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

[Bill Outman]

I have read this commentary from Rep. Grasan and the variety of responses to
it.  I find myself reacting on at couple of different levels, at least.  

First, it's not enough, and possibly slightly misdirected, to simply rear up
and say the comments referenced are offensive and uneducated.  My feelings
about all this are not completely cut and dried.  We must acknowledge this
feeling of becoming imprisoned and feeling as though blindness is akin to
serving life without parole are real sets of emotions, especially among
those new to visual impairment.  Even those of us who are well experienced
and who have undergone considerable training mahy experience these moods
sometimes, in particular in moments of frustration with our abilities or
lack thereof when confronting a life task, or with the obstacles either
deliberate or unintentional that society presents us with.  

It is important to advocate for, educate concerning, and make use of good
training.  This will help lessen these feelings of imprisonment, especially
in those life areas such as cooking we may have more personal control of.
We must also advocate for and make use of when provided methods for making
our society more inclusive.  This will especially help with the
transportation, communication and entertainment issues that were referenced
by the representative.  

Making more progress on these issues would help reduce the isolation and
care burden the public rightly fears.  This would also alleviate the issues
of accidental injury or death Mr. Grasan cites.  

As much as we should show and tell about our successes and ability to have
full lives even with visual impairment, we should also support measures that
will both prevent and affirmatively treat vision conditions.  

All we have done and currently do, while necessary, is clearly not
sufficient.  Our successes, both individual and collective, while laudable,
clearly don not have the depth and breadth necessary to reach the full
potential that is available.  

Let's make sure we do what can to ensure we are part of the solutions.  

Bill Outman 


-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala
via Nfbf-l
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2016 5:27 PM
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
Cc: Marion Gwizdala
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Rep. Alan Grayson on Vision Loss

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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