20conservatism/liberalism

Hi=20All,

While=20I=20agree=20that=20some=20of=20the=20philosophies=20of=20the=20NFB=
=20(e.g.=20
blindfold=20training,=20maintaining=20braille=20literacy=20and=20the=20
=93empowering=20yourself=94=20approach)=20are,=20indeed,=20conservative=20i=
deas=20
and=20approaches,=20the=20civil=20rights=20portion=20of=20the=20NFB=20takes=
=20a=20very=20
liberal=20and=20rather=20belligerent=20approach.=20=20I=20do=20not=20say=20=
that=20all=20
of=20the=20members=20of=20the=20NFB=20think=20and=20act=20this=20way,=20but=
=20there=20is=20a=20
group=20of=20members=20(I=20have=20heard=20it=20called=20the=20=93advocacy=
=20arm=94)=20who=20
seem=20to=20enjoy=20banding=20together=20and=20fighting=20the=20rest=20of=20=
the=20world=20
for=20what=20they=20consider=20to=20be=20their=20rights.=20=20I=20am=20ofte=
n=20told,=20
=93That=20is=20an=20outsider=92s=20perspective=20of=20our=20organization.=20=
=20We=92re=20
not=20really=20like=20that.=94=20=20To=20that,=20I=20say:=20the=20=93outsid=
ers=94=20had=20to=20
gain=20that=20perspective=20somehow.=20=20They=20did=20not=20just=20make=20=
it=20up.=20=20
While=20I=20am=20proud=20to=20be=20a=20member=20of=20the=20NFB,=20I=20see=20=
no=20need=20to=20
advertise=20my=20pride=20in=20the=20organization,=20nor=20to=20form=20some=
=20kind=20of=20
army=20for=20the=20blind=20and=20either=20virtually=20or=20realistically=20=
march=20
for=20our=20rights.=20=20The=20group=20within=20the=20organization=20which=
=20takes=20
this=20liberal=20approach=20seem,=20to=20me,=20to=20purposefully=20find=20t=
he=20most=20
trivial=20things=20with=20which=20they=20see=20a=20problem=20and=20then=20s=
hout=20about=20
how=20we=20are=20not=20equal=20and=20how=20the=20government=20or=20a=20scho=
ol=20needs=20to=20
change=20for=20us,=20but=20that=20there=20is=20no=20reason=20whatsoever=20f=
or=20us=20to=20
try=20to=20work=20with=20them.=20=20If=20a=20website=20is=20inaccessible=20=
or=20a=20certain=20
program=20does=20not=20work=20the=20way=20you=20want=20it=20to=20work,=20sh=
outing=20about=20
civil=20rights=20is=20not=20the=20answer=97working=20with=20the=20developer=
s=20to=20
make=20the=20website=20or=20program=20accessible=20is.=20=20The=20only=20re=
ason=20one=20
should=20fight=20the=20civil=20rights=20battle=20is=20if=20they=20are=20tru=
ly=20being=20
denied=20a=20human=20right.=20=20examples=20of=20situations=20in=20which=20=
a=20civil=20
rights=20battle=20might=20be=20appropriate=20are:=20if=20a=20person=20is=20=
not=20
admitted=20into=20a=20school=20because=20they=20are=20blind=20or=20not=20ad=
mitted=20
into=20a=20restaurant=20they=20really=20wanted=20to=20go=20to=20because=20t=
hey=20had=20a=20
service=20dog..=20=20Even=20then,=20publicizing=20the=20discrimination=20an=
d=20
suing=20the=20organization=20is=20a=20last=20resort.=20=20There=20was=20a=20=
speech=20
given=20by=20Dr.=20Mauer=20recently=20(I=20believe=20some=20time=20in=20the=
=20last=20
year)=20during=20which=20he=20enumerated=20the=20legal=20civil=20rights=20v=
ictories=20
various=20blind=20students=20have=20had.=20=20While=20listening=20to=20this=
=20speech,=20
I=20felt=20as=20if=20we=20were=20fighting=20some=20kind=20of=20war=97the=20=
blind=20minority=20
against=20the=20sighted=20majority.=20=20This=20is=20not=20a=20war,=20fello=
w=20
students.=20We=20are=20not=20fighting.=20=20Those=20who=20continuously=20cr=
y=20for=20
equality=20simply=20want=20to=20be=20greater=20than=20those=20whom=20they=20=
feel=20
oppress=20them.=20=20Equality=20is=20gained=20when=20both=20sides=20meet=20=
in=20the=20
middle=20and=20come=20up=20with=20a=20solution.=20=20It=20cannot,=20it=20wi=
ll=20not=20be=20
established=20if=20one=20side=20continuously=20fights=20the=20other,=20for=
=20
eventually=20one=20side=20will=20emerge=20victorious=20and=20the=20other=20=
will=20be=20
defeated.=20=20Rather=20than=20taking=20the=20liberal=20approach,=20we,=20t=
he=20
minority,=20should=20learn=20to=20work=20with=20the=20sighted=20majority.=20=
=20If=20we=20
want=20them=20to=20work=20for=20us,=20making=20things=20more=20accessible,=
=20then=20we=20
need=20to=20be=20able=20to=20work=20with=20them=20and=20to=20make=20comprom=
ises.=20=20Only=20
then=20will=20we=20have=20equality.


Ryan=20L.=20Silveira
Corresponding=20Secretary
Ohio=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students
A=20Division=20of=20the=20National=20Federation=20of=20the=20Blind,=20=93Ch=
anging=20
What=20it=20Means=20to=20be=20Blind=94
(203)=20731-7580
ryan.l.silveira at gmail.com

On=20Apr=203,=202014,=20at=201:24=20AM,=20ichoosechrist2 at gmail.com=20wrote:=


=20Thank=20you=20Ashley.
=20Lora

=20Sent=20from=20my=20iPhone

=20On=20Apr=202,=202014,=20at=206:58=20PM,=20"Ashley=20Bramlett"=20
<bookwormahb at earthlink.net>=20wrote:

=20Melissa,
=20I=20agree=20and=20I=20hope=20the=20shift=20is=20toward=20educating=20com=
panies=20to=20
make=20their=20software=20accessible=20and=20doing=20outreach=20so=20they=20=
know=20
our=20capabilities.
=20We=20need=20to=20focus=20more=20on=20employment,=20definitely.=20Due=20t=
o=20the=20
inaccessible=20software=20on=20pcs,=20=20electronics=20going=20touch=20scre=
en=20and=20
employer=20attitudes,=20we=20are=20not=20increasing=20our=20employment=20ra=
te.
=20It=20used=20to=20be=20you=20could=20be=20a=20receptionist=20or=20admin=20=
assistant=20or=20
secretary=20as=20a=20blind=20person,=20good=20entry=20level=20job.=20This=20=
was=20in=20
the=2090s=20when=20we=20had=20pcs,=20but=20no=20digital=20touch=20screens.=
=20Okay,=20now,=20
you=20have=20inaccessible=20equipment;=20scanners,=20copiers,=20and=20print=
ers=20
have=20screens=20one=20has=20to=20read=20to=20operate=20them=20beyond=20the=
=20basics.=20
Even=20phones=20now=20have=20menus=20we=20cannot=20read.=20We=20can=20opera=
te=20them=20
and=20make=20calls,=20sure,=20but=20to=20go=20change=20settings,=20we=20can=
not=20do=20
that.
=20Digital=20things=20has=20caused=20inaccessibility.=20And,=20jobs=20blind=
=20
people=20used=20to=20have=20are=20disappearing.=20Such=20jobs=20include=20
secretaries,=20switch=20board=20operators,=20and=20receptionists.=20Dark=20=
room=20
technicians,=20piano=20tuners,=20and
=20chair=20caning=20are=20disappearing=20too.

=20I=20think=20without=20more=20of=20a=20move=20to=20have=20accessible=20so=
ftware,=20we=20
are=20going=20to=20be=20left=20behind.
=20Every=20job=20ad=20tells=20me=20I=20need=20skills=20in=20database=20mana=
gement.=20How=20
can=20we=20compete=20with=20inaccessible=20databases?=20Not=20even=20MS=20A=
ccess=20is=20
accessible!

=20As=20to=20conservatism,=20indeed=20it=92s=20a=20conservative=20group.=20=
I=20knew=20
this=20the=20second=20meeting=20I=20went=20to=2015=20years=20back.=20Much=20=
of=20the=20self=20
empowerment=20message=20spoken=20about=20at=20the=20virginia=20state=20conv=
ention=20
is=20conservative.=20Yes,=20it=20is=20like=20yeah=20everyone=20can=20be=20s=
uccessful=20
in=20whatever=20they=20want.=20If=20you=20cannot=20get=20your=20dreams,=20y=
ou=20need=20to=20
have=20more=20skills=20or=20more=20confidence;=20just=20as=20conservatives=
=20like=20
rush=20Limboull=20say=20get=20up=20and=20out=20there,=20the=20NFB=20says=20=
if=20you=20
cannot=20succeed=20its=20your=20fault.=20As=20Joe=20pointed=20out,=20I=20no=
=20longer=20
can=20follow=20this.=20I=20have=20skills=20and=20a=20college=20degree,=20ye=
t=20I=20cannot=20
possibly=20meet=20all=20job=20qualifications=20because=20of=20visual=20barr=
iers.=20
Another=20example=20is=20many=20communications=20jobs=20I=20want=20require=
=20adobe=20
creative=20suite=20use.=20I=20cannot=20use=20adobe=20photoshop=20or=20adobe=
=20end=20
design.=20Never=20will=20happen,=20even=20if=20I=20improve=20my=20computer=
=20skills;=20
some=20things=20just=20cannot=20be=20done=20with=20a=20screen=20reader.=20I=
=20could=20use=20
other=20text=20based=20databases=20if=20they=20were=20accessible=20though;=
=20such=20
as=20raisers=20edge,=20donor=20perfect,=20CRM,=20and=20SalesForce.

=20I=20do=20like=20the=20can=20do=20attitude=20of=20NFB=20leaders,=20but=20=
out=20in=20the=20
real=20world,=20having=20the=20blindness=20skills=20simply=20is=20no=20long=
er=20
enough=20to=20suceed.

=20Ashley

=20-----Original=20Message-----=20From:=20melissa=20R=20Green
=20Sent:=20Wednesday,=20April=2002,=202014=206:45=20PM
=20To:=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list
=20Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20NFB=20and=20conservatism/liberalism

=20I=20like=20the=20dual=20aproach=20as=20well.=20=20I=20have=20stated=20th=
is=20before,=20and=20
I=20don't
=20have=20a=20concrete=20answer.=20=20I=20think=20that=20we=20need=20to=20a=
lso=20continue=20
to=20focus=20on
=20the=20employment=20of=20blind=20people=20more=20than=20we=20have=20done.=
=20=20I=20was=20
very=20glad=20that
=20the=20job=20fair=20was=20occurring=20at=20convention=20again,=20and=20th=
at=20there=20
was=20a=20job
=20fair=20at=20washington=20seminar.=20=20In=20my=20opinion,=20this=20is=20=
a=20more=20
balanced=20aproach
=20to=20assisting=20blind=20people=20in=20becoming=20successful.=20=20Have=
=20a=20
blessed=20day.
=20Best=20Wishes
=20Melissa=20R.=20Green=20and=20Pj

=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----=20From:=20"Arielle=20Silverman"=20
<arielle71 at gmail.com
=20To:=20"National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list"
=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20Sent:=20Wednesday,=20April=2002,=202014=203:12=20PM
=20Subject:=20[nabs-l]=20NFB=20and=20conservatism/liberalism


=20I=20had=20not=20thought=20much=20about=20the=20political=20tone=20of=20N=
FB=20
philosophy
=20itself.=20While=20there=20is=20definitely=20a=20conservative=20"pull=20y=
ourself=20
up"
=20mentality=20especially=20in=20older=20NFB=20discourse,=20the=20NFB=20has=
=20also
=20historically=20fought=20to=20expand=20government=20assistance=20for=20th=
e=20
blind
=20including=20social=20security.=20Most=20would=20contend=20that=20is=20a=
=20more=20
liberal
=20position.=20Also,=20in=20the=20eleven=20years=20I've=20been=20an=20NFB=20=
member,=20
I've
=20picked=20up=20on=20an=20increasing=20shift=20toward=20universal=20design=
=20and
=20pressuring=20others=20to=20make=20environments=20accessible=20to=20the=20=
blind=20
in
=20addition=20to=20encouraging=20blind=20people=20to=20adapt=20to=20their=20=

environments.
=20In=20fact=20I=20think=20most=20of=20the=20Washington=20Seminar=20priorit=
ies=20in=20
recent
=20years=20have=20had=20something=20to=20do=20with=20making=20things=20acce=
ssible.=20I=20
think
=20the=20NFB=20is=20starting=20to=20recognize=20that=20integration=20comes=
=20from=20a=20
dual
=20approach=20of=20empowering=20blind=20people=20while=20also=20making=20
environments
=20more=20hospitable=20for=20us.

=20Also,=20I=20don't=20think=20saying=20the=20NFB=20expects=20blind=20peopl=
e=20to=20rely=20
on
=20themselves=20without=20anybody's=20help=20is=20quite=20accurate.=20If=20=
you=20read=20
the
=20old=20Kernel=20stories=20and=20banquet=20speeches,=20Federation=20leader=
s=20
often
=20stress=20how=20much=20other=20NFB=20members=20helped=20them=20get=20to=20=
where=20they=20
are
=20today.=20One=20might=20argue=20that=20the=20NFB=20tends=20to=20minimize=
=20outsider
=20(sighted)=20help,=20but=20I=20think=20there=20is=20a=20great=20emphasis=
=20on=20
reaching=20out
=20to=20other=20blind=20people=20for=20help.

=20Arielle

=20On=204/2/14,=20justin=20williams=20<justin.williams2 at gmail.com>=20wrote:=

=20The=20boot=20strap=20theory=20is=20one=20I=20had=20not=20heard=20of=20in=
=20reference=20to=20
the=20nfb.
=20Great=20point=20Ashley.

=20-----Original=20Message-----
=20From:=20nabs-l=20[mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org]=20On=20Behalf=20Of=20=

Ashley
=20Bramlett
=20Sent:=20Wednesday,=20April=2002,=202014=201:38=20PM
=20To:=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list
=20Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20How=20can=20NFB=20better=20include
=20peoplewithmultipledisabilities?

=20Kaiti,
=20The=20NFB=20is=20overall=20conservative.=20It=20is=20manefisted=20in=20s=
tate=20
conventions
=20too.

=20Christianity=20is=20the=20dominant=20religion=20and=20therefore=20gets=20=

recognition.
=20I=20hear=20conservative=20positions=20all=20the=20time.=20Its=20rooted=20=
in=20the=20
philosophy
=20too.=20The=20idea=20that=20we=20have=20to=20get=20out=20there=20and=20in=
tegrate=20into=20
society=20on
=20terms=20of=20equality=20and=20make=20a=20lot=20of=20money=20to=20support=
=20the=20
organization=20is
=20kind=20of=20conservative.=20I=20hear=20a=20lot=20about=20jobs.=20Don't=20=
rely=20on=20
government;
=20get
=20a=20job.
=20Well,=20while=20I=20do=20support=20self=20sufficiency,=20I=20do=20also=20=
recognize=20
that=20you
=20can
=20be=20financially=20independent=20through=20other=20means=20with=20out=20=
the=20job.
=20What=20about=20stay=20at=20home=20moms?=20What=20about=20those=20with=20=
family=20
inherritances
=20who
=20don't=20need=20to=20work?=20What=20about=20those=20with=20medical=20issu=
es=20which=20
precludes=20a
=20full=20work=20day?=20Well,=20its=20not=20so=20easy=20to=20get=20a=20job=
=20and=20frankly,=20
Nfb=20is
=20doing
=20nothing=20to=20address=20the=20=20software=20inaccessibility=20of=20comm=
on=20
databases=20like
=20raisers=20edge.
=20The=20philosophy=20=20is=20like=20the=20idea=20of=20pulling=20yourself=20=
up=20by=20your=20
bootstraps
=20with=20no=20outside=20help.
=20So,=20if=20you=20have=20not=20realized=20this,=20the=20organization=20is=
=20
conservative=20and
=20ACB
=20is=20more=20liberal.=20This=20does=20not=20bother=20me=20much=20as=20I=20=
was=20raised=20
with=20these
=20values,=20but=20as=20more=20young=20people=20come=20into=20NFB,=20it=20m=
ay=20bother=20
them.=20Things
=20may=20change=20soon.

=20That=20is=20sad=20about=20the=20LGBT=20social=20group=20being=20quashed.=

=20I=20am=20not=20one=20for=20gay=20marriage,=20but=20see=20no=20harm=20in=
=20a=20social=20
group.=20hope
=20this
=20does=20not=20happen=20again.

=20Also,=20I=20agree=20with=20posts=20that=20say=20we=20need=20to=20work=20=
more=20=20with=20
other
=20disability=20groups.

=20Ashley

=20-----Original=20Message-----
=20From:=20Kaiti=20Shelton
=20Sent:=20Tuesday,=20April=2001,=202014=2010:30=20PM
=20To:=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list
=20Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20How=20can=20NFB=20better=20include
=20peoplewithmultipledisabilities?

=20Hello=20all,

=20In=20answer=20to=20Carly's=20question=20about=20connections=20between=20=
the=20
blind,=20(we=20may
=20call=20them=20"just=20blind"=20for=20the=20purposes=20of=20this=20conver=
sation),=20
and=20those
=20with=20blindness=20and=20other=20disabilities,=20or=20other=20disabiliti=
es=20
without
=20blindness,=20I=20think=20organizational=20relationships=20are=20the=20st=
arting=20
point=20to
=20working=20interpersonally.=20=20Much=20like=20the=20NFB=20is=20a=20huge=
=20group=20of=20
blind
=20people,
=20and=20is=20often=20used=20as=20a=20catalyst=20for=20working=20interperso=
nally=20to=20
accomplish
=20tasks,=20other=20groups=20are=20the=20same.=20=20If=20we=20want=20to=20w=
ork=20
interpersonally=20with
=20the=20deaf,=20persay,=20then=20we=20need=20to=20go=20where=20the=20deaf=
=20are=20and=20
start=20forming
=20relationships=20with=20that=20group.=20=20Once=20repore=20is=20establish=
ed,=20
people=20from
=20the
=20various=20organizations=20can=20work=20interpersonally.=20=20Darian=20mi=
ght=20
have=20phrased
=20it=20better=20than=20I=20did,=20but=20it's=20the=20same=20sort=20of=20vi=
ew.

=20I=20was=20admittedly=20not=20around=20for=20that=20episode=20that=20Desi=
ree=20
described,=20but
=20I'm
=20really=20sad=20to=20hear=20that=20it=20happened.=20=20Especially=20since=
,=20as=20
Arielle=20pointed
=20out,=20there=20are=20some=20pretty=20out=20there=20groups=20like=20the=20=
car=20one.=20=20I=20
mean,
=20it's
=20okay=20for=20people=20to=20get=20together=20and=20discuss=20cars=20that=
=20we=20can't=20
even=20drive
=20(yet=20at=20least),=20so=20their=20discussion=20is=20purely=20based=20on=
=20
mechanical=20and
=20aesthetic=20knowledge=20of=20the=20cars=20rather=20than=20a=20personal=20=
user=20
experience,
=20but
=20a=20support=20group=20for=20blind=20people=20who=20are=20seen=20as=20a=20=
minority=20for=20
another
=20reason=20is=20not=20okay?=20=20To=20me,=20that=20just=20doesn't=20make=20=
sense.

=20I'm=20not=20particularly=20religious,=20and=20probably=20would=20label=20=
myself=20
as
=20unitarian
=20even=20though=20I=20was=20raised=20catholic=20if=20I=20had=20to=20label=
=20myself=20at=20
all,=20so=20I
=20realize=20my=20personal=20views=20on=20things=20of=20that=20nature=20are=
=20more=20
liberal=20than
=20the
=20views=20of=20others.=20=20However,=20conservatives=20aren't=20always=20g=
oing=20to=20
be=20happy,
=20just=20as=20liberals=20aren't,=20and=20it=20is=20important=20that=20we=20=
compromise.=20=20
I=20was
=20not
=20under=20the=20impression=20that=20the=20NFB=20had=20any=20religious=20af=
filiation,=20
and=20even
=20remember=20asking=20someone=20what=20Invocation=20was,=20because=20I=20r=
eally=20
didn't=20know
=20the=20term.=20=20Even=20in=20this=20light,=20why=20is=20Christianity=20m=
ade=20such=20a=20
prevalent
=20part=20of=20convention?
=20What=20about=20those=20who=20practice=20Islam,=20Judism,=20or=20anything=
=20else?=20=20
I=20would
=20hate
=20for=20a=20majority=20faction=20within=20the=20NFB=20to=20shun=20double=20=
minority=20
members,
=20because=20after=20all,=20we're=20all=20minorities=20in=20the=20greater=20=
world,=20so=20
to
=20pretend
=20that=20those=20who=20are=20different=20from=20us=20are=20less=20valuable=
=20or=20don't=20
deserve
=20the
=20right=20to=20organize=20a=20group=20to=20suit=20their=20unique=20set=20o=
f=20needs=20or
=20circumstances
=20doesn't=20seem=20right.
=20Sorry=20for=20the=20rant.

=20On=204/1/14,=20melissa=20R=20Green=20<lissa1531 at gmail.com>=20wrote:
=20Arielle=20once=20again.=20=20You=20are=20so=20right!=20=20I=20also=20hop=
e=20that=20will=20
never
=20happen=20again.
=20Another=20way=20to=20look=20at=20this=20is,=20many=20devisions=20get=20s=
tarted=20and=20
then
=20they=20just=20fall=20by=20the=20waist=20side.=20=20Noone=20will=20keep=20=
it=20going.=20=20
IMO=20the
=20devisions=20are=20started=20by=20people=20that=20have=20to=20be=20in=20t=
he=20spotlight=20
and
=20be=20the=20darling=20of

=20the=20Federation=20and=20the=20devision=20suffers.=20=20The=20same=20hap=
pens=20with
=20chapters=20and

=20state=20devisions.=20=20Then=20everyone=20is=20shaking=20their=20head=20=
and=20
wondering
=20what=20happened=20and=20why=20this=20person=20didn't=20work=20out.=20=20=
I=20could=20give
=20examples=20of=20backing=20the=20wrong=20person.
=20Finally,=20I=20always=20felt=20badly=20for=20those=20children=20who=20we=
re=20born=20
and=20grew
=20up=20in

=20the=20federation.=20=20They=20have=20a=20lot=20of=20pressure=20on=20them=
=20to=20be=20the=20
darling
=20of=20the=20federation.=20=20Have=20a=20blessed=20day.
=20Best=20Wishes
=20Melissa=20R.=20Green=20and=20Pj

=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
=20From:=20"Arielle=20Silverman"=20<arielle71 at gmail.com
=20To:=20"National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list"
=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20Sent:=20Tuesday,=20April=2001,=202014=205:37=20PM
=20Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20How=20can=20NFB=20better=20include=20people
=20withmultipledisabilities?


=20I=20too=20was=20at=20the=20NFB=20convention=20when=20the=20LGBT=20group=
=20wasn't=20able=20
to
=20announce=20its=20meetings.=20I'm=20disappointed=20this=20happened,=20
especially=20the
=20symbolic=20exclusion=20it=20represented,=20and=20hope=20never=20to=20see=
=20
something
=20like=20that=20again=20as=20long=20as=20I=20am=20part=20of=20the=20Federa=
tion.=20I=20
completely
=20understand=20the=20leadership's=20desire=20not=20to=20have=20a=20divisio=
n=20for=20
every
=20special=20interest.=20However,=20we=20need=20clearer=20and=20more=20even=
handed
=20criteria=20about=20what=20should=20constitute=20a=20division.=20It=20doe=
sn't=20
make
=20sense=20to=20allow=20a=20division=20for=20car=20enthusiasts=20with=20its=
=20own=20
annual
=20activities=20and=20then=20not=20even=20allow=20an=20LGBT=20group=20to=20=
advertise=20
informal
=20meet-ups.=20We=20can't=20try=20to=20say=20we=20don't=20want=20LGBT=20bec=
ause=20it's=20
too
=20politically=20controversial=20and=20then=20have=20religious=20invocation=
s=20at=20
all
=20the=20general=20sessions.=20Has=20the=20general=20membership=20ever=20ev=
en=20been=20
polled
=20about=20whether=20to=20keep=20having=20these=20religious=20invocations?=
=20In=20
other
=20words,=20unless=20we=20want=20to=20be=20in=20an=20organization=20that=20=
reflects=20the
=20president's=20or=20the=20board's=20interests=20and=20political=20views=20=
alone,=20
we
=20really=20need=20to=20have=20some=20transparency=20about=20how=20division=
s=20are=20
formed
=20and=20what=20kinds=20of=20characteristics=20are=20meaningful=20enough=20=
to=20
justify
=20forming=20a=20division.=20Furthermore,=20as=20Darian=20pointed=20out,=20=
a=20
well-run
=20group=20can=20probably=20be=20just=20as=20effective=20without=20a=20lot=
=20of=20the=20
hassle
=20associated=20with=20keeping=20up=20a=20division.=20I=20know=20at=20least=
=20some=20of=20
the
=20folks=20in=20the=20LGBT=20group=20would=20have=20been=20totally=20happy=
=20with=20just=20
a
=20group,=20not=20a=20full=20division,=20but=20even=20that=20wasn't=20suppo=
rted.

=20Arielle

=20On=204/1/14,=20melissa=20R=20Green=20<lissa1531 at gmail.com>=20wrote:
=20what=20a=20good=20topic.=20=20I=20know=20that=20there=20is=20a=20blind=20=
rollers=20list.=20=20
But
=20the=20devision=20never=20came=20into=20being.=20=20I=20think=20that=20th=
e=20committee=20
of
=20the=20under=20served=20is=20supposed=20to=20address=20these=20issues.=20=
=20However=20
this
=20is=20not=20occurring.

=20I=20agree=20that=20nfb=20has=20a=20primary=20focus=20of=20blindness.=20=
=20Yet,=20we=20are=20
a
=20diverse=20population.=20=20So=20I=20believe=20that=20the=20nfb=20needs=20=
to=20become=20
more
=20diverse.=20=20I=20also

=20believe=20that=20the=20leadership=20are=20going=20by=20their=20assumptio=
ns=20that=20
if
=20they=20have

=20a=20devision=20dedicated=20to=20a=20certain=20grou=20that=20it=20will=20=
not=20do=20
anything
=20to=20assist=20blind=20people.=20=20For=20example,=20years=20ago,=20a=20g=
roup=20came
=20together=20and=20wanted=20to=20form=20a=20devision=20for=20blind=20gay=20=
bisexual=20
and
=20transgendered=20people.
=20I=20was=20at=20the=20convention=20when=20doctor=20Maurer=20was=20reading=
=20the
=20announcement=20and

=20then=20he=20ripped=20it=20up=20in=20the=20middle=20of=20reading=20it.=20=
=20Many=20people=20
left
=20the=20federation=20because=20they=20felt=20that=20they=20were=20not=20wa=
nted=20and=20
that
=20the=20leadership=20assumed=20that=20it=20would=20be=20a=20devision=20str=
ictly=20for
=20social=20purposes.

=20Many=20people=20are=20hopeful=20that=20the=20new=20president=20will=20br=
ing=20many=20
more
=20changes

=20and=20lots=20of=20diversity=20to=20the=20federation.=20=20I=20am=20going=
=20to=20wait=20and=20
see
=20what=20happens.
=20Have=20a=20blessed=20day.
=20Best=20Wishes
=20Melissa=20R.=20Green=20and=20Pj

=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
=20From:=20"Arielle=20Silverman"=20<arielle71 at gmail.com
=20To:=20"National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list"
=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20Sent:=20Monday,=20March=2031,=202014=203:53=20PM
=20Subject:=20[nabs-l]=20How=20can=20NFB=20better=20include=20people=20with=

=20multipledisabilities?


=20Hi=20all,

=20I'd=20like=20to=20start=20a=20separate=20thread=20to=20address=20an=20im=
portant=20
issue
=20that's=20come=20up=20recently.=20It's=20clear=20that=20more=20and=20more=
=20blind=20
folks
=20today=20also=20have=20other=20disabilities.=20For=20several=20reasons,=20=
the=20
number
=20of=20blind=20people=20with=20additional=20disabilities=20is=20likely=20t=
o=20
increase,
=20and=20more=20than=20that,=20the=20number=20of=20blind=20people=20with=20=
additional
=20disabilities=20who=20are=20getting=20educated=20and=20involved=20in=20ad=
vocacy=20
is
=20likely=20to=20increase.=20I=20do=20think=20that,=20for=20the=20most=20pa=
rt,=20the=20NFB
=20centers=20do=20a=20good=20job=20of=20tailoring=20training=20to=20the=20n=
eeds=20that=20
people
=20with=20other=20disabilities=20may=20have,=20but=20I=20also=20think=20tha=
t=20we=20as=20an
=20organization=20have=20far=20to=20go=20in=20order=20to=20truly=20apprecia=
te=20the
=20contributions=20of=20all=20blind=20people.=20I=20think=20it's=20particul=
arly=20
true
=20when=20we=20think=20about=20including=20people=20with=20intellectual=20
disabilities
=20and=20mental=20illnesses.=20These=20kinds=20of=20conditions=20are=20stig=
matized=20
in
=20general,=20but=20especially=20since=20our=20leadership=20has=20tended=20=
to=20be=20
highly
=20educated=20and=20to=20stress=20academic=20excellence=20and=20consistent=
=20effort=20
from
=20the=20leadership,=20I=20can=20see=20how=20folks=20who=20have=20intellect=
ual
=20disabilities,=20mental=20illnesses=20or=20chronic=20health=20conditions=
=20can=20
feel
=20left=20out.=20I've=20known=20some=20blind=20folks=20who=20had=20trouble=
=20holding=20
down
=20leadership=20positions=20in=20the=20NFB=20due=20to=20the=20ups=20and=20d=
owns=20of=20
mental
=20illnesses,=20for=20example,=20but=20who=20are=20still=20incredibly=20cre=
ative=20
and
=20passionate=20people=20with=20a=20lot=20of=20good=20ideas=20that=20are=20=
getting=20
lost.
=20Further,=20as=20several=20folks=20have=20pointed=20out,=20people=20with=
=20multiple
=20disabilities=20can=20experience=20difficulties=20related=20to=20getting
=20employment,=20education,=20etc.=20that=20the=20NFB=20hasn't=20really=20b=
een=20able=20
to
=20help=20them=20with.
=20I=20agree=20that=20NFB=20can't=20be=20expert=20about=20all=20disabilitie=
s,=20just
=20blindness,=20but=20I=20think=20there=20is=20a=20definite=20place=20for=20=
more=20
divisions
=20and=20groups=20within=20the=20NFB=20that=20focus=20on=20other=20conditio=
ns.=20There=20
is=20a
=20deaf-blind=20division,=20but=20I=20have=20not=20heard=20many=20great=20t=
hings=20
about=20its
=20effectiveness.=20I=20have=20heard=20about=20efforts=20to=20possibly=20st=
art=20a
=20blind-rollers=20division,=20and=20it=20makes=20sense=20to=20me=20that=20=
blind
=20wheelchair=20users=20might=20have=20unique=20concerns=20they'd=20want=20=
to=20
discuss
=20with=20each=20other.=20But=20to=20my=20knowledge=20such=20a=20division=20=
has=20not=20
been
=20formed.=20I=20would=20love=20to=20see=20a=20division=20for=20blind=20peo=
ple=20with=20
mental
=20health=20conditions.=20This=20is=20a=20huge=20segment=20of=20our=20popul=
ation,=20and
=20there=20are=20probably=20unique=20concerns=20there.=20I=20am=20not=20sur=
e=20if=20such
=20divisions=20don't=20exist=20because=20the=20national=20leadership=20oppo=
ses=20
them=20or
=20if=20there=20just=20hasn't=20been=20enough=20interest=20or=20momentum=20=
to=20get=20
them
=20going.=20But=20I=20think=20having=20such=20divisions=20could=20help=20fo=
lks=20who=20
have
=20additional=20disabilities=20obtain=20leadership=20positions=20within=20t=
he
=20organization,=20and=20also=20to=20provide=20a=20vehicle=20for=20collecti=
ve=20
action=20and
=20education=20about=20issues=20affecting=20these=20groups=20specifically,=
=20even=20
if
=20the=20NFB=20as=20a=20whole=20should=20just=20focus=20on=20blindness.=20I=
=20hope=20that=20
makes
=20sense.=20I=20would=20be=20interested=20in=20other=20suggestions=20from=20=
you=20about=20
how
=20members=20with=20multiple=20disabilities=20can=20feel=20more=20valued.=20=
While=20
there
=20is=20something=20to=20be=20said=20for=20going=20ahead=20and=20running=20=
for=20
leadership
=20positions=20in=20order=20to=20change=20things,=20change=20also=20needs=20=
to=20come=20
from
=20the=20organization=20as=20a=20whole=20if=20folks=20with=20multiple=20dis=
abilities=20
are
=20going=20to=20be=20elected=20and=20welcomed=20in=20these=20positions.

=20Best,
=20Arielle

=20On=203/31/14,=20Steve=20Jacobson=20<steve.jacobson at visi.com>=20wrote:
=20Joe=20and=20others,

=20It=20is=20not=20my=20position=20that=20anything=20said=20about=20the=20N=
FB=20that=20is
=20negative=20is=20wrong.=20=20Organizations=20are=20made=20up=20of=20human=
=20beings=20
and=20we
=20are=20not=20perfect=20so=20our=20creations=20are=20not=20likely=20going

=20to
=20be=20perfect.=20=20Still,=20some=20of=20what=20one=20person=20may=20seem=
=20as=20wrong=20=20
isn't
=20so=20much=20a=20matter=20of=20right=20or=20wrong=20as=20perspective=20an=
d=20opinion.=20=20
We
=20embarked=20a=20good=20while=20back=20now=20on=20an=20expansion=20that=20=
has=20resulted=20
in
=20the=20need=20to=20raise=20more=20funds=20than=20we=20used=20to=20have=20=
to=20raise.=20=20I=20
do
=20not=20think=20I=20am=20alone=20among=20NFB=20supporters=20in=20recognizi=
ng=20that=20
this
=20is=20a=20risk.=20=20When=20you=20look=20at=20our=20budget=20and=20that=20=
of=20the=20ACB=20and=20
then
=20compare=20legislative=20successes=20as=20you=20did,=20Joe,=20it=20is=20c=
ertainly=20
clear
=20that=20legislative=20successes=20are=20not=20proportional=20to=20one's=20=
budget.
=20Whether=20I=20completely=20agree=20with=20legislation=20ACB=20passes=20o=
r=20not,=20I
=20recognize=20that=20the=20ACB=20has=20made=20contributions.=20=20However,=
=20I=20have=20
felt
=20for=20some=20time=20and=20I=20feel=20particularly=20more=20so=20now=20th=
at=20our=20
problems
=20can't=20be=20solved=20by=20legislation=20alone.=20=20Let's=20take=20acce=
ssibility,=20
for
=20example.=20=20There=20is=20a=20lot=20of=20emphasis=20on=20getting=20more=
=20legislation
=20passed=20that=20will=20force=20software=20to=20be=20accessible,=20for=20=
example.=20=20
I
=20happen=20to=20believe=20this=20is=20necessary,=20but=20it=20isn't=20goin=
g=20to=20make
=20everything=20better=20for=20us,=20particularly=20on=20the=20job,=20all=20=
by=20
itself.
=20If=20we=20are=20going=20to=20make=20any=20serious=20gains,=20we=20need=20=
to=20understand=20
the
=20limits=20of=20current=20technology=20and=20explore=20ways=20of=20getting=
=20
information
=20that=20is=20new.=20=20I=20am=20not=20one=20who=20got=20all=20excited=20a=
bout=20being=20able=20
to
=20drive=20a=20car,=20although=20I=20certainly=20hope=20that=20blind=20peop=
le=20can=20do=20
that
=20at=20some=20point.=20=20However,=20I=20got=20very=20excited=20about=20th=
e=20fact=20that=20
as=20a
=20result=20of=20looking=20at=20the=20problem,=20we=20experimented=20with=20=
a=20number=20
of
=20ways=20of=20getting=20information=20that=20had=20not=20been=20explored=20=
before.=20=20
A
=20significant=20portion=20of=20our=20budget=20went=20into=20the=20KNFB=20r=
eader.=20=20At=20
the
=20time,=20it=20was=20something=20nobody=20was=20doing,=20and=20it=20was=20=
a=20moving
=20experience=20when=20I=20held=20up=20a=20KNFB=20reader=20to=20the=20lists=
=20of=20
registered
=20people=20at=20a=20national=20convention=20that=20were=20just=20hanging=20=
from=20a
=20crossbar=20and=20have=20it=20start=20to=20read=20the=20content.=20=20The=
re=20have=20
probably
=20been=20over=20a=20thousand=20kids=20who=20have=20attended=20science=20ca=
mps=20of=20one
=20kind=20or=20another=20through=20our=20efforts.=20=20We=20have=20been=20a=
ble=20to=20
sponsor
=20other=20gatherings=20as=20well=20for=20blind=20lawyers,=20teachers,=20an=
d=20major
=20players=20in=20the=20technology=20field.=20=20We=20couldn't=20have=20don=
e=20any=20of=20
this
=20in=20the=2080's=20or=2090's,=20and=20much=20of=20this=20would=20not=20ha=
ve=20been=20done=20
even
=20now=20if=20we=20hadn't=20tried=20it.

=20So=20what's=20my=20point,=20I'm=20not=20saying=20anything=20new,=20you=20=
know=20all=20
this.
=20My=20point=20is=20that=20a=20lot=20of=20this=20is=20about=20risks=20and=
=20perspectives.=20=20
We
=20won't=20know=20for=20a=20long=20time=20if=20some=20of=20these=20efforts=
=20will=20make=20a
=20difference.=20=20Frankly,=20I=20am=20a=20believer=20that=20one=20learns=
=20almost=20as=20
much
=20from=20what=20doesn't=20work=20as=20one=20learns=20from=20what=20does,=20=
because=20if=20
you
=20make=20a=20mistake=20you=20can=20eliminate=20or=20refine=20that=20approa=
ch.=20=20Will=20
some
=20of=20those=20thousand=20kids=20get=20into=20math=20or=20science=20becaus=
e=20of=20what=20
we
=20did?=20=20Is=20the=20OCR=20in=20the=20new=20HIMS=20product=20a=20little=
=20better=20because=20
of
=20what=20we=20did=20with=20the=20KNFB=20reader?=20=20Will=20we=20see=20a=20=
really=20good=20
reader
=20on=20the=20iPhone?=20=20Might=20we=20ever=20see=20a=20reader=20that=20co=
uld=20use=20
artificial
=20intelligence=20to=20interpret=20software=20on=20a=20computer=20screen=20=
instead=20
of
=20having

=20to
=20educate=20every=20person=20who=20writes
=20software?=20=20Will=20some=20of=20our=20efforts=20mean=20that=20there=20=
might=20be=20a=20
way
=20for=20us

=20to
=20control=20the=20Google=20self-driving=20cars=20because=20of=20some=20of=
=20the=20work=20
we
=20did=20on=20our=20own=20car?=20=20I=20hope=20that=20at=20least=20some=20o=
f=20the=20answers=20
are
=20yes,=20but=20at=20this=20point=20I=20can't=20really=20say.=20=20What=20I=
=20do=20know=20is=20
that
=20the=20smaller=20dynamic=20grass=20roots=20organization=20that=20we=20wer=
e=20in=20the
=2080's=20couldn't=20have=20had=20any=20affect=20on=20some=20of=20what=20I'=
ve=20listed=20
above,
=20nor=20was=20it=20the=20right=20time=20for=20that.=20=20But=20it=20also=20=
means=20that=20we
=20change.=20=20Not=20only=20do=20we=20change,=20but=20we=20make=20mistakes=
=20as=20we=20
adjust=20to
=20change.=20=20Joe,=20what=20you=20see=20as=20a=20downward=20spiral,=20I=20=
see=20as=20the
=20challenges=20of=20change.=20=20I'm=20not=20satisfied=20to=20say=20that=20=
it=20has=20to=20
be
=20that=20way,=20though.=20=20We=20can=20and=20must=20learn=20how=20to=20do=
=20better,=20as
=20individuals=20and=20as=20an=20organization.

=20Joe,=20I=20think=20you=20are=20right=20that=20getting=20training=20at=20=
one=20of=20our
=20centers=20won't=20miraculously=20make=20life=20better,=20and=20the=20mar=
keting=20
does
=20sometimes=20imply=20that.=20=20However,=20you=20are=20wrong=20to=20draw=
=20
conclusions
=20about=20such=20training=20based=20upon=20the=20marketing.=20=20Discussin=
g=20and
=20exploring=20the=20uncertainties=20and=20challenges=20of=20seeking=20empl=
oyment=20
as
=20a=20blind=20person=20is=20a=20big=20part=20of=20what=20is=20addressed=20=
at=20BLIND
=20Incorporated=20here=20in=20Minnesota=20and=20I=20assume=20by=20our=20oth=
er=20
centers.
=20Some=20of=20the=20point=20of=20such=20training=20is=20to=20encourage=20t=
he=20idea=20that=20
you
=20have=20to=20have=20a=20set=20of=20tools=20to=20approach=20a=20given=20si=
tuation=20and=20
not
=20just=20one=20tool.=20=20Still,=20we=20have=20to=20do=20more=20than=20run=
=20people=20
through
=20training.
=20This=20is=20true=20of=20any=20single=20aspectof=20our=20challenges,=20th=
ough.
=20Legislating=20that=20software=20must=20be=20accessible=20and=20that=20on=
e=20cannot
=20discriminate=20based=20upon=20a=20disability=20was=20and=20is=20still=20=
needed,=20
but=20it
=20won't=20matter=20much=20if=20we=20don't=20have=20training.=20=20Legislat=
ion=20and=20
even
=20training=20won't=20matter=20all=20that=20much=20if=20we=20don't=20get=20=
a=20good=20basic
=20education.
=20Requiring=20that=20school=20districts=20teach=20braille=20won't=20fix=20=
that=20
problem
=20if=20there=20are=20no=20braille=20instructors=20in=20a=20given=20area.=20=
=20You=20can't=20
pick
=20any=20one=20thing=20out=20and=20say=20that=20it=20can=20lead=20to=20succ=
ess=20by=20itself,=20
and
=20you=20can't=20see=20any=20given=20issue=20as=20completely=20standing=20o=
n=20its=20own.

=20I=20feel=20that=20we=20are=20in=20a=20better=20position=20as=20an=20orga=
nization=20to=20
impact
=20the=20complex=20challenges=20we=20face=20with=20a=20larger=20budget=20th=
an=20we=20
were.
=20However,=20it=20is=20more=20important=20than=20ever=20that=20we=20unders=
tand=20where=20
we
=20are=20going=20and=20how=20our=20philosophy=20fits=20in.=20=20The=20quest=
ion=20of=20what=20
can
=20we=20change=20to=20address=20the=20challenges=20of=20the=20world=20and=20=
what=20do=20we=20
need
=20the=20world=20to=20change=20is=20more=20important=20than=20ever,=20and=20=
I=20don't=20see
=20anyone=20asking=20questions=20like=20that=20outside=20of=20this=20organi=
zation.
=20With=20our=20strengths=20and=20our=20failings,=20I=20think=20our=20under=
standing=20
of
=20asking=20for=20help=20and=20looking=20for=20our=20own=20solutions=20is=20=
what=20has=20
set=20us
=20apart=20in=20my=20mind,=20and=20while=20it=20is=20risky,=20I=20think=20t=
hat=20branching=20
out
=20is=20a=20risk=20worth=20taking=20to=20try=20to=20have=20a=20wider=20impa=
ct.=20=20We=20need=20
the
=20help=20of=20all=20members,=20though,=20to=20handle=20change.

=20Best=20regards,

=20Steve=20Jacobson



=20On=20Sun,=2030=20Mar=202014=2012:57:22=20-0600,=20Jamie=20Principato=20w=
rote:

=20Arielle,
=20That=20was=20a=20very=20thoughtful=20and=20politically=20sensitive=20res=
ponse.

=20Joe,
=20I=20am=20pleased=20to=20see=20I=20am=20not=20alone=20in=20making=20these=
=20observations
=20furring=20=20my=20=20own=20relationship=20with=20the=20NFB.=20while=20I
=20deeply=20respect=20the=20organization's=20history=20and=20truly=20apprec=
iate=20
the
=20raw=20potential=20the=20organization=20has=20moving=20forward,=20the=20p=
assion=20I
=20joined=20with=20back=20in=20high=20school=20has=20turned=20to=20cautious=
=20cynicism.=20
I
=20don't=20think=20this=20perspective=20is=20bad,=20though.=20I=20think=20t=
he=20NFB
=20desperately=20needs=20members=20who=20can=20see=20past=20the=20smoke=20a=
nd=20mirrors=20
of
=20PR,=20and=20who=20are=20willing=20to=20discuss=20issues=20of=20blindness=
=20and=20
politics
=20in=20a=20no-nonsense=20way=20that=20isn't=20always=20easy=20to=20hear.=20=
It=20is=20a=20
shame
=20though=20when=20those=20of=20us=20less=20willing=20to=20toe=20the=20line=
=20and=20pander=20
to
=20those=20with=20political=20power=20are=20treated=20with=20hostility=20by=
=20some=20at=20
the
=20national=20level,=20and=20more=20still=20within=20our=20local=20chapters=