[nabs-l] disclosing blindness

Sat Oct 10 20:08:39 UTC 2015

Jonathon, I promise to quote you on that phrase, Inspiration porn, apa citations and all that, but I'm using it.  I love it!  
LOL.   Can't wait to hit someone with that in conversation full force. 
Justin.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jonathan Franks via nabs-l
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 2015 3:54 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jonathan Franks <jfranks at nfbtx.org>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] disclosing blindness

As the NFB  message goes Blindness is not the characteristic that defines you.

I would suggest just focusing on your great qualities and accomplishments and not direct the focus on your blindness. Sadly disabilities are made into a spectacle. You often see those videos where someone who has a disability accomplishes something something that the individual does in their daily lives, however it is made into a spectacle. In my Disability studies course that is called Inspiration Porn.

Good luck
On 10/10/15, Robin via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> If you don't disclose your Blindness, isn't that simply reinforcing 
> the Stereotype of Blindness as something more than a nusance? I 
> suggest BeingProud of it, and disclosing it. How are "we"
> supposed ToChange Public'sPerception if "we"
> don't start. (Note: this is just my (humble) opinion - Take It OR 
> Leave It) Everyone's view(s) are equally important on this topic. I 
> just felt it necessary to indicate mine especially if others on 
> ThisList feel the same as I do, but are discouraged from sharing due 
> to the enormous responses indicating otherwise.
> At 11:37 AM 10/10/2015, you wrote:
>>I would have to agree! If you are submitting a paper to a journal, you 
>>want to be known as an amazing writer. Period. You do not want to be 
>>known as someone who is an amazing writer despite your blindness. This 
>>type of qualification serves to minimize your accomplishments, and you 
>>worked hard to get where you are, blindness or not! On Sat, Oct 10,
>>2015 at 1:13 PM, Aleeha Dudley via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org > wrote: 
>>> In all honesty, I do not disclose my blindness directly unless it is 
>>> absolutely necessary. I find that it gives the opportunity for a 
>>person who > does not know me to make judgments about me before 
>>meeting me, especially > given the stereotypes of blindness that are 
>>so prevalent. I will not > disclose on a resume, or in other important 
>>documents related to employment > or academic work. I prefer to do 
>>that disclosure in person, so that I may > try to influence 
>>someoneâ€™s attitude about me through my own behavior. > > On Oct 10, 
>>2015, at 2:07 PM, kcj21 via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote: > > > > 
>>Good
>>afternoon all,              I am currently
>>submitting one of my > literature papers to my university's 
>>undergraduate research journal and > they require that I submit a bio. 
>>This led me to ponder whether I should > include my blindness in this 
>>bio and when we, in general, choose to > disclose our blindness. In 
>>most instances, I only bring it up when > necessary.
>>Additionally, although I am , in no way, uncomfortable with > sharing 
>>my disability, I do not want it to become the central part of my > bio 
>>or in anyway overshadow my work.  I would just like to open up a > 
>>discussion regarding when we mention our blindness and whether that > 
>>disclosure may, in some capacity, overshadow or modify our 
>>accomplishments. > > Best,Kaley > > 
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