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

[Vejas]

While I respect all of yours and President Riccobono's desire to abolish the blindfold challenge, I still don't quite understand how getting involved is going to be beneficial.
The  way I see it,  we as an organization also do not agree with the ACB. I'm sure that we would want to try to change ACB peoples views, but we seem to have come to understand that, while we do not agree with them, they are there, and still respect these with an ACB lifestyle.  Similarly, there are training centers all over the country with very low expectations, but we don't really try to implement the NFB model on all of them. Some training centers do come forward and wish to subscribe to the NFB model, such as SAVI of Arizona while I was an LCB student, but had they not wanted to, we never would have tried to implement their way of thinking on them.
Vejas 

> On Sep 28, 2016, at 05:06, 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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