[NFBWATlk] On ADA Anniversary, Republican Lawmakers Mock Disability Accommodation - Disability Scoop - July 28, 2022

[Marci Carpenter]

I have been listening to our black, Latin and Muslim leaders on this issue. Everyone agrees that accessibility of presentation materials is very important, and that some people get carried away with self description, but my friends tell me that not having some self description can erase their identities and leaves them feeling invisible. I don’t think it’s my place to tell them they are wrong because I don’t live in their skin.

A resolution was presented at our national resolutions committee meeting this year which would have the NFB taking the position that all self description should be strongly discouraged. The resolution was drafted by a person of color who was unhappy with the amount of time self description takes up at his company’s virtual meetings. I sympathize with his frustrations. There was a vigorous debate and I listened carefully to everyone. I heard many of my friends describe negative impacts when there is lack of self description. I heard some people argue for the resolution. I ended up voting “no“. The resolution did not pass out of the committee.

Marci

> On Jul 29, 2022, at 6:58 PM, Mary Ellen via NFBWATlk <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I agree, Becky.  I think it's patronizing.  How many people who give a self description then fail to explain their power points?  Self description is not reliable and it's not complete.  If I want to know what someone looks like, I'll quietly ask someone else at the meeting.  I'll ask two or three other people so I can get a variety of opinions.  I think this was invented by someone who thought we might like it and wanted to be inclusive.  It's interesting that many people at the meeting in question  wore masks, thereby making it impossible for deaf people who read lips to do so.  Sometimes it's hard to know which way to turn at intersections.
> 
> Mary Ellen
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBWATlk <nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Becky Frankeberger via NFBWATlk
> Sent: July 29, 2022 5:41 PM
> To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List' <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Becky Frankeberger <b.butterfly at comcast.net>
> Subject: Re: [NFBWATlk] On ADA Anniversary, Republican Lawmakers Mock Disability Accommodation - Disability Scoop - July 28, 2022
> 
> I think describing yourself is completely insulting. Tell me your name where you work or your interest in this meeting. 
> 
> Becky   
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBWATlk <nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Kris via NFBWATlk
> Sent: Friday, July 29, 2022 11:25 AM
> To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Kris <tishgifts at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBWATlk] On ADA Anniversary, Republican Lawmakers Mock Disability Accommodation - Disability Scoop - July 28, 2022
> 
> Thank you for the article. I have a couple of questions for people.
> 
> Do others truly appreciate this practice or is it a feel good option to include blind and visually impaired individuals? Meaning that I Idon’t remember seeing this practice used at our NFB convention‘s and I don’t think I have seen the practice used even at our virtual meetings. Is this because we don’t really care how the person appears and are more interested in the information?
> 
> Is this something people would like to see practiced within our meetings? Or is this something that is only really useful when we are meeting with others outside of the Federation?
> 
> If it is someone I don’t know, I find it interesting but not necessary. However, it