[Nfbf-l] Rep. Alan Grayson on Vision Loss

[kaye zimpher]

Here is my post.
Really? Vission loss means no cooking, no entertainment and no 
communication? Wow, I had no idea. You see. I have been blind almost since 
birth. I *love* to cook, and don't tell anyone but I'm good at it. I work a 
full-time job with the government, and I have many hobbies and entertaining 
interests. Communication has never been an issue for me. So let me 
communicate this to you. Do some research about blindness and blind people 
before you speak of us. We are parents, grandparents, friends, and oh yes, 
VOTERS! Statements such as the one you made only prove ignorence of the 
subject. We work hard every day to prove our worth to society and encourage 
those around us not to take pitty. Don't add to the struggle.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Hicks via Nfbf-l" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Dan Hicks" <danjhicks at yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2016 6:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Rep. Alan Grayson on Vision Loss


> Here is what I contributed to his Facebook page:
>
> "I am a progressive liberal and, therefore, have been one of your 
> supporters, financially and otherwise. However, you are way off the mark 
> with this comment. Obviously you don't know very many blind people. While 
> it is true that we can't drive, we can do almost anything else, sometimes 
> a bit differently, but we can get it done and usually with as much 
> enjoyment as any sighted person. Before making stupid statements about 
> blindness, try substituting any other group of citizens who are sometimes 
> cast aside or pitied. "Being black imprisonment, with no possibility of 
> parole" or "being female..." or "being gay..." There are things you and 
> Congress can do to help the blind, and we make efforts to inform you and 
> other reps and senators all about them, but posts like this hurt more than 
> help. The law you are introducing sounds great, but you need to come up 
> with a better way to support it. Frankly, this is post reads like 
> something that I would coming from Donald Trump. You can do better and you 
> need to do so. I think you need to walk this back, immediately."
>
> I hope I made an impression.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 2, 2016, at 5:53 PM, Sherri Brun via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> 
>> wrote:
>>
>> Congressman Grayson has such a progressive attitude about everything 
>> else. I don't know how he could be so misled and have such faulty 
>> thinking. I saw this on Facebook. I commented on it. I haven't been back 
>> on his Facebook page to see if he saw my comments along with those of 
>> other blind people. I appreciate you posting this. Let's all get on the 
>> bandwagon and respond to him.
>>
>> Sherri
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jun 2, 2016, at 5:26 PM, Marion Gwizdala via Nfbf-l 
>>> <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Dear all,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>               I thought everyone would like to know what Congressman 
>>> Alan
>>> Grayson (D-Florida, 9th congressional District) thinks about you and me 
>>> as
>>> blind citizens. I am certainly glad to hear Rep. Grayson's enlightened
>>> commentary on blindness. Though I am not sure of his expertise in this 
>>> area,
>>> I am certainly happy to find out how hapless my life is!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>               On may 31, 2016 at 2:28 pm Contressman Grayson posted the
>>> following message to Facebook:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>           Vision loss is gradual imprisonment, with no possibility of
>>> parole - no driving, no cooking, no entertainment, and, ultimately, no
>>> communication. That isolation not only steals our seniors' independence, 
>>> it
>>> also relegates the responsibilities of basic care onto busy loved ones 
>>> and
>>> friends.
>>>
>>> Vision loss also increases the likelihood of accidents and accidental 
>>> injury
>>> and death. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates
>>> direct annual medical costs for older American adults with vision 
>>> impairment
>>> at more than $8 billion.
>>>
>>> There are 2.7 million seniors in America who are blind. How many of them
>>> would be able to see today if they had received a simple annual eye exam 
>>> as
>>> part of their Medicare coverage?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Fraternally yours,
>>>
>>> Marion Gwizdala
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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>
>
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