[NFBSF] Fwd: Save the Date: June 27, 2025 Helen Keller Day Protest: Justice for the DeafBlind

Tue Jun 10 17:37:25 UTC 2025

Kudos to the Deafblind Community!

Sadly, I think  DRC is a useless organization, because of its hypocritical attitude toward people with disabilities. I agree that it is largely an ableist organization. It is certainly one of the largest nonprofits in California with a huge budget. If one reaches out for assistance, chances are one will receive no response, or a very cold response. DRC is an organization comprised of hundreds of highly paid attorneys. It does not believe in grassrots community organizing or activism. 

I must say, this ithe same concern I have for the upcoming Accessible Futures conference. The MTC is going to look great for the media. But in reality, it does absolutely nothing for the disability community. It is another ableist organization. Sadly, the independent living movement was tempted by money, and has naively bought into this conference. The disability community is deeply divided and disorganized. The MTC is taking advantage of the fact that the disability community has failed to meet, discuss our concerns, work toward a concensus, and develop a platform or manifesto of accessibility related expectations and demands that all agencies and organizations must fulfill, including the MTC.

Yes, let's support deafblind individuals. They are on the right track. If only other disabled people followed in their
footsteps and so well understood and fought against the hypocrasy of the so-called government-led disability rights movement! 

 Daveed Mandell  

----- Original Message -----
From: Laura Millar via NFBSF <nfbsf at nfbnet.org>
Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 04:27 AM
To: "NFB of San Francisco, California List" <nfbsf at nfbnet.org>
CC: Laura Millar <laura at lauramillar.com>
Subject: [NFBSF] Fwd: Save the Date: June 27, 2025 Helen Keller Day Protest: Justice for the DeafBlind

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Decertify Lighthouse Now <decertifysflh at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 4:27=E2=80=AFPM
Subject: Save the Date: June 27, 2025 Helen Keller Day Protest: Justice for
the DeafBlind
To: Decertify Lighthouse Now <decertifysflh at gmail.com>

<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3DNFwvB2b5mngE_8GYQ6TcxuD=
KBg6-sW6kqGgB_AMiaU8.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVjZXJ0aWZ5bGlnaHRob3VzZS5vcm=
cvIiwiciI6Ijg4MDMyZDc4LWJkZTItNGE3Mi1iMGRkLThhNzg2NTIzZWIwOCIsIm0iOiJtYWlsI=
iwiYyI6IjAwMDAwMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMCJ9>
Save the Date: June 27, 2025Helen Keller Day Protest: Justice for the
DeafBlind
June 6, 2025

Happy Friday Supporters!

Three weeks from today, we will have our Helen Keller Day Protest: Justice
for the DeafBlind
<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3DTYw2vzd_tt4WzUN2O6JSfpM=
rAhjgT790snz3i7tqBj8.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL2V2ZW50cy8yMj=
UyMjY1NTAxODc3MjUyLz9fX2NmdF9fWzBdPUFaVWluc1hFUDVCWGhoSVJtWWNNb0lkYW9HQVQ1a=
GViMzloTU42Ukc1V0NsX3VaNFVBZllRcGp5eXNmV19SVGllQkF1d01jM1NweDdHX0NXcmJfMDFV=
ME9NTzRYNWVDQXV4RFE5OHdtaFIzYWNvM2dmcU80NHlWVnh3WkpxRDdUbUdWREFicFg4ejRNbTd=
wZ0dPUjREMl9EUHROSGJrZXl4a0tfWTNvZnFEbE13OTJZWHFwaVBTal9va2xrZkFnQVhzRSZfX3=
RuX189LVVLLVIiLCJyIjoiYWI4YmUwNTgtZTYzNi00YTU0LTk1YjAtMjAxNTQxOTI2OGE0Iiwib=
SI6Im1haWwiLCJjIjoiMDAwMDAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwIn0>
on June 27th from 10 AM to 2 PM at Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley. Below the
flyer is our Volunteer Sign Up Form.

It has been more than eight months since the launch of our Campaign. We
attempted to engage LightHouse management in dialogue about our community's
significant concerns, but our efforts were ignored. We sent a letter
to the Disability
Rights California
<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3DY5CQtqQ5Rg1Y9F_GQ7MrudE=
KGKGTSM7HxzyieNGULdI.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0Rpc2FiaWxpdH=
lSaWdodHNDYWxpZm9ybmlhP19fY2Z0X19bMF09QVpVaW5zWEVQNUJYaGhJUm1ZY01vSWRhb0dBV=
DVoZWIzOWhNTjZSRzVXQ2xfdVo0VUFmWVFwanl5c2ZXX1JUaWVCQXV3TWMzU3B4N0dfQ1dyYl8w=
MVUwT01PNFg1ZUNBdXhEUTk4d21oUjNhY28zZ2ZxTzQ0eVZWeHdaSnFEN1RtR1ZEQWJwWDh6NE1=
tN3BnR09SNEQyX0RQdE5IYmtleXhrS19ZM29mcURsTXc5MllYcXBpUFNqX29rbGtmQWdBWHNFJl=
9fdG5fXz0tXUstUiIsInIiOiJhYjhiZTA1OC1lNjM2LTRhNTQtOTViMC0yMDE1NDE5MjY4YTQiL=
CJtIjoibWFpbCIsImMiOiIwMDAwMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAifQ>
of the Federal Communications Commission
<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3DDBwzSOJaqARTj9lk1L1rk2L=
bbvQmgzmIteHsBBfW1Co.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0ZDQz9fX2NmdF=
9fWzBdPUFaVWluc1hFUDVCWGhoSVJtWWNNb0lkYW9HQVQ1aGViMzloTU42Ukc1V0NsX3VaNFVBZ=
llRcGp5eXNmV19SVGllQkF1d01jM1NweDdHX0NXcmJfMDFVME9NTzRYNWVDQXV4RFE5OHdtaFIz=
YWNvM2dmcU80NHlWVnh3WkpxRDdUbUdWREFicFg4ejRNbTdwZ0dPUjREMl9EUHROSGJrZXl4a0t=
fWTNvZnFEbE13OTJZWHFwaVBTal9va2xrZkFnQVhzRSZfX3RuX189LV1LLVIiLCJyIjoiYWI4Ym=
UwNTgtZTYzNi00YTU0LTk1YjAtMjAxNTQxOTI2OGE0IiwibSI6Im1haWwiLCJjIjoiMDAwMDAwM=
DAtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwIn0>
in February 2025. Still, it instructed us to provide specifics, implying
that our collective voice and the many petition signatures do not matter to
the government.

Between the launch of our Campaign and today, many iCanConnect consumers
submitted complaints to the FCC, and they were largely ignored, mainly
because the FCC wants them to share their concerns in a way that is not
accessible to them but accessible to the rest of America. The FCC is
unconvinced by the emotional pleas of DeafBlind consumers, not even the
videos of real people sharing real stories.

That is mainly because the FCC listens only to Brandon Cox and Diana
McCown, who are too happy to tell lies and get away with them. Why is this
the case? We think it is because of ableism: Cox and McCown are sighted and
hearing, and we do not matter because we are DeafBlind. No wonder our
government is full of ableists who proclaim their belief in American civil
rights on the one hand and ignore Americans they deem not to matter on the
other.

We remind our supporters that this Campaign is not just about Californians.
We are lucky to have some of the country's most passionate disability
rights advocates living in California (including the one who actively
helped ensure the creation of iCanConnect), and they are among our ardent
champions. Across America, many DeafBlind individuals are struggling to
access communications so they can stay in touch with their families,
friends, and emergency services. The FCC is not doing enough to monitor
iCanConnect programs nationwide, and its consumer complaint process
discriminates against DeafBlind individuals. We urge the FCC to certify a
single national organization that will be more accountable and better
understand our needs. Decertify LightHouse Now
<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3DbqGOpaTdLIeKapTORWnTQn-=
_X6FhQbHmlzMTdLCzJxo.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL2RlY2VydGlmeW=
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jM5aE1ONlJHNVdDbF91WjRVQWZZUXBqeXlzZldfUlRpZUJBdXdNYzNTcHg3R19DV3JiXzAxVTBP=
TU80WDVlQ0F1eERROTh3bWhSM2FjbzNnZnFPNDR5VlZ4d1pKcUQ3VG1HVkRBYnBYOHo0TW03cGd=
HT1I0RDJfRFB0Tkhia2V5eGtLX1kzb2ZxRGxNdzkyWVhxcGlQU2pfb2tsa2ZBZ0FYc0UmX190bl=
9fPS1dSy1SIiwiciI6ImFiOGJlMDU4LWU2MzYtNGE1NC05NWIwLTIwMTU0MTkyNjhhNCIsIm0iO=
iJtYWlsIiwiYyI6IjAwMDAwMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMCJ9>!

Thank you,

Decertify Lighthouse Now Campaign Team
<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3DPgtJpeRwOvh-1V78q9RkfUi=
kB429wQKXcOiyA320HkY.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVjZXJ0aWZ5bGlnaHRob3VzZS5vcm=
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joibWFpbCIsImMiOiIwMDAwMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAifQ>
Image Description: At the top of the image, a bold caption reads:
"HELEN KELLER DAY PROTEST: JUSTICE FOR THE DEAFBLIND=E2=80=9D.
A vintage-style satirical cartoon depicts a nervous-looking Brandon Cox in
a corporate suit standing in front of an office building labeled
"LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired." A towering figure of
Helen Keller looms above him, appearing to scold him. In the foreground,
miniature DeafBlind protesters with white canes and protest signs=E2=80=94r=
eading
=E2=80=9CDeafBlind Lives Matter=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9CDecertify LightHouse =
Now=E2=80=9D=E2=80=94demonstrate outside
the building.
The sky is cloudy, and the tone is tense and critical.
At the bottom, the caption reads: Friday, June 27, 2025.
10:00 AM =E2=80=93 2:00 PM. Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley, CA 94703
Take Action
Helen Keller Day Protest Volunteer Form:
https://forms.gle/7YRF5V27ihCXQQ576
<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3Dns8g02UI5ilI9crdk6etOg3=
UjqNqjVf2FWTBoj_F_TI.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9mb3Jtcy5nbGUvN1lSRjVWMjdpaENYUVE1Nz=
YiLCJyIjoiNWMzZDgzYmItODI4My00ZWU0LWFjNmYtZGJmMWYzN2VkMGI5IiwibSI6Im1haWwiL=
CJjIjoiMDAwMDAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwIn0>

Share this email with your family, friends, and allies! Thank YOU!
We need your help to cover operating costs and would greatly appreciate
your generosity.
Donate
<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3DTAfvbT351iRF9cOTbEG4M4C=
U7LegWmRcpbzAFpLu0gY.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29mdW5kbWUuY29tL2Yvam9pbi11cy=
1pbi1hZHZvY2F0aW5nLWZvci1lcXVhbC1hY2Nlc3MtdG9kYXkiLCJyIjoiNjhkMGQyMWItMWQ4Z=
S00NjVmLTgyMzItZGY5YmFlODM0NTMxIiwibSI6Im1haWwiLCJjIjoiMDAwMDAwMDAtMDAwMC0w=
MDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwIn0>
Demand FCC Decertify LightHouse Now from Administering iCanConnect in
California!
Sign Petition
<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3DPsQXao28dUKkx3Wy9_Q4SV2=
Q3JxOFcfsvwOgzht-sqM.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbmdlLm9yZy9wL2RlbWFuZC1mY2=
MtZGVjZXJ0aWZ5LWxpZ2h0aG91c2Utbm93LWZyb20tYWRtaW5pc3RlcmluZy1pY2FuY29ubmVjd=
C1pbi1jYWwiLCJyIjoiNjhkMGQyMWItMWQ4ZS00NjVmLTgyMzItZGY5YmFlODM0NTMxIiwibSI6=
Im1haWwiLCJjIjoiMDAwMDAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwIn0>
Solidarity Badges
ID: I Support DeafBlind Californians
ID: Communication Access is a Basic Human Right
Decertify Lighthouse Now!
ID: I Support DeafBlind Californians
Watch DeafBlind Testimonies
<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3DFA9d7BGEhi73nrF8EHz8zRQ=
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81M1BMSV9TbWs_c3RhdHVzPURyYWZ0IiwiciI6IjM1N2QyMmE5LTU3ODMtNDY5Ni1iNWZlLTg5M=
zNmMjk1NTgxMCIsIm0iOiJtYWlsIiwiYyI6IjAwMDAwMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAw=
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<https://decertifylighthouse.org/so/53PLI_Smk/c?w=3DJB7ux4pBQuKYg23DlNHray_=
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