[nobe-l] The Power of words--is this the image we want for ourchildren with visual impairment?

[Albert J Rizzi]

My partner described  it to me as follows. a blind man sets himself up in
what appears to be a train station. He writes feebly on a sign which reads
help me I am blind. here and there people toss change and or throw change at
him often not even making it into the can he set up for himself. This woman
then walks over and rewrites something on his sign. She writes it is a
beautiful day and I cannot see it. with that the coins fly out of peoples
pockets and much to the amazement on the blind man. the lady comes back he
asks what did you write and she tells him the same thing with different
words. she walks away and of course as the video would have you believe he
is saved, for that day anyway.

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."


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-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Marc Workman
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 8:22 PM
To: National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] The Power of words--is this the image we want for
ourchildren with visual impairment?

Hi Anne,

I might share your disgust, but I really can't tell what is going on in the
video.  Based on your comments below, and the sounds of the video, I'm
assuming it portrays a blind person begging.  Then I guess someone changes
the words on his sign, and it leads to him getting more money, which is
supposed to demonstrate the power of words.

However, this is all guess work, I'd appreciate it if you or someone else
could describe the video.  If I'm going to be disgusted, I'd like to know
what it is that's making me disgusted.

Best,

Marc
On 2011-04-06, at 5:44 PM, Anne Ward wrote:

> This disgusting video is actually an ad for a public relations firm, but
it is a terrible portrayal of a blind person.  Possibly we can all protest
to this firm, at the very least.
> ----- 
> 
> I have to say YUK and Double YUK to this video.  The pity button is not a
desirable thing.  Blind folks have been fighting for years to overcome the
stereotype of "blind beggars" and pity for them not being able to see.  The
only thing missing in the video is that the guy was not selling pencils,
lightbulbs or brooms door to door.
> 
> The image of the blind as pathetic beggars keeps public perception of the
blind right back in the 19th century and the unemployment rate of capable
blind people sky high.
> 
> I understand the point of the message but for those of us involved in the
struggles for equal civil rights and opportunities for people with
disabilities things like this video disgust and sadden us.  It undoes so
much of the work that we are doing.
> 
> This video really illustrates how well-meaning people can do great harm
while trying to do good.
> 
> 
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> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU
> 
> Anne Ward
> CAPVI
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