[NFBC-Info] NFB/CA/IE walk A Mile

[Brian Buhrow]

	Hello Edward.  While this challenge sounds fun on the face of it, I
must, with all due respect, object to this contest on philosophical and
practical grounds.  We as the Federation have said for a llong time that
blind people can compete on terms of equality if given the proper training
and opportunity.  And that, sir, is the rub in your contest.  No sighted
person, or blind person for that matter, can put on a sleep shade and be
expected to perform a daily task with competence and confidence without
training and practice.  That leads me to the second tenant of our
philosophy, opportunity.  If a sighted person puts on sleep shades,
attempts to perform a daily task and fails, his or her conclusion is that
the blind person cannot perform that task.  As a consequence, if that same
sighted person is later presented with a request by a blind person to be
given an opportunity to do a specific task, or an opportunity which may
include tasks the sighted person believes the blind person cannot do, then
that blind person will be denied the opportunity.  As an example, many
years ago, I was denied a job because the interviewer did not belieev I
could independently navigate the stairs of an office building.  Never mind
that I independently navigated to and from that interview via public
transit from many miles  away, a task which included many stairs along the
route.

	As a practical matter, any contest  we promote should not have to
contain, as part of its language, a liability disclaimer.  The fact that
this one does raises a number of concerns for me in addition to the issues
I raise in the preceeding paragraph.  

	It is my view, that, as presented, this contest is not a positive
healthy way to promote our organization and our community.  Blind people
miss out on many opportunities in life due to prejudice and misconception
-- this contest, as presented, plays on those prejudices and misconceptions
and, over all,does more to harm our cause than help it.

	As a way to mitigate the harmful effects of this contest, I suggest
modifying it to ask  contestants to submit videos of blind people showing
sighted people how to perform daily tasks as blind people.  In other words,
training videos.  this will render videos that show blind people performing
tasks competently and confidently, will teach sighted people how to do
things as blind people, and will provide  a training opportunity for those
who view the videos going forward.


-thanks
-Brian

On Oct 19, 11:05am, Edward Davis via NFBC-Info wrote:
} Subject: [NFBC-Info] NFB/CA/IE walk A Mile
} GREAT NEWS!
} 
}  
} 
} The National Federation of the Blind of California Inland Empire Chapter
} presents the 2020 Virtual Walk a Mile in My Shoes Challenge!
} 
} The  competition and video submissions has been extended.
} 
} Submissions for the competition are now due by October 31, 2020 .
} 
}  
} 
} Do you have friends or family that have thought about what it is like to
} live life blind? We have a great way for your sighted family and friends to
} gain that experience as we create awareness about the blind community. 
} 
} The video competition and cash prizes are only available to members of the
} blind community that submit a video of themselves challenging their sighted
} friends or family and completing the task together.
} 
} Videos submitted for the competition should include friends or family of
} blind individuals attempting a walk or daily tasks while wearing a sleep
} shade or blindfold.
} 
}  
} 
} Remember to stay safe while performing this challenge!
} 
} Each challenge is performed at your own risk. The Inland Empire Chapter
} shall not be held liable for injuries that may be obtain while taking the
} challenge
} 
} All submissions should be emailed to Ed Davis at 1stamendmented at gmail.com
} <mailto:1stamendmented at gmail.com> .
} 
} Soon after submission you will be tagged  with a comment in the NFBC Inland
} Empire Chapter FB Page at
} https://www.facebook.com/NFBC-Inland-Empire-Chapter-163023264039822 
} 
} Your submissions should include #BlindMileChallenge in order to raise
} awareness for this event. 
} 
} Winners will be chosen November 13, 2020 at 6:00 pm pacific time, by the
} audience vote via Zoom call.
} 
}  
} 
} The top three winners will receive CASH PRIZES!
} 
}  
} 
} To qualify for cash prizes, videos must include a blind or visually impaired
} person!
} 
}  
} 
} 1st Place - $500 
} 
} 2nd Place - $300 
} 
} 3rd Place - $200
} 
}  
} 
} This challenge was created to raise awareness for blindness and related
} charities which includes: The National Federation of the Blind of California
} BELL Academy That provides training in Braille and Mobility for blind
} children to help them with their education and independence.
} 
}  
} 
} The National Federation of the Blind of California Inland Empire Chapter we
} provide Scholarships to members of the blind community by purchasing
} Assistive technology to help make their lives or job easier:
} 
}  
} 
} You will find both of the above charities inside the following link
} 
}  
} 
} https://ulwxastpyh.formstack.com/forms/inland_empire_walk_a_mile
} 
}  
} 
} The You Cane Give Initiative This organization provides mobility canes to
} the blind community within 3rd world countries where they are not available
} or affordable: 
} 
}  
} 
} http://youcanegive.org/ 
} 
}  
} 
}  
} 
} Please consider donating if you are able. All donations of any size will be
} greatly appreciated and welcome.
} 
} The two links are listed above. We look forward to enjoying your video
} submissions!
} 
} If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!
} 
}  
} 
}  
} 
} Edward Davis
} 
} 2nd Vice President 
} 
} National Federation of the Blind of California
} 
} Inland Empire Chapter
} 
} (909) 532-9513 or 1stamendmented at gmail.com <mailto:1stamendmented at gmail.com>
} 
} 
} You Can Live The Life You Want 
} 
}  
} 
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>-- End of excerpt from Edward Davis via NFBC-Info