[nfb-db] affiliate president's survey of deaf-blind

Wed Jul 17 22:01:23 UTC 2013

Scott, I agree, this me, myself, realizes that I must rely on people for lots of things in my life, as well as people rely on me. I as a person, as a deafblind person, I am okay with my level of independence. I neither rely too much or little on people, no one makes the desicions for me. Its when people around me, have issues with what I call is independent. 

I have to say that as of lately, I would say that my state was in that category of persons who did not think I was "independent" but they are starting to really understand. For example I am helping with the BELL program. There are things I just can't do, I have tried. Its just not safe with children. They are being sympathic, understanding and most of all listening to what I need, or trying to help come up with ideas that might make life easier. I am very very proud of my state. 

Marsha drenth  
Sent with my IPhone 

On Jul 16, 2013, at 8:58 PM, Scott Davert <scottdavert at gmail.com> wrote:

> In its truest form, no one is independent, not the most rich CEO's of companies, not the leaders of countries, no one in NFB, or in any other place. Did you make the clothes you are currently wearing? How about the computer you are on, did you build all the boards inside the machine, your keyboard, etc? Did you go to the store to buy food, or did you hunt for it? The answer to all these questions for every person nowadays is a resounding no. But that's ok. All creatures depend on one another to a certain degree. What makes you an independent person, in my opiniinn, is if you are a free thinking individual who makes your own life choices. If I want to go party in New York tonight, could I do it? Sure. I'll need assistance to get across the street to get to the train station and while I can board the train just fine, all on board better hope I'm not driving it.
> I think this is the message we need to send to everyone in leadership. Ardevendence is not necessarily the act of never geccting support for anything, rather, it's whether you can choose your own life destiny and whether you can live where and how you want to live. That's my view, for whatever little worth it may be. Smiles.
> 
> Scott
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Jul 16, 2013, at 8:36 PM, Sheila Leigland <sleigland at bresnan.net> wrote:
> 
>> now that would be a very intinteresting experiment.
>> On 7/16/2013 5:25 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote:
>>> Danielle, 
>>> I agree a workshop for the staff of the NCB would be great. I am sure that working with HKNC, we could put together a workshop. And although the NFB is against blindfolding as simulation to blindness, we could have a deaf day. Then see how well they do then...
>>> 
>>> Marsha drenth  
>>> Sent with my IPhone 
>>> 
>>> On Jul 15, 2013, at 10:19 PM, Danielle Burton <danielleburton94 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I can definitely see where you are coming from. Even thoughtgh I have quite a bit of hearing left when it's loud I can't hear much of anything and you might as well say I'm nearly deaf in those situations so when me and my mentors traveled most of the time I had to be touching them. But I have noticed the NFB's attitude toward deaf-blind people. I think the problem about SSP's is that most people do not truly understand the role of an SSP. I think that the deaf-blind division should start with the leaders of the NFB and expain the needs of deaf-blind people to them. If you have severe vision and hearing loss and need the assistance of an SSP that's different than say for example relying on family and friends for your travel needs. uing an SSP is a deafblind person's ay of getting where they need to go without causing their family and friends inconvineence which is the NFB's defintion of independence. You are not being an inconvineence to the SSP because that is 
>>>> their job. And in my essay I talked a lot about being deaf-blind. 
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> 
>>>> On Jul 15, 2013, at 9:59 PM, Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Danielle, 
>>>>> I am very glad to hear that mentors were so accomendating. I also think its great that you had fellow scholarship winners help. I am sure its a huge honor for you to have won a scholarship. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> I guess I am sstill a little leary. Here is the dilemna, the NFB promotes independence. How does a deafblind person who has to use the services of an SSP? does the NFB consider this as independent? In their defination, a deafblind person like that would not be independent, because that person was relying on the assistance of a SSP. Now I don't think it should be this way. See for some reason I am easily to say that because a person who has a moderator hearing loss, can still just be a blind person. But a person who is profoundly hearing impaired, is deafblind. In this case deafblind has a negative meaning. Because we are lower, we are not as independent, because we are not just a blind person, because we might need help from an SSP. Just like in any disablity group there are different levels. Blind persons who go to the NFB centers, are considered to be the upper level of blind people. Blind people who do not, of course then do not have the same training, or Ie Independence, whether
>>>>>  or not that person neds to go to a NFB center, but because of all that, that person is lower on the chain. Because a deafblind person has different abilities, needs to use different techniques, is not just a blind person, nor can go to a NFB center, that person is lower on the chain. Granted I am talking about those of us who are severely to profoundlly deaf, who need assistances more than just someone repeating speech. This same thing happens in the other disabled community. If you have one leg amputation, is considered to be more of a person, than a person who who must use a wheelchair because of a double amputation. Again, don't get me wrong, I do not think it should be this way. I am stating obversations, and my own opinion only. I think its these levels we should be breaking down. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> This is all way way beyound the fact that I won't ever win a scholarship, because again, in the eyes of the NFB I am not worthy. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Marsha drenth  
>>>>> Sent with my IPhone 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Jul 15, 2013, at 8:28 PM, Danielle Burton <danielleburton94 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi, Marsha. My name's Danielle burton. I'm one of the deaf-blind scholarship winners. I'm not sure who the other one was unless they were mistakenough and seen me a couple times. I am totally blind with mild hearing loss in my left ear and moderate in my right. I wear hearing aids for both ears. I do not use sign or an SSP but during Convention sometimes my friend who was also a scholarship winner would have to repeat what was being said because the speaker was too far away from me. Also, when I was with my mentors I would explain that they needed to stay close to me because I wouldn't hear them in crowds. They were all very understanding and we would minstly stay in contact with each other while using canes. They also made a point to find places that were quieter to eat so that I could hear better. 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jul 15, 2013, at 7:59 PM, Marsha Drenth <marsha.drenth at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Janice,
>>>>>>> I am so very very hapy to hear about this. I remember hearing on the stream of the general session that Alaska, was deafblind. I also noticed that Dr. Mauer was not very nice in giving the ALaska person to respond. This made me mad. How inconsiderate. I know of 4 federationists in my state who are DB, I know of other DB people, who are not NFB'ers too. I am glad that the search for more DB persons is being done. I am curious about the scholarship winners, who were the DB winners? How much or little hearing did they have? Did they need an SSp? I wonder if a person who was totally blind and deaf, who required an SSP would be given the chance to be a scholarship winner. I also wonder if there is some discimination in the scholarship process in this regard. 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Marsha drenth  
>>>>>>> Sent with my IPhone 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Jul 15, 2013, at 12:07 PM, Janice Toothman <janice.toothman at verizon.net> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hi Everyone,
>>>>>>>> I wanted to let you know that the Deaf-Blind Division gave letters to all 51 Affiliate president's or alternate delegates asking their cooperation in identifying deaf-blind in their state.  We learned that Alaska Affiliate president was Deaf-Blind and required an SSP to during session to respond.  Also the Alternate Delegate for Delaware was also Deaf-Blind.  There were several other states affiliate who had spouses that were Deaf-Blind. Finally, two of the Nationally Scholarship winners were Deaf-Blind.  While HKNC does compile a list of Deaf-Blind in the United States, the division is specifically looking for a Federationists, who are Deaf-Blind.
>>>>>>>> Janice
>>>>>>>> 
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