[nabs-l] How can NFB better include peoplewithmultipledisabilities mental illness
Darian
dsmithnfb at gmail.com
Fri Apr 4 11:05:25 UTC 2014
Beth,
What Kaiti suggests doesn't preclude this, in fact it supports this.
The structure of the Federation is such that the blind are empowered to make all decisions on the direction and activities of the organization.
Sighted persons are welcomed and appreciated as members of the Federation, but their membership in numbers may not exceed the membership in numbers of blind members they may not hold presidential positions. This same model is used in all of our divisions and it would work if applied to the group/division model for this population.
This electronic message has been brought to you by my mobile device.
> On Apr 3, 2014, at 11:33 PM, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Good evening, Kaiti,
>
> All those things look good on paper, but what about the so-called mentally ill, speaking for themselves? Isn't that how the Federation likes to be perceived? That, "blind" people are perfectly capable of speaking for themselves? Is not a same true for the mentally ill?
> for today, Car/2014, Kaiti Shelton wrote:
>> I think a good thing might look something like this:
>>
>> A group and/or division led by a person with mental illness of some
>> sort, but also open for those interested in work with mentally ill
>> people. Even though I do not have a mental illness myself, I am going
>> into a profession where I will most liikely work with clients who have
>> mental illness throughout my career. I would love to support such a
>> group, and think that others in situations similar to my own might
>> want to do the same. Plus, this follows the division model a little
>> more closely. More people than those directly effected would be able
>> to join, but someone who is directly effected would serve as
>> president. I know in my affiliate student division, our constitution
>> states that the president and vice president must be planning to be
>> full-time students in the year following their election, and a
>> majority of the division members must be blind students, but as long
>> as those guidelines are met non-blind or non-students are free to join
>> and aid in the cause.
>>
>> On 4/3/14, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net> wrote:
>> > Good morning, Sam, and everyone,
>> >
>> > A must! Hot line workers must themselves have mentle illness!
>> > for today, Car
>> >
>> > At 02:24 PM 4/2/2014, Sam Nelson 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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>> >> >
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