[nabs-l] IMPORTANT: The #HowEyeSeeIt Campaign from Foundation Fighting Blindness

Wed Sep 28 16:33:48 UTC 2016

Hi all,
President Riccobono has reached out to the Foundation Fighting
Blindness to have a conversation with their leadership. Several of us
have also shared our views with them online regarding the campaign. As
of this moment, they have shown no sign of suspending or modifying
their campaign.
It is important to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but when we
present them with evidence that their campaign could be harmful, and
receive no response, the next step is to amplify our counter-response.
I am sure most of you can relate to having someone try to give
well-intended help that is harmful, by grabbing you on the street, for
instance. This is one of those cases where good intentions have gone
awry.
Best, Arielle

On 9/28/16, Carly Mihalakis via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Good morning, Kathryn,
>
>          We know all this, that is, we know how,dawning a blind fold
> is usually a destructive practice, doesn't give anyone, particularly
> Ol'Sighty,  an idea of actually living as a blind person, but we
> don't need to attack like this, that is, unless you appreciate the
> Federation being thought of as militant, angry.
> Car /28/2016, Linson Productions via NABS-L wrote:
>>I don't think posting a negative review will help anything. You may want
>> to
>>consider that the federation fighting blindness is helping those who don't
>>understand and have never experienced before. What has the NFB done?
>>
>>On Sep 28, 2016 9:08 AM, "Arielle Silverman via NABS-L"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>wrote:
>>
>> > Hi all. You can also take action by going to the Foundation Fighting
>> > Blindness's Facebook page and posting a negative review in the reviews
>> > section. A number of our members, including President Riccobono, have
>> > done this.
>> > Best, Arielle
>> >
>> > On 9/28/16, Kathryn Webster, NABS President via NABS-L
>> > <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> > > Dear NABS:
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >                 On August 25, 2016, the Foundation Fighting Blindness
>> > (FFB)
>> > > created what they are calling the "Blind fold Challenge," under the
>> > hashtag
>> > > "#HowEyeSeeIt (eye as in E. Y. E.)  In this challenge, people are
>> > > asked
>> > to
>> > > put on a blind fold for a minimal amount of time to preform a
>> > > day-to-day
>> > > task. In doing so, a person is supposedly made aware of what it is
>> > > like
>> > to
>> > > be a blind person.
>> > >
>> > > It is the hopes of the Foundation Fighting Blindness that, because
>> > > they
>> > > recognize the struggles blind people face, they will donate money to
>> > "cure
>> > > blindness."
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >                 Our members of the National Federation of the Blind
>> > > have
>> > > spoken out against this campaign, and we have been silenced. In fact,
>> > > we
>> > > are
>> > > not inherently opposed to medical research for blindness. What we
>> > > find
>> > > problematic is the inaccurate portrayal of blind people as helpless;
>> > > or
>> > > worse: blindness as something to fear. For example, one of the videos
>> > > demonstrates "what it would be like if you lost your sight.what it is
>> > like
>> > > to no longer see your children." In an age where blind parents are
>> > > systematically subjected to third-party custody or separation from
>> > > their
>> > > children, on the bases of their blindness, videos misconstruing blind
>> > > parenting is offensive, dangerous, and frightening to us.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >                 We have explained, using scientific research, why
>> > > blind
>> > > fold
>> > > simulation is harmful in societal interactions and practical
>> > > application.
>> > > We
>> > > have fought back hard, by demonstrating what it is truly like to be
>> > blind,
>> > > independent, and capable. We have been marginally successful. The
>> > > fight
>> > > does
>> > > not stop here. We must continue the fight to show that we can live
>> > > the
>> > life
>> > > we want.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > There are three things we must keep in mind and take action:
>> > >
>> > > 1. Do not participate in the blindfold challenge: they are
>> > > destructive
>> > and
>> > > dangerous to our work.
>> > >
>> > > 2. Do not donate to this campaign: we are not against medical
>> > > research,
>> > > even
>> > > medical research conducted by the foundation. We are against this
>> > campaign,
>> > > though!
>> > >
>> > > 3. Educate people. Please post videos, pictures, and text. This will
>> > > explain
>> > > how you live the life you want. We know that blindness is not the
>> > > characteristic that defines us, or what holds us back. We know, with
>> > > alternative techniques and proper training, we can perform the same
>> > > task
>> > as
>> > > an average person in an average setting.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > In pushing back, we must stay respectful. We must continue educating
>> > > the
>> > > public because it is the low expectations of blindness that create
>> > > obstacles
>> > > between us and our dreams.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > I believe in us, the students, to show our capabilities by pushing
>> > > back
>> > on
>> > > the Blindfold Challenge. Let's join together, the national Federation
>> > > of
>> > > the
>> > > Blind, the most powerful blindness organization in our nation.
>> > >
>> > > #HowEyeSeeIt
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Please let me know if you have any questions; and I can't wait to see
>> > > all
>> > > the posts our blind students have to share!
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Yours and the Movement,
>> > >
>> > > Kathryn Webster
>> > >
>> > > President | National Association of Blind Students
>> > >
>> > > (203) 273-8463
>> > >
>> > > Nabs.president at gmail.com <mailto:Nabs.president at gmail.com>
>> > >
>> > > Nfb.students.com
>> > >
>> > > @nabslink
>> > >
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>> > >
>> >
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