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

Wed Sep 28 18:46:36 UTC 2016

So, what do you propose we do?  Should we just allow it to continue without
saying anything?
What's your suggestion?
 Justin

-----Original Message-----
From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Linson
Productions via NABS-L
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 2:43 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Linson Productions <blindgeek1989 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] IMPORTANT: The #HowEyeSeeIt Campaign from Foundation
Fighting Blindness

Why I definitely see the point, I don't think that amping anything will
help. Just because somebody or an organization doesn't do what you want.
That doesn't mean the federation or anybody should shoot them down. The NFB
needs to gently guide bit forcefully impose viewpoints and ways of life that
they think are right.
Thanks,
Aaron

On Sep 28, 2016 12:35 PM, "Arielle Silverman via NABS-L" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> 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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> >> > arielle71%40gmail.com
> >> > >
> >> >
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> >> >
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