[Nfbf-l] Letter Opposing Dining in the Dark
kaye zimpher
kaye.j.zimpher at gmail.com
Fri Oct 12 23:20:47 UTC 2018
I recall a time just a couple of years after I started my job with the
government that I had to attend a class about "sensitivity training." During
the class, the instructor showed a video that I believe was entitled "What
do you do when you meet a blind person" or something similar. The video
depicted a man as he goes through his work day. He leaves his home with his
1980's notetaker in hand, and approaches an intersection where he needs to
cross to catch a bus. There happens to be construction on the street, so
when he hears the noise of the machines, he calls out "Hey, can someone help
me? I'm blind!" The video goes on from there showing varius tasks that he
does, but not well, and basically confirming the societal stereotypes. When
the video ended, I was asked, what I thought of the content. I let the
instructor know that I felt the video depicted the blind in a very poor
light, and that it truly should never be shown at a government office that
employs blind people again. I was later written up, and had to fight a
rather lengthy fight with the union, management and the EEO office to have
the negative document removed from my otherwise stellar personnel file. I
tell this story to illustrate that it is up to us to be vigilant and always
looking out for ourselves. We can't continue to promote negative stereotypes
and societal misbeliefs. It is our job to demonstrate our own independence
and lead by example.
----- Original Message -----
From: "JD Townsend via Nfbf-l" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "JD Townsend" <townsend.lcsw at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2018 11:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Letter Opposing Dining in the Dark
> Dear Marion and All:
>
> An excellent discussion and this type of discussion helps all of us grow.
> I, like you, look at the evidence based research and, so, agree that these
> events tend to show the light dependent folks how impossible blindness is
> and raises funds by pitying us.
>
> I recall in the 1980s well meaning folks at the Foundation Fighting
> Blindness used fund-raisers by displaying a poster child, a sad little
> blind girl. After many of us complained they stopped as they recognized
> that using pity to raise money sent a message to blind people that we face
> a pathetic & hopeless future. I believe that these events suggest a
> similar conclusion from the participants.
>
> Thank you, Marion, for bringing up this subject.
>
>
> John D Townsend, LCSW
> Licensed Clinical Social Worker (SW3765)
> Daytona Beach FL USA
>
> From: Marion Gwizdala via Nfbf-l
> Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2018 1:35 PM
> To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'
> Cc: Marion Gwizdala
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Letter Opposing Dining in the Dark
>
> Brook,
>
> I appreciate your message and perspective. Social psychology research,
> though, reveals quite a different outcome to disability simulation events.
> It is one thing to blindfold an individual who has some residual eyesight
> to teach them the skills of blindness; it is quite another thing to
> blindfold a sighted person and expect they will have a positive
> experience. Too many people believe that blindness means dependence
> because, when they close their eyes and attempt to perform even the
> simplest of tasks, their failure is attributed to their lack of eyesight,
> not their lack of skill. Dining in the Dark events only serve to reinforce
> these negative stereotypes.
>
> As an individual trained to make decisions based upon evidence-based
> research, simulation experiences have been demonstrated to have the
> opposite effect most novices believe they will have. In my opinion, fund
> raising activities without simulation elements are just as successful;
> therefore, the risk to benefit ratio does not support the risk!
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brooke Evans
> via Nfbf-l
> Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2018 11:55 AM
> To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Brooke Evans; nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Letter Opposing Dining in the Dark
>
> Bah humbug! I say.
>
> I have read every word posted on the dining in the dark opinions, which
> are not always in sync with all people at any given time.
>
> Briefly, I support any activity I can use as a tool to enhance my life not
> only as a blind, low vision person but a blind profoundly hard of hearing
> person diagnosed as deaf blind.
>
> What I hear throughout all I read has been the blind are still
> perpetuating the idea that we are a victim of society. I am not a victim
> of society. As a blind woman with profound hearing loss I have engaged in
> education about my own way of living life as I moved through my life as a
> young child, student, wife, mother of four, grandmother,
> great-grandmother, supporting a career military husband for 28 years,
> working part time, full part time, whatever was needed to help the family
> coppers and never ever thinking I was a victim of my own circumstances.
>
> Any event, such as dining in the dark, to me is an invaluable tool for
> myself as well as four others in my life circles. I have attended for
> dining in the dark events in the past 10 years and believe it or not, I
> have learned more about my own self through these events which has given
> me a wider perspective on blindness and how to communicate that to my
> family, and people in the public square.
>
> Just giving my humble opinion here which was hugely expanded when I
> saw a “hashtag” gem of a quote, by one of our very own NFB Floridians.
>
> This nugget told me to* “be yourself. Everybody else is taken.”
>
> This little Oscar Wilde gem tells me I am not a victim of the world I
> see. I am walking through life as everyone else walks through life...
> experiencing and lending my understanding to those whom I meet along my
> journey, and this includes events such as dining in the dark.
>
> I appreciate the psychological data and what it takes to build data but we
> are no longer avictim of anything but ourselves. Take a look at what we
> have accomplished in nearly 80 years of advocacy, tough advocacy,
> breaking down all manner of barriers. The list is long. This is now 2018
> and for me all that has gone before me has helped me to come into this
> moment of wisdom.
>
> Thank you for listening.
>
> Brooke Evans
>
> Ask yourself: “do I dare shake up the universe?” ~T.S. Eliot
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Marion Gwizdala via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Date: October 10, 2018 at 8:06:13 PM EDT
> To: "NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List" <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org>, "NFB of
> Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Marion Gwizdala <marion.gwizdala at verizon.net>
> Subject: [Nfbf-l] Letter Opposing Dining in the Dark
> Reply-To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>
> Dear Florida Federation Family,
>
>
>
> A week or so ago, I sent a message to these lists concerning
> Dining in the Dark fund raising events. These messages were triggered by a
> Tampa Bay chapter member who, in spite of knowing the National Federation
> of
> the Blind's opposition to such events, announced one being hosted by the
> Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind. I understand another community
> rehabilitation program (CRP) is hosting such an event. As per my previous
> message, it is the policy of the NFB to voice our opposition to such
> events
> when we learn of them and to encourage those conducting them to reconsider
> an event that only serves to reinforce the negative stereotypes of
> blindness
> and demean the blind they purport to serve.
>
>
>
> As the president of the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users and with the encouragement of President Riccobono, I have written
> the
> message below with the unanimous consent of the NAGDU board of directors.
> I
> encourage you to read this message, along with the supporting supplemental
> information accompanying it so you are better educated about our rationale
> for opposing these sort of events.
>
>
>
> Fraternally yours,
>
> Marion Gwizdala
>
> From: president at nagdu.org [mailto:president at nagdu.org]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 4:00 PM
> To: 'cbenninger at guidedogs.com'
> Cc: board at nagdu.org; officeofthepresident at nfb.org
> Subject: Concerning Canine Heroes Auction
> Importance: High
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear Ms. Benninger,
>
> Via Email: CBenninger at guidedogs.com
>
> I am writing on behalf of the National Association of Guide Dog
> Users (NAGDU), a division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB),
> concerning Guide Dogs for the Blind's intention to use a blindness
> simulation episode during its upcoming Canine Heroes Auction. Though the
> National Federation of the Blind is a proponent of the use of learning
> shades - sometimes referred to as "sleep shades" - to effectively train
> individuals in the techniques of blindness, we object to the use of
> simulation as a fund raising technique. Whether intended or not,
> simulation
> exercises tend to invoke fear and pity in the participants, compromising
> the
> goals of the National Federation of the Blind and, I would hope, those of
> guide dogs for the Blind.
>
>
>
> Placing a blindfold on a sighted person does not help the person
> understand what it is like to be blind; rather, such simulations only
> serve
> to reinforce the negative stereotypes and misconceptions that compromise
> our
> ability to fully participate in our community as we strive to live the
> lives
> we want. This is not only the opinion of the National Federation of the
> Blind; it is also the conclusions of research in simulation exercises
> conducted by social psychologists. A blindfolded sighted person will not
> encounter a waitress asking their 5-year-old what her father wants to
> drink,
> strangers grabbing and pushing the blind person where the well-meaning
> individual thinks they are wanting to go, A doctor asking the blind person
> who bathes them, or the condescending comments of pity offered by the
> public, all incidents I and nearly every other blind person have
> experienced.
>
>
>
> We realize the importance of raising funds to continue the work
> of Guide Dogs for the Blind; however, we object to the exploitation of the
> fear of blindness and the demeaning of the blind as the tool for raising
> those funds. We believe the Canine Heroes Auction would be just as
> successful without the simulation episode and urge Guide Dogs for the
> Blind
> to publicly join the National Association of Guide Dog Users and the
> National Federation of the Blind by condemning and opposing the use of
> simulation exercises as a fund raising technique.
>
>
>
> For your information, I have attached the text of Resolution
> 2012-04 condemning the use of simulation exercises as a fund raising
> event.
> I am also including below links to two articles which recently appeared in
> the Braille Monitor, the monthly publication of the National Federation of
> the Blind. One of these articles is written by Mark Riccobono, president
> of
> the National Federation of the Blind, and the second by Dr. Ariel
> Silverman,
> a Social Psychologist.
>
>
>
> Walking a Mile: The Possibilities and Pitfalls of Simulations by Mark
> Riccobono
>
> https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm17/bm1704/bm170402.htm
>
>
>
> Disability Simulations: What Does the Research Say?
>
> By Ariel Silverman, Ph.D.
>
> https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm17/bm1706/bm170602.htm
>
>
>
> In closing, I would like to share the spontaneous, unsolicited
> impressions of an executive with a major airline after attending two
> simulation events. "It struck me as not a realistic simulation of what it
> must be like for a blind person to eat a meal.After having done the
> exercise
> twice, I have learned a few of the techniques that a person might use to
> eat
> their dinner, but I have no illusions that it taught me much at all about
> the overall experience or skills required in life. Unfortunately, I'm
> sure
> that a large number of people who left the exercises think they learned
> more
> than they really did.
>
>
>
> With kind regards,
>
> Marion Gwizdala, President
>
> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)
>
> National Federation of the Blind
>
> (813) 626-2789
>
> President at NAGDU.ORG
>
> Visit our website <http://nagdu.org/>
>
> Follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/nagdu>
>
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
> expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind
> people
> and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what
> holds
> you back.
>
>
>
>
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