[nabs-l] Some Thoughts on Recent On-List Discussion and aFriendly Reminder to All Listers

Sun Jan 31 22:31:37 UTC 2016

Hi Elizabeth,

We met at a VA state convention once.
Back then I was finishing my BA degree from Marymount university. Since 
then, I've attended our state training center and looked for work and I've 
also picked up some additional classes at the community college to add to my 
business knowledge for work and I think these courses helps my resume.

I've been connected to NFB since I was a late teenager; I was almost grown 
when I was beginning my involvement.
Lately, since I haven't been too successful in finding employment or even 
volunteering, I've also felt attacked.
Its not been by most NFB members though. I'm sorry to hear you were attacked 
not only on list in this cyber world, but individually as well.
Remember though that not all federationists are like this. I feel that some 
older members have this one size fits all mentality sometimes. Its like 
their way is the only way to do something and if their way does not work, 
then you cannot be successful.
That kind of attitude can feel hurtful, I know as I've felt it sometimes.
I think younger or newer members are  more open minded.
Also, it depends on the chapter of NFB. Maybe the chapter you encountered 
was just too pushy.
If you are willing to give NFB a chance again, I suggest visiting other 
chapters if that is possible, or joining an at large chapter of your state 
if they have one.

In regards  to college, some colleges do the minimum to get by such as 
Northern virginia community college, which I've attended off and on since 
graduating with my BA. Others go beyond the minimum requirements and offer a 
range of accomodations and services to students with disabilities. Others 
are so bad that they fail to comply with civil rights laws. So, I'm saying 
this to point out that some colleges are just terrible and its hard to fight 
them alone.

That said, I'd like to help you too. You can always contact me off list at 
bookwormahb at earthlink.net or if you can use skype, we can connect that way.

Take care,
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Elizabeth Mohnke via nabs-l
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2016 3:13 PM
To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
Cc: Elizabeth Mohnke
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Some Thoughts on Recent On-List Discussion and 
aFriendly Reminder to All Listers

Hello Chris,

I appreciate you posting this message to the email list. I do not wish to
make this situation worse, but I would like to point out that I am not a new
member to this organization. The comment you reference in this email comes
from my experience in not being able to receive the help and support from
this organization when I needed it. I find it very difficult to see other
people receive help and support from this organization to help them advocate
for things that go beyond the means of what they are able to handle on their
own when I have never really been able to receive this same help and support
to advocate for things that are beyond the means of what I am able to handle
on my own. I am sorry if this statement offends people, but it is the truth
of my experience in trying to be a part of this organization. I think part
of the reason why I overreacted to the responses I received was because it
seemed as though the initial responses I received offered solutions that
went beyond my specific situation and this only caused me to become more
overwhelmed by my situation. And I am sure this was not the intent of anyone
who responded to me, but I really felt as though I was being attacked by
most of the responses I received in response to my message. It seems to me
that I receive a lot of personal attacks from a number of different members
within this organization. I honestly do not understand why I am treated this
way, but the pattern of being treated this way by different members of the
NFB only leads me to believe that I am this no good person who will never
really amount to much of anything in life. But anyway, I am sorry for my
rambles that probably do not belong on this email list. I wish it was easier
for me to communicate effectively with other people, but it appears as
though there are some injuries that never really heal.

Elizabeth.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chris Nusbaum
via nabs-l
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2016 2:36 PM
To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Chris Nusbaum <cnusbaumnfb at gmail.com>
Subject: [nabs-l] Some Thoughts on Recent On-List Discussion and a Friendly
Reminder to All Listers

Dear Fellow NABSters:

Since its beginning Friday morning, I have been attempting to follow our
most recent large-scale thread, entitled "A Struggling Blind Student Looking
for Some Advice," as closely as I can. Though the discussion has evolved and
expanded to encompass several different topics and points of view, I have
observed a few common themes which seem to me at once gratifying and
troubling. In an effort to avoid the highly emotionally-charged nature of
some of the discussion in this thread, I have chosen here to try to address
these commonalities in a new and separate post rather than responding to a
lot of individual comments which have been posted throughout the thread.

Firstly, I would like to thank those who provided constructive answers to
the questions posed in the original post based on your own experiences. Your
thoughtful and practical approach exhibits the best characteristics of this
list. Indeed, this list exists as a forum in which blind students can get
support, encouragement and information from each other in a nurturing,
nonjudgmental environment. It was in this spirit that the NABS list was
created, and it is this spirit that the NABS leadership team tries to keep
alive as we monitor the day-to-day discussion which takes place here. I
personally and the leadership team collectively are very appreciative of
those many list members who assist us in keeping the NABS place an inviting
forum that people want to participate in. You are what holds this list
together.

With this in mind, I have also observed to my dismay that a small but vocal
minority has engaged in personal attacks and angry rhetoric used against
those with whom they disagree. There have also been those who have appeared
immovable in their positions, even as new information is disclosed. This has
created tention and high emotions in a discussion which began as a
productive exchange of ideas. I completely understand the frustration which
comes when those of us who are more experienced offer a suggestion to a
struggling new member, only for that new member to seem to reject the advice
we gave them. One is tempted to throw up one's hands and reply, "You asked
me, and I told you what you should do. If you had just done what I told you
to do, you wouldn't be stuck in this mess!"

This frustration is a very real feeling, and one with which I have struggled
on many occasions both inside and outside the Federation. However, I believe
we must remember that we can only control the advice we give. What a new
member does or fails to do based on our advice is completely out of our
control. Moreover, I believe it must be emphasized that what works for one
may not work for all. Our philosophy states that the blind are a
cross-section of the general public. If this is true, it follows that each
blind person is an individual with his/her own strengths, weaknesses, and
preferences. It is very easy to become insistent on our way of doing things,
not understanding why others do not do what seems so easy to us. However,
there are often a number of secondary factors which complicate a
situation-secondary disabilities, family situations, financial hardships,
etc. Since we may not be aware of all these factors, we may not always be
able to provide the most workable advice in every situation. All of us,
including myself, must therefore recognize the innate individuality of each
blind person, and exercise patience with those who may be dealing with
situations which we may not fully understand.

Finally, I was deeply troubled when Elizabeth, the list member whose post
began the thread in question, expressed her regret that she had posted her
question to an NFB list. As she wrote, "I guess the support of the NFB is
for everyone else but me." Obviously, this is not the kind of feeling that
we who are dedicated Federationists want to leave with our newer colleagues.
Therefore, I would like to remind all list members that when we post to a
list like this one, we often represent the first contact blind students have
with our movement at the national level. Unfair though this may be, it is a
fact of life that first impressions often determine a person's perception of
a group of people as a whole. To use a personal example, I did not
participate in the Federation for ten years because the first impressions I
gleaned from an earlier experience involving an NFB-sponsored program were
negative (see my article in the June, 2013 Braille Monitor for more on
this.) It is vital, then, that we all remember the importance of first
impressions when posting to the list. Of course, we all have the right to
express our opinions freely on this list-indeed, we have this list for that
very purpose. When we resort to anger and personal attacks, however, we are
not only making bitter an otherwise pleasant conversation, but we are also
misrepresenting the true, supportive nature of our Federation to new
members. I challenge all list members, therefore, to remember the support we
have received from the Federation over the years, and resolve to show that
support to others whenever we post to our list.

I hope that my comments here serve only to refocus our on-list discussion
rather than to further polarize it. If what I have said has offended any of
my fellow listers, I am truly sorry. Finally, please understand that what I
have said above is merely my personal opinion and does not reflect any
official position of NABS or the NABS Board. I hope we can end this brief
period of discord, and that we can work together to rededicate ourselves to
accurately representing the love, hope and determination of the National
Federation of the Blind.

Yours in the movement,

Chris

Chris Nusbaum, President

Maryland Association of Blind Students

Vice President, Greater Carroll County Chapter, National Federation of the
Blind of Maryland

Board Member, National Association of Blind Students

Phone: (443) 547-2409

Email: dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com

Twitter: @Chrisn98 and @nabslink

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

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