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

[Matt Roberts]

Bill, that was a great commentary. I agree with it!

Matt Roberts

Sent from my Apple Watch

On Jun 3, 2016, at 11:41 AM, Bill Outman via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> 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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