[nFBMI-Talk] article referenced in presidential release

[evelyn weckerly]

Hi, Michael and all,

I attended my first NFB convention in 1966.  At that convention 
Dr.  Jernigan went into extensive discussion about what was then 
known as COMSTAC, the commission charged with organizing what 
became NAC.  The principal sponsor of all this was the American 
Foundation for the Blind.  Dr.  Jernigan had been invited to join 
COMSTAC.  After considerable reflection and analysis-a main part 
of his presentation-he told us that he had accepted the 
invitation because he felt that the NFB needed to know firsthand 
what was going on and to try to influence the direction of 
COMSTAC.  Eventually, he found that the effort to change this 
outfit's direction was futile and that it had to be fought and 
destroyed because of what it would do to the quality of agencies 
serving the blind.  By 1973, when we met in New York, there was a 
major demonstration in front of AFB offices.  For many years, 
whereever NAC met, the NFB was there demonstrating and providing 
literature to the public.  NAC tried to hide the whereabouts of 
its meetings, but the NFB was always there.  I'm not sure just 
when, but finally NAC came to one of our conventions and made 
what was a feeble attempt to establish some kind of communication 
and harmony.  Their presentation left me with the impression that 
NAC was almost dead and rather desperate.  Obviously, the 
Federation didn't kill it.  I suspect (but cannot prove) that the 
demise of our state school for the blind may have been related to 
its having become accredited by NAC.

On a different note, I had to miss both the national convention 
and the state convention in 2017 because of more health problems.  
I hope that 2016 will not turn out to be my last convention.

Cordially,

Evelyn
 ----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Powell via NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" 
<nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sat, 6 Jan 2018 21:05:13 -0500
Subject: [nFBMI-Talk] article referenced in presidential release

Hello To all on this list.  As you have seen from a previous 
posting
President Riccobono, in the January Presidential Release, asked 
us to read
the article in the January Braille Monitor concerning the efforts 
to
reestablish accreditation of agencies for the blind with a new 
emphasis that
does not replace, but rather builds on the model of the old 
system that
excluded the blind and their elected representatives which our 
organization
opposed in the70's, 80's and the 90's.

I am attaching the article for your convenience.  I ask chapter 
leaders to
become familiar with this material and its history and be 
prepared to
discuss it with your members.  Those of us who were around in 
those times
will recognize some very disturbing patterns.

If the new professionals in the field of work for the blind 
really believe
this is a new beginning that is in process you sure wouldn't know 
it in how
forthcoming they were  in only responding when they were asked 
about it
rather than offer all potential stakeholders the opportunity to 
get involved
in discussions from the start.

So review this information.   I urge you to read, discuss and 
learn.

Michael Powell

President

National Federation of the Blind of Michigan

(586)754-1325

Mpowell7583 at yahoo.com

president at nfbmi.org