[NFBJ] Troulling Developments at JBI

[Daveed Mandell]

Hello, all:

I am very concerned about what I perceive as a rather condescending, patrnizing, custodial attitude toward blind people by the Board and staff of JBI. I think JBI has done serious damage over the past 24 years, because it has all but ignored the very blind people who depend on its services. 

I feel that the name JBI is ridiculous and does not describe the organization's purpose and message. NFB members know that only we blind people have the right to determine our own destinies, and that we must the final say as to JBI's new name and how and which services are provided. 

I feel that we patrons need to take a very firm stand and let the Board and staff know that we expect to be more than feedback providers and comment givers. I feel that we should be much more heavily involved in decision making, and that services must be provided that people want, not what staff and Board members think we want or need. I whink that we must let them know that we will not allow them to give us only a very token role in the organization. I think a much more apt name would be something such as Jewish Books for the Blind, Jewish Library for the Blind, or other similar name. It is obvious that the PR and comunications consultaarts they have hired know absolutely nothing about blind people. 

All the best,

Daveed Mandell