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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Dear Florida Federation Family,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Fraternally yours,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Marion Gwizdala<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> president@nagdu.org [mailto:president@nagdu.org] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, October 10, 2018 4:00 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'cbenninger@guidedogs.com'<br><b>Cc:</b> board@nagdu.org; officeofthepresident@nfb.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Concerning Canine Heroes Auction<br><b>Importance:</b> High<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dear Ms. Benninger,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Via Email: CBenninger@guidedogs.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> 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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> 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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Walking a Mile: The Possibilities and Pitfalls of Simulations by Mark Riccobono<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm17/bm1704/bm170402.htm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Disability Simulations: What Does the Research Say? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>By Ariel Silverman, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm17/bm1706/bm170602.htm <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>With kind regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion Gwizdala, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(813) 626-2789<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President@NAGDU.ORG<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://nagdu.org/">Visit our website</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://twitter.com/nagdu">Follow us on Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>