[NAGDU] FW: Concerning Canine Heroes Auction

Wed Oct 10 23:20:45 UTC 2018

Dear Fellow Federationists,

                As most of you know, the National Federation of the Blind
opposes blindness simulation as a fund raising activity. On Saturday,
October 13, Guide Dogs for the Blind will hold its annual 
Canine Heroes Auction in San Francisco, Cal. to raise funds for their work.
During this fund raiser, they will serve one course of their meal under
blindfold. As a division of the National Federation of the Blind, the board
of directors of the National Association of Guide Dog Users unanimously
voted to send a letter to Guide Dogs for the Blind expressing our opposition
to this practice. I am forwarding this correspondence sent to Christine
Benninger, Chief Executive Officer of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Ms.
Benninger has sent a read receipt for this correspondence on Wednesday,
October 10, 2018 at 1:15 p.m. Pacific time. Please take the time to read the
correspondence below. I have retained the headers for your information.

Fraternally yours,

Marion Gwizdala, President

National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)

National Federation of the Blind

(813) 626-2789

President at NAGDU.ORG

 <http://nagdu.org/> Visit our website

 <http://twitter.com/nagdu> Follow us on Twitter

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

From: president at nagdu.org [mailto:president at nagdu.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 4:00 PM
To: 'cbenninger at guidedogs.com'
Cc: board at nagdu.org; officeofthepresident at nfb.org
Subject: Concerning Canine Heroes Auction
Importance: High

Dear Ms. Benninger,

Via Email: CBenninger at guidedogs.com

            I am writing on behalf of the National Association of Guide Dog
Users (NAGDU), a division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB),
concerning Guide Dogs for the Blind's intention to use a blindness
simulation episode during its upcoming Canine Heroes Auction. Though the
National Federation of the Blind is a proponent of the use of learning
shades - sometimes referred to as "sleep shades" - to effectively train
individuals in the techniques of blindness, we object to the use of
simulation as a fund raising technique. Whether intended or not, simulation
exercises tend to invoke fear and pity in the participants, compromising the
goals of the National Federation of the Blind and, I would hope, those of
guide dogs for the Blind.

            Placing a blindfold on a sighted person does not help the person
understand what it is like to be blind; rather, such simulations only serve
to reinforce the negative stereotypes and misconceptions that compromise our
ability to fully participate in our community as we strive to live the lives
we want. This is not only the opinion of the National Federation of the
Blind; it is also the conclusions of research in simulation exercises
conducted by social psychologists. A blindfolded sighted person will not
encounter a waitress asking their 5-year-old what her father wants to drink,
strangers grabbing and pushing the blind person where the well-meaning
individual thinks they are wanting to go, A doctor asking the blind person
who bathes them, or the condescending comments of pity offered by the
public, all incidents I and nearly every other blind person have
experienced. 

            We realize the importance of raising funds to continue the work
of Guide Dogs for the Blind; however, we object to the exploitation of the
fear of blindness and the demeaning of the blind as the tool for raising
those funds. We believe the Canine Heroes Auction would be just as
successful without the simulation episode and urge Guide Dogs for the Blind
to publicly join the National Association of Guide Dog Users and the
National Federation of the Blind by condemning and opposing the use of
simulation exercises as a fund raising technique.

            For your information, I have attached the text of Resolution
2012-04 condemning the use of simulation exercises as a fund raising event.
I am also including below links to two articles which recently appeared in
the Braille Monitor, the monthly publication of the National Federation of
the Blind. One of these articles is written by Mark Riccobono, president of
the National Federation of the Blind, and the second by Dr. Ariel Silverman,
a Social Psychologist. 

Walking a Mile: The Possibilities and Pitfalls of Simulations by Mark
Riccobono

https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm17/bm1704/bm170402.htm

Disability Simulations: What Does the Research Say? 

By Ariel Silverman, Ph.D.

https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm17/bm1706/bm170602.htm 

            In closing, I would like to share the spontaneous, unsolicited
impressions of an executive with a major airline after attending two
simulation events. "It struck me as not a realistic simulation of what it
must be like for a blind person to eat a meal.After having done the exercise
twice, I have learned a few of the techniques that a person might use to eat
their dinner, but I have no illusions that it taught me much at all about
the overall experience or skills required in life.  Unfortunately, I'm sure
that a large number of people who left the exercises think they learned more
than they really did.

With kind regards,

Marion Gwizdala, President

National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)

National Federation of the Blind

(813) 626-2789

President at NAGDU.ORG

Visit our website <http://nagdu.org/> 

Follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/nagdu> 

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

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