[nabs-l] SHARE WIDELY: National Federation of the Blind Is Seeking to Support DREAMers

Wed Sep 27 05:26:52 UTC 2017

@Joe,
You said, "We want to
 analyze employment challenges for DACA beneficiaries when we barely
 understand the employment challenges for the rest of the community?"

My understanding is that NFB is not necessarily taking a stab at
helping the problem of unemployment of blind DACA holders. From my
understanding, what DACA holders (blind or sighted) practically need the most
right now is renewing their DACA status especially if it expires
before March 2017, and lobbying the Congress to pass the Dream Act.
Employment is a secondary, consequential issue in my understanding.
Also my understanding is that NFB is not necessarily lobbying for the
Dream Act, but rather just trying to learn more about blind DACA
holder population and their experience.

Because I am not personally affected by the repeal of DACA, I lack
specific experience here but I wonder if there might be any challenge
that blind DACA holders may face in trying to renew their DACA status.
Assuming that blind immigrants (including DACA holders) can get their
immigration specific needs taken care of on their own and only with
immigrant rights organization is immature in my opinion.

Secondly, sure it could be argued that the primary focus of the NFB is
helping blind people get employed (regardless of their immigration
status as you and some others may say). To me, the argument that NFB
resources
should not be allocated for specific needs of blind DACA holders
sounds like something
only people who are privileged in certain ways can say.

Miso

On 9/26/17, Jessica Hodges via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello.
> I have seen people try to learn English as a second language, and can
> safely say resources to do this as a blind individual are much less than
> most ESL learners, as much of the typical teaching style is in pictures.
> And while it isn't unique to DACA beneficiaries, it is a very large
> segment of ESL learners. Therefore, I believe the support is justified,
> and support the other views being voiced in this thread in their
> defense. I would also point out that many of the barriers are not merely
> democratic. their are often physical and societal barriers in the way as
> well, and i think a lot have help can be had without breaking our
> mission. Also, we are a minority. It makes sense to try and help others
> in said minority when they need it, and now, I'd say there's a need.
>
> Jessica.
>
> On 9/26/2017 1:01 PM, Joe Orozco via NABS-L wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> @ Sarah:
>>
>> Forgive me. My intent was not to advance this idea that the NFB should
>> wash its hands of the immigration problem altogether. As I previously
>> wrote, if there are deficiencies in the bureaucratic application
>> process owed to equal access, the NFB should absolutely get involved
>> and eliminate those challenges. As to the issue of language
>> proficiency, I would argue that is a problem that transcends the DACA
>> debate. I agree learning English can be challenging, but that problem
>> is not unique to DACA beneficiaries. The issue ought to be explored
>> through a neutral lens that takes into account the difficulties in
>> learning English itself and not through the polarizing view that DACA
>> represents. While I can absolutely appreciate that the blindness
>> community is as diverse as its broader counterpart, at some point it
>> is worth asking ourselves if we are advocating for the blind
>> individual or the blind individual who is also undocumented. It's that
>> secondary step that could inhibit our ability to be effective at the
>> first goal, and if we are not effective at meeting the basic needs of
>> the blind individual, we are certainly not going to be great at
>> meeting the unique needs of so many other segments of society that are
>> independent of blindness.
>>
>> @ Roanna:
>>
>> No argument here. The discussion is important. Understanding the issue
>> is important. Devoting resources to it? That's where I'm getting
>> stuck. We do not have infinite staff, time, and money. If we could
>> succeed at cracking the unemployment problem for all blind people, we
>> might actually make it possible for DACA beneficiaries to enjoy a
>> better life after they graduate college. Why is it that in 2017, a
>> blind person's employment choices are either professional white collar
>> or blind-friendly? There are broad segments of the employment sector
>> we have not successfully penetrated despite advances in technology and
>> NFB training. Maybe that is the piece of this initiative that is
>> inhibiting my own ability to take a long view on this item. We want to
>> analyze employment challenges for DACA beneficiaries when we barely
>> understand the employment challenges for the rest of the community?
>>
>> @ Tyler:
>>
>> I never said our work should only concentrate on blind citizens. My
>> position has always been to advocate for everyone, regardless of DACA
>> eligibility.
>>
>> DACA did not inhibit a blind person's ability to make a living in the
>> United States. An increasing number of states and local municipalities
>> were already offering benefits to undocumented persons before DACA was
>> ever enacted. Again I ask, what do you think the thousands of
>> undocumented people were doing before 2012?
>>
>> No, I've already admitted learning English is not easy, but nor is it
>> unique to DACA beneficiaries.
>>
>> I'm going to assume your example of picking up trash on the side of
>> the street to earn money to pay for language courses was sarcasm. If I
>> were a liberal, I would pounce on that point to ask what the harm is
>> in trash collection as a profession? As a conservative, I would
>> applaud the opportunity for blind people to be able to equally
>> participate in that line of work as a means to get off government
>> assistance and improve their lot in life.
>>
>> Will learning the language be costly? Yes, but, well, it's going to be
>> costly for everyone. Should we extend unique advantages to someone
>> just because they are undocumented?
>>
>> Again, no argument on the accessibility to the paperwork. If that is
>> an issue, we should help. I'm not sure to whom that responsibility
>> would fall. Local chapters? A division? Our legal counsel? I'm sure
>> that could be sorted out.
>>
>> To a certain extent, we can agree this is not a black and white issue.
>> For me though, the gray has everything to do with new arrivals in the
>> country, and even challenges with learning the language, and little to
>> do with the controversial policy issued by a former president
>> interested in bypassing Congress.
>>
>> Respectfully,
>>
>> Joe
>>
>>
>> On 9/26/17, Littlefield, Tyler via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> I want to address some of Joe's points, because they're worth discussion
>>> here.
>>>
>>> While we do have a small scope and our work should apply to advocacy,
>>> that does not mean that the NFB as an organization should be only
>>> focused on blind people who are citizens; issues that affect blind
>>> people within this country are our focus and should be. You say that
>>> removal of DACA does not prevent those people from living the life they
>>> want, but it most certanly does if that also revokes and puts into
>>> question their legal status; as someone who was under DACA, they had the
>>> chance for a future here that will not be provided them otherwise.
>>>
>>> Also although you brush over it, learning English for everyone is not an
>>> easy job, and depending on your resources is not always going to be the
>>> first thing people do. Those classes cost money--and I'm sure that you
>>> have a way for them to raise it, perhaps by picking up trash on the
>>> street or something else just as unlikely, but the reality is that those
>>> classes are costly. If you're blind and new to the country, you're also
>>> going to potentially run into access barriers, which again is where the
>>> NFB can help.
>>>
>>> Finally and perhaps most importantly is your claim that filling out
>>> these forms is straight-forward and accessible. I know many people who
>>> have immigrated to the country, many of whom are sighted and speak
>>> fairly good English and filling out these forms was certainly not a
>>> cakewalk for them. If you want to add to that mix the fact that someone
>>> who is blind from another country may not be exposed to screen-reading
>>> software or have access to a system with a screen reader built in, or
>>> may have been provided paper forms, or any of the above with the
>>> combined note that they haven't taken the dive to become "more
>>> employable" in your mind and learned English, this process is going to
>>> be much more complex.
>>>
>>> These issues affect people in different ways, and stating that people
>>> should do x for y to occur without looking at the underlying issues and
>>> understanding that there may be barriers that prevent that is going to
>>> cause problems. This is not a solution in black and white where there
>>> exists only one way out.
>>> On 9/26/2017 9:57 AM, Sarah via NABS-L wrote:
>>>> Joe, perhaps the diversity of experiences that people are having with
>>>> immigration is why the discussion needs to be had. If you found it easy
>>>> to
>>>> navigate the process and Miso did not, what were the differences in
>>>> your
>>>> two experiences? Were they language-based? Were they differences that
>>>> actually did have to do with blindness, e.g. technology you were able
>>>> to
>>>> obtain that she was not, tech that did not support her language at the
>>>> time, etc? Yes, learning English should be a goal for anyone entering
>>>> this
>>>> country. I am a language professor... You might be surprised how many
>>>> emails I field from people who are seeking ways to teach English
>>>> effectively to refugees, specifically to teach English reading skills.
>>>> For
>>>> some people, learning English is not an easy process, especially if
>>>> they
>>>> come from a country where blindness is treated as a condition that
>>>> means
>>>> you are cared for instead of employable. The NFB really does need to
>>>> consider what impact blindness has on immigration and refugees; and I
>>>> think that it will not be the same impact for each individual who
>>>> enters
>>>> this country. We have the potential to be able to work collaboratively
>>>> with other agencies or simply to wash our hands and say it isn't our
>>>> business. But it is our business.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Rev. Sarah Blake LaRose
>>>> http://www.sarahblakelarose.com
>>>> Accessible instruction in Biblical languages
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Joe Orozco
>>>> via NABS-L
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 7:57 AM
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: Joe Orozco <jsoro620 at gmail.com>
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] SHARE WIDELY: National Federation of the Blind Is
>>>> Seeking to Support DREAMers
>>>>
>>>> Hello,
>>>>
>>>> Interesting points. Let me offer a few rebuttals for the sake of
>>>> discussion. I realize my opposition will not change anything, but
>>>> hopefully the discussion is of some thoughtful value.
>>>>
>>>> @ Ashley:
>>>>
>>>> First, state rehabilitation services are not denied to persons with no
>>>> legal immigration status. DACA did not magically open these services.
>>>>
>>>> Second, language barriers can be a challenge to all persons, not just
>>>> undocumented immigrants. Learning the English language ought to be a
>>>> goal
>>>> for everyone to achieve to be marketable in this employment industry.
>>>>
>>>> Third, what government services would blind DREAMers not be able to
>>>> procure if DACA truly expired? Somehow we have gotten it into our heads
>>>> that before DACA, life was truly dismal for undocumented blind persons.
>>>> Yes, it was challenging, but what do we suppose blind immigrants were
>>>> doing before DACA was enacted under Obama? What do we assume blind
>>>> persons
>>>> over the age of 31 are doing now? If things have truly been that
>>>> critical,
>>>> why have we as a blind movement not acknowledged the epidemic sooner?
>>>>
>>>> You wrote: "4. Dreamers may be denied other services their fellow
>>>> dreamers
>>>> can partake of."
>>>>
>>>> Forgive me. I'm an idiot. What did you mean by this point?
>>>>
>>>> @ Miso:
>>>>
>>>> My point was not so much that disability and immigration are two
>>>> different
>>>> issues. My point is that with limited capital, with limited resources,
>>>> why
>>>> are we pursuing a narrow scope and highly controversial advocacy issue
>>>> when there is already an array of social justice organizations taking
>>>> up
>>>> the cause?
>>>>
>>>> To be clear, DACA is not what keeps a blind person from living the life
>>>> they want. Their legal status is creating that prevention. DACA is, at
>>>> best, a short-term cure for a long-term problem.
>>>>
>>>> Should there be collaboration between disability rights and immigration
>>>> groups? Sure, but that should be part of a general outreach strategy,
>>>> not
>>>> a specific initiative. By your logic, what we really ought to be doing
>>>> to
>>>> help blind undocumented people is provide assistance navigating the
>>>> immigration process, and that isn't really a part of our core mission.
>>>> It's not our expertise, and nor should it be. Our objective is more
>>>> collective.
>>>>
>>>> Could USCIS be more accommodating? I suppose that depends on your
>>>> experience. I navigated the system more than a decade ago. I did so
>>>> independently, without the need for legal counsel or immigration rights
>>>> advocacy. I am by no means suggesting my experience should set the bar
>>>> for
>>>> everyone else's progress, but in terms of website accessibility and
>>>> forms,
>>>> I remember being quite surprised at how straightforward the application
>>>> went. Regardless of my own experiences though, here is a place where
>>>> the
>>>> NFB could insert itself. Government resource accessibility ought to be
>>>> equal for all, not because it affects a segment of society but because
>>>> public resources from any agency are legally bound to be accessible.
>>>>
>>>> Anyway, I don't want to belabor the point if I am a minority of one.
>>>> The initiative feels a little random to me, a little too much like the
>>>> eager kid pushing for a place at a table where we do not have strategic
>>>> advantage. If we want to help DACA beneficiaries, the best way to go
>>>> about
>>>> it is by ensuring the equal compensation of all blind workers. We
>>>> should
>>>> ensure equal access to the classroom and workplace for all blind
>>>> students,
>>>> employees and job applicants. Our community is already too small for us
>>>> to
>>>> believe that blind DACA beneficiaries are somehow at a unique
>>>> disadvantage.
>>>>
>>>> Joe
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 9/24/17, Miso Kwak via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> Thank you for asking.
>>>>> For the sake of privacy, I will write without much personal details.
>>>>> In my opinion, one issue is in navigating the process of receiving
>>>>> accommodations when people with disabilities must work with U.S.
>>>>> Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS.) Working with USCIS could
>>>>> include applying for permanent residency, applying for citizenship,
>>>>> and a range of other services.
>>>>> Based on my personal experience, USCIS staff are not super
>>>>> knowledgeable about how to execute accommodation for people with
>>>>> disabilities.
>>>>> Immigrant rights organizations are not well-equipped with knowledge on
>>>>> requesting accommodations either based on my experience.
>>>>> Similarly, most people in organizations like NFB are not knowledgeable
>>>>> about immigration related procedures, and are unable to help when
>>>>> their members seek help with immigration related matters.
>>>>>
>>>>> In regards to why disability and immigration are not separate issues,
>>>>> many people come to U.S. for better medical care or simply better
>>>>> opportunity as people with disabilities. In other words, for some
>>>>> people, having a disability themselves or having a child with
>>>>> disability is primary reason why they forgo the comfort of their
>>>>> homeland and immigrate to the U.S. even when (in some cases) they risk
>>>>> being undocumented because U.S. offers better medical care and
>>>>> educational opportunities than their home country.
>>>>>
>>>>> On another note, I would like to note that NFB is not the only
>>>>> disability rights advocacy organization that  is taking a stance on
>>>>> DACA repeal.
>>>>>
>>>>> National Council on Independent Living expressed its stance on this
>>>>> article:
>>>>> http://www.advocacymonitor.com/ncil-condemns-the-decision-to-end-daca/
>>>>>
>>>>> Miso
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 9/24/17, Sarah via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>> Miso, please explain more about your immigration process. (You may do
>>>>>> so privately if you wish.) This is something that I for one would
>>>>>> like to understand more about. How was this impacted by your
>>>>>> blindness and what do immigration organizations need to know? I think
>>>>>> that what you say here is extremely valuable, and while I agree thhat
>>>>>> educating other organizations will take a long time I also think it
>>>>>> is part of what we need to do. I work with other organizations that
>>>>>> support immigrant rights in various ways, and I would like to educate
>>>>>> them as much as possible.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rev. Sarah Blake LaRose
>>>>>> http://www.sarahblakelarose.com
>>>>>> Accessible instruction in Biblical languages
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Miso
>>>>>> Kwak via NABS-L
>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2017 6:35 PM
>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Cc: Miso Kwak <misokwak12 at gmail.com>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] SHARE WIDELY: National Federation of the Blind
>>>>>> Is Seeking to Support DREAMers
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Joe and others who may share his sentiments, I would like to preface
>>>>>> this email by saying that I am neither an expert, nor deeply involved
>>>>>> in NFB leadership.
>>>>>> However, I am also a naturalized citizen, who self-identify as a 1.5
>>>>>> generation immigrant.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So, for those who argue that disability and immigration are two
>>>>>> completely separate issues, I am here as one of many living
>>>>>> counterexamples to that argument.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If NFB or any other organization for that matter claims to be a
>>>>>> consumer organization promoting the blind to live the lives they
>>>>>> want, I think it is the organization's responsibility to stand with
>>>>>> blind people who are affected by such major policy as DACA repeal.
>>>>>> Bluntly speaking, regardless of one's view on whether DACA should be
>>>>>> allowed or not, it is fact that with the repeal of DACA, blind people
>>>>>> who are DACA recepients cannot live the lives they want, figuratively
>>>>>> and literally.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My personal belief is that organizations serving the blind and
>>>>>> immigrant rights organizations must collaborate in order to meet the
>>>>>> needs of blind immigrants. Immigrant rights organization are not
>>>>>> often equipped well enough to understand and serve people with not
>>>>>> just blindness but any other disabilities. My personal experience of
>>>>>> going through the naturalization process is one evidence.
>>>>>> Similarly, organizations that are solely dedicated to serving people
>>>>>> with disabilities are often poorly equipped with the ability and
>>>>>> sensitivity to serve immigrants (whether the immigration was legal or
>>>>>> not)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I am afraid it may take too long to see collaboration between
>>>>>> disability focused organization and immigrant rights organization,
>>>>>> but I believe NFB's effort to learn more about the blind people
>>>>>> affected by the repeal of DACA is a necessary first step forward.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Miso Kwak
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 9/24/17, Ashley Bramlett via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>>> Joe,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'll try to be nonpartisan here. The DACA is a major thing impacting
>>>>>>> all those immigrants in it.
>>>>>>> I would guess it may impact blind  people more in the following
>>>>>>> ways:
>>>>>>> 1. It may impact their ability to receive state vocational rehab
>>>>>>> services that we all get or can get.
>>>>>>> 2. Unemployment among any immigrant population is hindered by  the
>>>>>>> language
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> barriers. I  have seen it firsthand.
>>>>>>> While most people can go out and grab low wage jobs, blind people
>>>>>>> are excluded from these service sector jobs which require little
>>>>>>> language skills. Immigrants including dreamers partake in these jobs
>>>>>>> such as housekeeping staff at hotels, cleaning facilities in public
>>>>>>> areas such as our colleges and universities, painting houses, and of
>>>>>>> course lawn services.
>>>>>>> Blind people who cannot fluently read and write english are more
>>>>>>> negatively
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> impacted. When an immigrant I know tried to take ESL classes at
>>>>>>> Northern virginia community college, it is my understanding he could
>>>>>>> not follow the class due to the visual nature of it such as pictures
>>>>>>> in workbooks. And, of
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> course Nova is terrible at accomodations and failed to help this
>>>>>>> student with special needs succeed.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 3. Blind Dreamers may also have a harder time securing other
>>>>>>> government services.
>>>>>>> 4. Dreamers may be denied other services their fellow dreamers can
>>>>>>> partake of.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm glad NFB is taking this up.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Yes it is true we are vastly underemployed in general. It is true we
>>>>>>> have a
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ways to go in that area for all Americans.
>>>>>>> I think a huge hindrance to employment is accessibility of software.
>>>>>>> I've seen it firsthand. I'm hoping NFB will make headway in advocacy
>>>>>>> for accessibility sooner than later.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Its also true that none of the NFB national resolutions spoke of
>>>>>>> this issue.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> However, I believe the resolutions were written prior to Mr. Trump's
>>>>>>> decision.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Its something to ask the national office if you are still curious.
>>>>>>> I'm a naturalized citizen too, and I definitely understand your
>>>>>>> concerns.
>>>>>>> As a naturalized citizen, I want to be a first class citizen and
>>>>>>> earn my way
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> including participating in the workforce but so far many barriers
>>>>>>> have hindered me such as attitudes of employers and accessibility of
>>>>>>> third party
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> software.
>>>>>>> However, Dreamers have unique needs and challenges which I, as a
>>>>>>> naturalized
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> citizen growing up here in American public schools, do not have.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Good questions.
>>>>>>> I look forward to the outcome of such studies NFB conducts.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Ashley
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> From: Joe via NABS-L
>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2017 7:06 PM
>>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>>> Cc: Joe
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] SHARE WIDELY: National Federation of the Blind
>>>>>>> Is Seeking to Support DREAMers
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This post has been gnawing at me for over a week. Maybe someone can
>>>>>>> help me understand our rationale in getting involved in an issue
>>>>>>> that is clearly partisan.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> My understanding is that the NFB seeks to enable all blind
>>>>>>> individuals to live the life they want, irrespective of immigration
>>>>>>> status. No argument here. I appreciate the work we do to provide
>>>>>>> equal opportunities for everyone--regardless of their legal status,
>>>>>>> which ought not to be any of our business anyway, and regardless of
>>>>>>> their membership in our organization.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> But now we're talking about devoting already limited resources to
>>>>>>> better inform policymakers about the administration's decision to
>>>>>>> rescind the DACA program. I don't understand how this became a
>>>>>>> priority.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Why are we suddenly interested in providing assistance to
>>>>>>> beneficiaries of the DACA program? If we are doing our work
>>>>>>> correctly, then one could argue the affected blind beneficiaries are
>>>>>>> already being served.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Why would we collect statistical analyses on the unemployment rate
>>>>>>> of the blind before and after the DACA program when we barely have a
>>>>>>> handle on the unemployment rate among the majority of blind
>>>>>>> Americans?
>>>>>>> If the general statistics are accurate, then the unemployment rate
>>>>>>> among the blind is somewhere in the neighborhood of 75%. I don't
>>>>>>> understand why our limited resources would not be devoted to solving
>>>>>>> for the employment needs of all blind Americans as opposed to the
>>>>>>> needs of the few. The fact we are largely excluded from the vast
>>>>>>> majority of minimum wage jobs accessible to the rest of the
>>>>>>> population should be of greater concern than the consequences of a
>>>>>>> program that was legally and constitutionally controversial to
>>>>>>> start.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The DACA program is not likely to result in mass deportations and
>>>>>>> other grim predictions forecasted by one side of the highly
>>>>>>> polarizing issue. The point is part of a larger debate on
>>>>>>> immigration
>>>>>>> reform.
>>>>>>> Congress should enact legislation the way it should have done when
>>>>>>> the legislative measure was originally proposed under President Bush
>>>>>>> in 2007, and to be fair, a bipartisan effort is underway to provide
>>>>>>> at least a three-year reprieve to the affected community. Given the
>>>>>>> convoluted and hotly contested nature of the overarching dialogue on
>>>>>>> the matter, why would the NFB spend its limited political capital
>>>>>>> appearing to take sides on this issue?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Looking through this year's resolutions, I see no mention of
>>>>>>> devoting resources to beneficiaries of the DACA program. How do we
>>>>>>> go about deciding outreach efforts in situations where our mission
>>>>>>> was not directed by the objectives agreed to by our convention?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> To me, the step feels like an opportunistic means of snagging
>>>>>>> attention on an issue that is already steeped in controversy. We are
>>>>>>> already fighting an uphill battle on employment equality for those
>>>>>>> individuals working in sheltered environments. We already face
>>>>>>> educational and employment disparities among highly qualified blind
>>>>>>> permanent residents and citizens, born and naturalized.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> But, perhaps I am missing something. I'm willing to be educated. As
>>>>>>> a naturalized citizen, I understand the benefits of something like
>>>>>>> DACA to get ahead in this country. For that, there are other
>>>>>>> immigration rights consumer groups. We can trust them to take up the
>>>>>>> cry for fair treatment. We can trust them to help undocumented
>>>>>>> individuals find and keep a place in our society. I would like to
>>>>>>> think we place our trust in the NFB to make that society more
>>>>>>> accessible.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Joe
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> From: NFBNet-Members-List
>>>>>>> [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>>>>> On
>>>>>>> Behalf Of President, National Federation of the Blind via
>>>>>>> NFBNet-Members-List
>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, September 15, 2017 9:07 AM
>>>>>>> To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] SHARE WIDELY: National Federation of
>>>>>>> the Blind Is Seeking to Support DREAMers
>>>>>>> Importance: High
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> National Federation of the Blind Is Seeking to Support DREAMers
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As the principal vehicle for collective action for the blind in the
>>>>>>> United States, the National Federation of the Blind is committed to
>>>>>>> enabling all blind people, irrespective of immigration status, to
>>>>>>> live the lives we want.
>>>>>>> To better inform our current and future advocacy and policy
>>>>>>> strategies, the National Federation of the Blind is collecting the
>>>>>>> following information to better understand the impact of the
>>>>>>> administration's recent decision to rescind the Deferred Action for
>>>>>>> Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program among the blind in the United
>>>>>>> States.
>>>>>>> The information collected will be used to:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 1. Identify DREAMers who are blind in order to better understand the
>>>>>>> impact on blind people and help inform the National Federation of
>>>>>>> the Blind regarding ways the organization can best provide
>>>>>>> assistance.
>>>>>>> 2. Develop an aggregate summary of the blind people in the United
>>>>>>> States who participate in the DACA program, which can be shared with
>>>>>>> government officials, advocates, and other interested parties.
>>>>>>> 3. Develop statistical analyses on the unemployment rate among the
>>>>>>> blind before and after the establishment of the DACA program.
>>>>>>> 4. Highlight general narratives of blind people living the lives
>>>>>>> they want because of the DACA program.
>>>>>>> 5. Coordinate a community of blind DACA recipients in order to
>>>>>>> maximize the resources available.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If you or someone you know is blind and receives DACA benefits,
>>>>>>> please complete the National Federation of the Blind DACA form at
>>>>>>> the below links (available in Spanish and English), or share this
>>>>>>> information with them. If you know of a DREAMer who does not have
>>>>>>> internet access, we would appreciate your helping them complete the
>>>>>>> form.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Spanish NFB DACA form: https://nfb.org/daca-es English NFB DACA
>>>>>>> form:
>>>>>>> https://nfb.org/daca
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Together with love, hope, and determination, the National Federation
>>>>>>> of the Blind transforms dreams into reality. Through this effort we
>>>>>>> seek to support the hopes and dreams of blind people seeking to be
>>>>>>> fully contributing members of our nation.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mark A. Riccobono, President
>>>>>>> 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
>>>>>>> (410) 659-9314 | Officeofthepresident at nfb.org
>>>>>>> Twitter: @Riccobono
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> <https://nfb.org/> Image removed by sender. National Federation of
>>>>>>> the Blind
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind> Image removed
>>>>>>> by
>>>>>>> sender. Facebook     <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice> Image removed
>>>>>>> by
>>>>>>> sender. Twitter     <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind> Image
>>>>>>> removed
>>>>>>> by
>>>>>>> sender. Youtube
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
>>>>>>> friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind.
>>>>>>> Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they
>>>>>>> want.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>> NABS-L:
>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40ea
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Miso Kwak
>>>>>> University of California, Los Angeles | 2017 Psychology B.A. |
>>>>>> Education Studies Minor | Disability Studies Minor
>>>>>> (909) 660-1897
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> NABS-L mailing list
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>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/sarah%40sarahblak
>>>>>> elarose.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/misokwak12%40gmai
>>>>>> l.com
>>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Miso Kwak
>>>>> University of California, Los Angeles | 2017 Psychology B.A. |
>>>>> Education Studies Minor | Disability Studies Minor
>>>>> (909) 660-1897
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> NABS-L mailing list
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>>>>> om
>>>>>
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>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Take Care,
>>> Tyler Littlefield
>>>
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>
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-- 
Miso Kwak
University of California, Los Angeles | 2017
Psychology B.A. | Education Studies Minor | Disability Studies Minor
(909) 660-1897