[nabs-l] How can NFB better include people with multiple disabilities?

[Jewel]

You could also communicate with a deaf person by putting your hands over theirs. It takes practice, but this is how I and a deafblind lady communicated while at the rehabilitation center. 
I agree that the philosophy is boxed in. We could add something about it applying despite any other disabilities. 
Jewel 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 1, 2014, at 8:38 AM, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Good morning, Kaiti,
> 
>        Growing up, one of my schoolmates, Corrina, had Usher's syndrom so was effectively deafblind. I remember it being difficult to communicate but still I am intrigued by deafblind communication. I'm sure you know tof an incredibly vibrant deafblind community.
> So, they have ways to communicate.
> More later...
> fir today, Car
> At 01:12 AM 4/1/2014, Kaiti Shelton wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> This is a great topic to converse about, and one I feel strongly about
>> as someone who is going into a rehabilitation field.
>> 
>> I have noticed for a long time that the NFB philosophy seems to be
>> boxed in.  That is, when we talk about it in our conventions, it is
>> always framed as "The philosophy of blindness," when really, it is
>> something anyone with any disability can follow.  I've said that I'm
>> going to strive to teach it to my music therapy patients, whether they
>> are fighting cancer, adjusting to an acquired disability, or are
>> otherwise chronically ill.  Misunderstanding and misconceptions aren't
>> just the problem with blindness, they're the problems with anything
>> that is outside of the "norm," and I think we're doing wrong if we box
>> it in to just talking about blindness.  It does a great disservice to
>> those with other disabilities who could benefit from it, as well as
>> those who are blind with a comorbid disability.
>> 
>> I am set to give a talk about visual impairment to an intro to music
>> therapy class next week, as they are finishing a chapter in the
>> textbook about sensory disorders and disabilities.  Having read that
>> book for that class last year, I know there are some things the book
>> got right, and some things that I disagree with.  It will be
>> challenging for me to correct the misconceptions the first year
>> students have been taught, but that is the same challenge deaf people
>> face, and people with Autism Spectrum Disorders face, and people with
>> mental illness face.  I think that, although as the National
>> Federation of the Blind we don't necessarily have a right to try to
>> gain as much expertese on these other things as blindness per keeping
>> relevant, but we can realize that our philosophy and ideals can be
>> bigger than blindness, and can be even further reaching.
>> 
>> I had a talk with a deaf guy last semester.  He came to speak to music
>> therapy club about deafness, and taught us some sign language.  Since
>> I couldn't see what he was signing, I was unable to grasp a lot of
>> what he taught.  Classmates next to me tried to help position my
>> hands, but they were busy trying to do the signs themselves.  I'll
>> admit that the communication barrier between the speaker and I made me
>> a little frustrated, so after the meeting I went up to him and
>> explained my situation.  I said that I had an interest in learning
>> sign language so I could communicate with deaf people, but didn't know
>> how to logistically pull it off.  He taught me how to sign, "Sorry, I
>> can't see you," so that I could first tell the deaf person I was blind
>> (I didn't have my cane folded out when I was sitting at a desk for the
>> presentation, so since he didn't see it he didn't know).  Then he
>> thought a bit about how the deaf person would be able to communicate
>> with me, since if they were unable to speak themselves pen and paper
>> wouldn't work.  The best he could tell me was that the finger spelling
>> would do the job, but at least I would be able to do the signing,
>> which is more efficient.  He said that would show the deaf person I
>> had taken the time to learn how to communicate with them, even if they
>> couldn't easily communicate with me, and at least I wouldn't have the
>> frustration of tediously fingerspelling myself.  It was cool, because
>> afterwards he took a real interest in my notetaker and the braille
>> display.  It would be so cool if there weren't those separations
>> between people with disabilities, and we could all work for a common
>> goal.
>> 
>> I know at conventions some deafblind people feel kind of left out,
>> because all these blind people are whizzing past them and they can
>> easily get disoriented in the crowds.  I think helping the deafblind
>> is a great start, but we do need to consider other disabilities, and
>> combinations of disabilities with blindness as well.  I don't know if
>> I have an answer to how this can happen yet, but I think a big chunk
>> of it is practicing what we preach.  If we want sighted people to know
>> the truth about blind people, and treat us as equals, we need to do
>> the same for the deaf, those with Autism Spectrum Disorders and
>> Developmental Disorders, and those with mental illness.
>> 
>> Just my two cents worth... curious to see what others think.
>> 
>> On 3/31/14, Joe <jsoro620 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Don't worry. My week is chaotic, so short post. One thing the guide dog
>> > division has done that I find neat is that they've become a tangible
>> > resource to fellow guide dog users. The way I understand it, you can call a
>> > hotline and get concrete assistance with advocacy, training referrals, etc.
>> > Perhaps mental health could be addressed in a similar fashion. Peer
>> > assistance could go a long way, because after all, who is going to be in a
>> > better position to help than someone who's been there?
>> >
>> > --
>> > Twitter: @ScribblingJoe
>> >
>> > Visit my blog:
>> > http://joeorozco.com/blog
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Beth Taurasi
>> > Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 7:32 PM
>> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include people with multiple
>> > disabilities?
>> >
>> > On one hand, being dual disabled, blind and mentally ill, can mean that
>> > your
>> > family can shelter you a lot and tell you you can't run for a leadership
>> > position.  That's not right, and I think we need to do some educational
>> > campaigns that say that yes, we can lead.  Alll this talk of academic
>> > excellence could lead to people being left out: people with Turner's
>> > Syndrome, Down's Syndrome, etc.  Both have limits and one has an
>> > educational
>> > impairment along with it.  We need to educate the people about mental
>> > illness in that it does not cause people to go "psychotic"
>> > twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  No, it does not mean we are
>> > all
>> > experiencing delusional thoughts of grandeur.  My parents thought I was
>> > delusional and placed me under a guardianship due to that and their lack of
>> > knowledge and understanding of the disorders I was diagnosed with at 17 and
>> > later at 19.  There would've been better ideas on solving the problems, but
>> > with little knowledge, parents make decisions that aren't always the best,
>> > such as guardianship or incapacitation or placement in a group home that
>> > won't allow the person to talk with his/her friends.
>> > Beth
>> >
>> > On 3/31/2014 3:53 PM, Arielle Silverman wrote:
>> >> Hi all,
>> >>
>> >> I'd like to start a separate thread to address an important issue
>> >> that's come up recently. It's clear that more and more blind folks
>> >> today also have other disabilities. For several reasons, the number of
>> >> blind people with additional disabilities is likely to increase, and
>> >> more than that, the number of blind people with additional
>> >> disabilities who are getting educated and involved in advocacy is
>> >> likely to increase. I do think that, for the most part, the NFB
>> >> centers do a good job of tailoring training to the needs that people
>> >> with other disabilities may have, but I also think that we as an
>> >> organization have far to go in order to truly appreciate the
>> >> contributions of all blind people. I think it's particularly true when
>> >> we think about including people with intellectual disabilities and
>> >> mental illnesses. These kinds of conditions are stigmatized in
>> >> general, but especially since our leadership has tended to be highly
>> >> educated and to stress academic excellence and consistent effort from
>> >> the leadership, I can see how folks who have intellectual
>> >> disabilities, mental illnesses or chronic health conditions can feel
>> >> left out. I've known some blind folks who had trouble holding down
>> >> leadership positions in the NFB due to the ups and downs of mental
>> >> illnesses, for example, but who are still incredibly creative and
>> >> passionate people with a lot of good ideas that are getting lost.
>> >> Further, as several folks have pointed out, people with multiple
>> >> disabilities can experience difficulties related to getting
>> >> employment, education, etc. that the NFB hasn't really been able to
>> >> help them with.
>> >> I agree that NFB can't be expert about all disabilities, just
>> >> blindness, but I think there is a definite place for more divisions
>> >> and groups within the NFB that focus on other conditions. There is a
>> >> deaf-blind division, but I have not heard many great things about its
>> >> effectiveness. I have heard about efforts to possibly start a
>> >> blind-rollers division, and it makes sense to me that blind wheelchair
>> >> users might have unique concerns they'd want to discuss with each
>> >> other. But to my knowledge such a division has not been formed. I
>> >> would love to see a division for blind people with mental health
>> >> conditions. This is a huge segment of our population, and there are
>> >> probably unique concerns there. I am not sure if such divisions don't
>> >> exist because the national leadership opposes them or if there just
>> >> hasn't been enough interest or momentum to get them going. But I think
>> >> having such divisions could help folks who have additional
>> >> disabilities obtain leadership positions within the organization, and
>> >> also to provide a vehicle for collective action and education about
>> >> issues affecting these groups specifically, even if the NFB as a whole
>> >> should just focus on blindness. I hope that makes sense. I would be
>> >> interested in other suggestions from you about how members with
>> >> multiple disabilities can feel more valued. While there is something
>> >> to be said for going ahead and running for leadership positions in
>> >> order to change things, change also needs to come from the
>> >> organization as a whole if folks with multiple disabilities are going
>> >> to be elected and welcomed in these positions.
>> >>
>> >> Best,
>> >> Arielle
>> >>
>> >> On 3/31/14, Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com> wrote:
>> >>> Joe and others,
>> >>>
>> >>> It is not my position that anything said about the NFB that is
>> >>> negative is wrong.  Organizations are made up of human beings and we
>> >>> are not perfect so our creations are not likely going to be perfect.
>> >>> Still, some of what one person may seem as wrong  isn't so much a
>> >>> matter of right or wrong as perspective and opinion.  We embarked a
>> >>> good while back now on an expansion that has resulted in the need to
>> >>> raise more funds than we used to have to raise.  I do not think I am
>> >>> alone among NFB supporters in recognizing that this is a risk.  When
>> >>> you look at our budget and that of the ACB and then compare
>> >>> legislative successes as you did, Joe, it is certainly clear that
>> >>> legislative successes are not proportional to one's budget.  Whether
>> >>> I completely agree with legislation ACB passes or not, I recognize
>> >>> that the ACB has made contributions.  However, I have felt for some
>> >>> time and I feel particularly more so now that our problems can't be
>> >>> solved by legislation alone.  Let's take accessibility, for example.
>> >>> There is a lot of emphasis on getting more legislation passed that
>> >>> will force software to be accessible, for example.  I happen to
>> >>> believe this is necessary, but it isn't going to make everything
>> >>> better for us, particularly on the job, all by itself.
>> >>> If we are going to make any serious gains, we need to understand the
>> >>> limits of current technology and explore ways of getting information
>> >>> that is new.  I am not one who got all excited about being able to
>> >>> drive a car, although I certainly hope that blind people can do that
>> >>> at some point.  However, I got very excited about the fact that as a
>> >>> result of looking at the problem, we experimented with a number of
>> >>> ways of getting information that had not been explored before.  A
>> >>> significant portion of our budget went into the KNFB reader.  At the
>> >>> time, it was something nobody was doing, and it was a moving
>> >>> experience when I held up a KNFB reader to the lists of registered
>> >>> people at a national convention that were just hanging from a
>> >>> crossbar and have it start to read the content.  There have probably
>> >>> been over a thousand kids who have attended science camps of one kind
>> >>> or another through our efforts.  We have been able to sponsor other
>> >>> gatherings as well for blind lawyers, teachers, and major players in
>> >>> the technology field.  We couldn't have done any of this in the 80's
>> >>> or 90's, and much of this would not have been done even now if we
>> >>> hadn't tried it.
>> >>>
>> >>> So what's my point, I'm not saying anything new, you know all this.
>> >>> My point is that a lot of this is about risks and perspectives.  We
>> >>> won't know for a long time if some of these efforts will make a
>> >>> difference.  Frankly, I am a believer that one learns almost as much
>> >>> from what doesn't work as one learns from what does, because if you
>> >>> make a mistake you can eliminate or refine that approach.  Will some
>> >>> of those thousand kids get into math or science because of what we
>> >>> did?  Is the OCR in the new HIMS product a little better because of
>> >>> what we did with the KNFB reader?  Will we see a really good reader
>> >>> on the iPhone?  Might we ever see a reader that could use artificial
>> >>> intelligence to interpret software on a computer screen instead of
>> >>> having to educate every person who writes software?  Will some of our
>> >>> efforts mean that there might be a way for us to control the Google
>> >>> self-driving cars because of some of the work we did on our own car?
>> >>> I hope that at least some of the answers are yes, but at this point I
>> >>> can't really say.  What I do know is that the smaller dynamic grass
>> >>> roots organization that we were in the 80's couldn't have had any
>> >>> affect on some of what I've listed above, nor was it the right time
>> >>> for that.  But it also means that we change.  Not only do we change,
>> >>> but we make mistakes as we adjust to change.  Joe, what you see as a
>> >>> downward spiral, I see as the challenges of change.  I'm not
>> >>> satisfied to say that it has to be that way, though.  We can and must
>> >>> learn how to do better, as individuals and as an organization.
>> >>>
>> >>> Joe, I think you are right that getting training at one of our
>> >>> centers won't miraculously make life better, and the marketing does
>> >>> sometimes imply that.  However, you are wrong to draw conclusions
>> >>> about such training based upon the marketing.  Discussing and
>> >>> exploring the uncertainties and challenges of seeking employment as a
>> >>> blind person is a big part of what is addressed at BLIND Incorporated
>> >>> here in Minnesota and I assume by our other centers.  Some of the
>> >>> point of such training is to encourage the idea that you have to have
>> >>> a set of tools to approach a given situation and not just one tool.
>> >>> Still, we have to do more than run people through training.
>> >>> This is true of any single aspectof our challenges, though.
>> >>> Legislating that software must be accessible and that one cannot
>> >>> discriminate based upon a disability was and is still needed, but it
>> >>> won't matter much if we don't have training.  Legislation and even
>> >>> training won't matter all that much if we don't get a good basic
>> >>> education.
>> >>> Requiring that school districts teach braille won't fix that problem
>> >>> if there are no braille instructors in a given area.  You can't pick
>> >>> any one thing out and say that it can lead to success by itself, and
>> >>> you can't see any given issue as completely standing on its own.
>> >>>
>> >>> I feel that we are in a better position as an organization to impact
>> >>> the complex challenges we face with a larger budget than we were.
>> >>> However, it is more important than ever that we understand where we
>> >>> are going and how our philosophy fits in.  The question of what can
>> >>> we change to address the challenges of the world and what do we need
>> >>> the world to change is more important than ever, and I don't see
>> >>> anyone asking questions like that outside of this organization.  With
>> >>> our strengths and our failings, I think our understanding of asking
>> >>> for help and looking for our own solutions is what has set us apart
>> >>> in my mind, and while it is risky, I think that branching out is a
>> >>> risk worth taking to try to have a wider impact.  We need the help of
>> >>> all members, though, to handle change.
>> >>>
>> >>> Best regards,
>> >>>
>> >>> Steve Jacobson
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> On Sun, 30 Mar 2014 12:57:22 -0600, Jamie Principato wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>> Arielle,
>> >>>> That was a very thoughtful and politically sensitive response.
>> >>>> Joe,
>> >>>> I am pleased to see I am not alone in making these observations
>> >>>> furring my own relationship with the NFB. while I
>> >>> deeply respect the organization's history and truly appreciate the
>> >>> raw potential the organization has moving forward, the passion I
>> >>> joined with back in high school has turned to cautious cynicism. I
>> >>> don't think this perspective is bad, though. I think the NFB
>> >>> desperately needs members who can see past the smoke and mirrors of
>> >>> PR, and who are willing to discuss issues of blindness and politics
>> >>> in a no-nonsense way that isn't always easy to hear. It is a shame
>> >>> though when those of us less willing to toe the line and pander to
>> >>> those with political power are treated with hostility by some at the
>> >>> national level, and more still within our local chapters.
>> >>>
>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone
>> >>>>> On Mar 30, 2014, at 12:00 PM, Arielle Silverman
>> >>>>> <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>> >>>>> wrote:
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Hi Joe,
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Thanks for sharing your experiences. I have not been following the
>> >>>>> Braille Monitor that closely but I can understand what you are
>> >>>>> saying about the increased emphasis on fund-raising. I have also
>> >>>>> felt like the national convention is turning into more of a
>> >>>>> carnival with all the exhibitors and prizes being given away, and
>> >>>>> much of banquet that used to focus on philosophy and NFB spirit is
>> >>>>> now taken up with prize drawings and the like.
>> >>>>> To be fair, NFB was stronger financially when we joined than it is
>> >>>>> now, and I understand that some national programs have been cut due
>> >>>>> to a decrease in revenue from what used to be steady reliable
>> >>>>> income sources. So NFB may be pushing fund-raising more, but the
>> >>>>> alternative could be a loss of programs and resources.
>> >>>>> I have not heard of anyone being blatantly turned away or refused
>> >>>>> membership in an NFB chapter. If that ever happens it is truly
>> >>>>> shameful. I do think that sometimes prospective members choose not
>> >>>>> to join because they perceive hostility from the organization or
>> >>>>> judgment of their lifestyle choices. I think part of that is
>> >>>>> perception only, and part of it is reality. The NFB is stereotyped
>> >>>>> as a radical one-size-fits-all organization, and new members
>> >>>>> expecting to find that could be especially sensitive to cues of
>> >>>>> hostility. However, there probably is some real lack of acceptance
>> >>>>> among certain segments of the organization, which, again, is
>> >>>>> unfortunate. I will say that I am not the most graceful blind
>> >>>>> person and was relatively unskilled when I first joined, and I
>> >>>>> still felt completely accepted. But I know not all of us are so
>> >>>>> lucky. I would encourage prospective members who have a negative
>> >>>>> experience to try again in a different chapter or division and
>> >>>>> perhaps they will find acceptance there. But at the same time, this is
>> > something we need to be sensitive to in the organization.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Arielle
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>> On 3/30/14, Michael Capelle <michael.capelle at frontier.com> wrote:
>> >>>>>> Hello all.
>> >>>>>> This is why I am not apart of any "blind movement."  I live my own
>> >>>>>> life, live my own philosophy, ETC.  I do not believe in a one size
>> >>>>>> fits all mentality, which is unfurtunately what the NFB does.
>> >>>>>> Thanks.
>> >>>>>> Mike
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>> >>>>>> From: RJ Sandefur
>> >>>>>> Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2014 11:51 AM
>> >>>>>> To: jsoro620 at gmail.com ; National Association of Blind Students
>> >>>>>> mailing list
>> >>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Success and Why I Left the NFB
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Joe, I agree with you. I had to attend both college, and Seminary
>> >>>>>> without the NFB's help, although it would have been nice to have a
>> >>>>>> mentoor. RJ
>> >>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>> >>>>>> From: "Joe" <jsoro620 at gmail.com>
>> >>>>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>> >>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>>>> Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2014 12:25 PM
>> >>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Success and Why I Left the NFB
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> 2006 was the last year I attended a national convention. While
>> >>>>>>> there I was caught up in the ra ra of the movement and felt glad
>> >>>>>>> to be in the company
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> of
>> >>>>>>> so many people who could relate to the challenges that awaited me
>> >>>>>>> as a recent college graduate. I left convention, finished up my
>> >>>>>>> summer as a counselor in Iowa, and set off for DC to begin my
>> >>>>>>> business with the real world. I would never take away someone's
>> >>>>>>> enthusiasm from attending a national convention or Washington
>> >>>>>>> Seminar or one of the weekend leadership seminars in Baltimore.
>> >>>>>>> They are very well-suited to boost a person's spirit, but I
>> >>>>>>> believe too many people fall through the cracks when faced with
>> >>>>>>> reality outside of those infrequent gatherings.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> To be fair, the organization is no different from any other
>> >>>>>>> nonprofit business. It needs money to sustain itself, and in turn
>> >>>>>>> it needs more members to help raise the money. Still, I found it
>> >>>>>>> rather disappointing that so much of the board meeting I tuned
>> >>>>>>> into listen to last summer was dominated by calls to raise money
>> >>>>>>> for this fund or that effort. I found it even sadder that a
>> >>>>>>> recent issue of the Braille Monitor, our monthly dose of
>> >>>>>>> inspiration, featured several articles just to the focus of
>> >>>>>>> generating more ways to drum up more financial support, but
>> >>>>>>> perhaps the most frustrating byproduct of this new NFB are the
>> >>>>>>> e-mails from so-called friends from whom
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> I
>> >>>>>>> have not heard in years but boldly ask me to contribute to their
>> >>>>>>> NFB fundraising campaigns.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> In short, at some point the NFB embraced enterprise and forgot
>> >>>>>>> about the movement. Between 2006 and 2012 I went on to help lead
>> >>>>>>> development efforts for other nonprofits outside of the blindness
>> >>>>>>> field, also national in scope.
>> >>>>>>> They too made fundraising a priority, but it never felt like the
>> >>>>>>> top, or the only, priority. It gets tiresome when we focus on
>> >>>>>>> recruiting new blood and raising new money and forget about
>> >>>>>>> strengthening the members and resources we've already had.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> Nowadays I have the privilege of knowing some excellent blind
>> >>>>>>> professionals.
>> >>>>>>> I think they would do well in the NFB. They are smarter than I
>> >>>>>>> ever will be and have accomplished more than I may ever achieve,
>> >>>>>>> but they shun the organization because they were turned away or
>> >>>>>>> because they were never welcomed in the first place. It's
>> >>>>>>> something I should have kept in mind when I had my brief taste of
>> >>>>>>> leadership in the organization. I had too much of
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> a
>> >>>>>>> mouth on me to ever be anyone's golden child, but I was reliable
>> >>>>>>> enough to get the job done. But, getting the job done should have
>> >>>>>>> really meant attracting and pulling in these men and women who
>> >>>>>>> could have made the NFB lots better, listening to new ideas, and
>> >>>>>>> most important, remaining true to the cause and not some
>> >>>>>>> multi-million-dollar institute we find ourselves incapable of
>> >>>>>>> sustaining.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> So, what does any of this have to do with the original post? I
>> >>>>>>> don't want
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> it
>> >>>>>>> to ever be said I was a hypocrite. The leadership may as well
>> >>>>>>> know what I think of them, but more importantly, to the college
>> >>>>>>> kids on the verge of spreading their own wings, I want you to
>> >>>>>>> know the NFB banner will only guide your way so far. Take what's
>> >>>>>>> great about the organization and leave the political drama and
>> >>>>>>> marketing ploys behind. In the end it will be your own wits and
>> >>>>>>> talents that will earn your pay check. The NFB will never give
>> >>>>>>> you anything new. The philosophy merely helps you uncover what
>> >>>>>>> you always had
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> to
>> >>>>>>> be successful. Anything could happen with the new NFB president,
>> >>>>>>> and I will be the first to retract my words if he is brave enough
>> >>>>>>> to reverse this downward spiral. You see, we no longer live in a
>> >>>>>>> world where the NFB is necessary for collective momentum.
>> >>>>>>> Technology has seen to that.
>> >>>>>>> Whether
>> >>>>>>> or
>> >>>>>>> not the movement sticks around largely depends on how badly we
>> >>>>>>> want it to exist.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> Is the ACB doing it any better? That's debatable, but you know
>> >>>>>>> what I've found from the people I've met on that side of the
>> >>>>>>> house? They seem happier, and that's something we can't seem to
>> >>>>>>> figure out in our camp. The few victories they celebrate they do
>> >>>>>>> with even less money. Let that be a lesson in financial
>> >>>>>>> management to you.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> I don't know what the hell I'm doing back here. I told myself I
>> >>>>>>> would never become one of those bitter former NFB members. My
>> >>>>>>> only goal was to provide different perspectives to the new
>> >>>>>>> generation of leaders coming up through the ranks. After all, if
>> >>>>>>> you never taste the real world, you have no business leading.
>> >>>>>>> That's like the teacher who teaches because they couldn't cut it,
>> >>>>>>> and believe it or not, I want to see more and more of you excel
>> >>>>>>> at whatever it is you want to do. The more of you there are, the
>> >>>>>>> greater our strength.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> Moving forward I reckon I'll keep my opinions to myself here lest
>> >>>>>>> I be the rotten apple that spoils the bunch, but in some lame
>> >>>>>>> attempt to answer the original question, my answer would be this:
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> The characteristics of a successful blind person are humility to
>> >>>>>>> consume what they need to be successful, fortitude to turn away
>> >>>>>>> what will not, and wisdom to recognize the difference.
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> Joe
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> --
>> >>>>>>> Twitter: @ScribblingJoe
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> Visit my blog:
>> >>>>>>> http://joeorozco.com/blog
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>>>>
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