[nabs-l] How can NFB better include peoplewithmultipledisabilities mental illness

Darian Smith dsmithnfb at gmail.com
Fri Apr 4 07:21:25 UTC 2014


Hi Sam and all,
  In my view the NFB has always believed in educating ourselves and the public as to what blindness really is and what it isn’t, supporting ourselves in the journey to have the lives we truly want and can have for  ourselves  with  the afore mentioned  understanding in mind, and taking action when needed to secure the basic opportunities we need to have the lives  we want.
  One thing I like about what we do and  who we are is that we see an issue and we do something about it.  A small group of blind people from across the country came together in 1940 to address issues that were seen to effect the blind nation-wide; the NFB was born.
 
 Blind  Venders  faced issues in their communities  and from this we saw a blind venders division  form, Students needed  peer mentoring to get through school effectively and the Student division was born, guide dog users facing access issues  and  needing a support network formed a guide dog division.
 I think that we need to see that a division or group that deals with issues surrounding mental illness as much as we need to see one concerning blindness and multiple disabilities.  I think though that much like Kaiti and possibly others have brought up, those who are in leadership of those divisions need to be those who’s experiences inspire the divisions need for existence. This would then mean that much like it has been before, those who truly see the need for it should feel that need in such a way that empowers them  to put  together that group or division, and to see that the group/ division addresses the issues that  the group desires and stays consistent with the overall mission/vision of the NFB. 
 I do hope such a thing happens so the issues voiced here don’t simply stay issues that are discussed here.
  
  Darian                          

on  Apr 2, 2014, at 2:24 PM, Sam Nelson <nelsonsam68 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Ariel, 
> I agree. I love the  hotline idea! It would be true peer support. Which is
> such a big thing in mental illness recovery these days. 
> Sam 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
> Silverman
> Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 4:07 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include
> peoplewithmultipledisabilities mental illness
> 
> I think the hotline idea is a great one. The human services division could
> work on that, but it would be great to have a group or division that is led
> by blind people with mental illness.
> Arielle
> 
> On 4/2/14, Sam Nelson <nelsonsam68 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi  everyone,
>> I'm not very much into the NFB in a lot of ways but one hundred 
>> percent agree that there needs to be more connection between support/ 
>> services for the blind and for those that have other disabilities along
> with blindness.
>> Personally I've seen this disconnect with  blindness and mental 
>> illness. I agree with everything  Desiree said about therapists and 
>> them not understanding how blindness impacts mental illnessor how 
>> mental illness might affect blindness. I've also seen a lot of 
>> misunderstanding with blindness profesionals not understanding how 
>> mental illness might interfere with living on one's own getting a 
>> standard full time job ETC and so their scope of services don't allow 
>> for anything outside what they perceive to be normal.
>> I do want to give a shout out that I run an e-mail list called 
>> blind-mentalhealth on yahoo. I've been running it since May and it is 
>> a very close knit community  and we all support each other day to day 
>> with these struggles, providing encouragement and resources if 
>> possible and most of all just our friendship.
>> Lastly I've heard of a center in NY that has the only psychiatric 
>> clinic and daytreatment program  for the blind. Does  anyone know 
>> anthing about this program? I've tried looking online everywhere for a 
>> contact person as I'd be  very curious to know more about the program 
>> and how they do things.
>> 
>> Sam
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Beth 
>> Taurasi
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2014 11:22 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include 
>> peoplewithmultipledisabilities?
>> 
>> Good ranting, Kaiti.  As someone who could fall under the thing 
>> Desiree described, someone whose parents get guardianship because 
>> they're sighted and "healthy", I had contemplated suicide because of that
> guardianship.
>> Because of that, my parents tried to take me off MySpace, but they 
>> will not take me off Facebook.  I am currently working to get a case 
>> against them because the guardianship is way too broad, and it affects 
>> lots of my man to woman relationships.  Currently, my relationship 
>> with my friend Blake, a guy from Arizona, is rocky, but yet deep down, 
>> I wish I could swoop Blake up and take him back here to Denver.  But 
>> alas, the guardianship prevents us from marrying.  To say that such 
>> persons are "nonpersons" or in the case of Orwell's 1984 "unpersons" 
>> is wrong.  The way to say it in Newspeak would be complicated, and if 
>> such a newspeak word was invented, it would sound harsh.
>> Beth
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org Date sent: Tue, 1 Apr 2014 22:30:32 -0400
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include 
>> peoplewithmultipledisabilities?
>> 
>> Hello all,
>> 
>> In answer to Carly's question about connections between the blind, (we 
>> may call them "just blind" for the purposes of this conversation), and 
>> those with blindness and other disabilities, or other disabilities 
>> without blindness, I think organizational relationships are the 
>> starting point to working interpersonally.  Much like the NFB is a 
>> huge group of blind people, and is often used as a catalyst for 
>> working interpersonally to accomplish tasks, other groups are the 
>> same.  If we want to work interpersonally with the deaf, persay, then 
>> we need to go where the deaf are and start forming relationships with 
>> that group.  Once repore is established, people from the various 
>> organizations can work interpersonally.  Darian might have phrased it 
>> better than I did, but it's the same sort of view.
>> 
>> I was admittedly not around for that episode that Desiree described, 
>> but I'm really sad to hear that it happened.  Especially since, as 
>> Arielle pointed out, there are some pretty out there groups like the 
>> car one.  I mean, it's okay for people to get together and discuss 
>> cars that we can't even drive (yet at least), so their discussion is 
>> purely based on mechanical and aesthetic knowledge of the cars rather 
>> than a personal user experience, but a support group for blind people 
>> who are seen as a minority for another reason is not okay?  To me, 
>> that just doesn't make sense.
>> 
>> I'm not particularly religious, and probably would label myself as 
>> unitarian even though I was raised catholic if I had to label myself 
>> at all, so I realize my personal views on things of that nature are 
>> more liberal than the views of others.  However, conservatives aren't 
>> always going to be happy, just as liberals aren't, and it is important 
>> that we compromise.  I was not under the impression that the NFB had 
>> any religious affiliation, and even remember asking someone what 
>> Invocation was, because I really didn't know the term.  Even in this 
>> light, why is Christianity made such a prevalent part of convention?
>> What about those who practice Islam, Judism, or anything else?  I 
>> would hate for a majority faction within the NFB to shun double 
>> minority members, because after all, we're all minorities in the 
>> greater world, so to pretend that those who are different from us are 
>> less valuable or don't deserve the right to organize a group to suit 
>> their unique set of needs or circumstances doesn't seem right.
>> Sorry for the rant.
>> 
>> On 4/1/14, melissa R Green <lissa1531 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Arielle once again.  You are so right!  I also hope that will never 
>> happen again.
>> Another way to look at this is, many devisions get started and then 
>> they just fall by the waist side.  Noone will keep it going.  IMO the 
>> devisions are started by people that have to be in the spotlight and 
>> be the darling of
>> 
>> the Federation and the devision suffers.  The same happens with 
>> chapters and
>> 
>> state devisions.  Then everyone is shaking their head and wondering 
>> what happened and why this person didn't work out.  I could give 
>> examples of backing the wrong person.
>> Finally, I always felt badly for those children who were born and 
>> grew up in
>> 
>> the federation.  They have a lot of pressure on them to be the 
>> darling of the federation.  Have a blessed day.
>> Best Wishes
>> Melissa R. Green and Pj
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2014 5:37 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include people 
>> withmultipledisabilities?
>> 
>> 
>> I too was at the NFB convention when the LGBT group wasn't able to 
>> announce its meetings. I'm disappointed this happened, especially the 
>> symbolic exclusion it represented, and hope never to see something  
>> like that again as long as I am part of the Federation. I completely  
>> understand the leadership's desire not to have a division for every
> special interest.
>> However, we need clearer and more evenhanded  criteria about what 
>> should constitute a division. It doesn't make  sense to allow a 
>> division for car enthusiasts with its own annual  activities and then 
>> not even allow an LGBT group to advertise informal  meet-ups. We can't 
>> try to say we don't want LGBT because it's too  politically 
>> controversial and then have religious invocations at all  the general 
>> sessions. Has the general membership ever even been polled  about whether
> to keep having these religious invocations?
>> In other  words, unless we want to be in an organization that reflects 
>> the president's or the board's interests and political views alone, we  
>> really need to have some transparency about how divisions are formed  
>> and what kinds of characteristics are meaningful enough to justify  
>> forming a division. Furthermore, as Darian pointed out, a well-run  
>> group can probably be just as effective without a lot of the hassle  
>> associated with keeping up a division. I know at least some of the  
>> folks in the LGBT group would have been totally happy with just a  
>> group, not a full division, but even that wasn't supported.
>> 
>> Arielle
>> 
>> On 4/1/14, melissa R Green <lissa1531 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> what a good topic.  I know that there is a blind rollers list.
>> But the
>> devision never came into being.  I think that the committee of the 
>> under served is supposed to address these issues.  However this is not 
>> occurring.
>> 
>> I agree that nfb has a primary focus of blindness.  Yet, we are a 
>> diverse population.  So I believe that the nfb needs to become more 
>> diverse.  I also
>> 
>> believe that the leadership are going by their assumptions that if 
>> they have
>> 
>> a devision dedicated to a certain grou that it will not do anything 
>> to assist blind people.  For example, years ago, a group came together 
>> and wanted to form a devision for blind gay bisexual and transgendered
> people.
>> I was at the convention when doctor Maurer was reading the 
>> announcement and
>> 
>> then he ripped it up in the middle of reading it.  Many people left 
>> the federation because they felt that they were not wanted and that 
>> the leadership assumed that it would be a devision strictly for social 
>> purposes.
>> 
>> Many people are hopeful that the new president will bring many more 
>> changes
>> 
>> and lots of diversity to the federation.  I am going to wait and see 
>> what happens.
>> Have a blessed day.
>> Best Wishes
>> Melissa R. Green and Pj
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 3:53 PM
>> Subject: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include people with 
>> multipledisabilities?
>> 
>> 
>> 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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