[Ohio-talk] Are Blind People lemmings?

Wanda Sloan wsloan4 at roadrunner.com
Tue Nov 27 17:10:25 UTC 2012


I have been off line for a couple of weeks. But, I am back !!  I have missed
a lot in the time I was not available.  I basically agree with most of what
you have said.  Glad to be back.  And, good to hhear from you.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of COLLEEN
ROTH
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 1:07 PM
To: ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Are Blind People lemmings?

Hi Eric and Everyone on List,
Being part of the NFB Family means standing by the decisions the NFB makes
even if we do not understand or agree with them.
If we have something to say about a deision that is Okay but ultimately we
must work as a family and live as a family.
After all, we are a family.
I am sure that none of us can say we agree with each and every deision made
in any family we are a part of.
I think that we should support the changes that were voted on at the
National Convention.
If we do not understand something we should question it privately with
someone who knows about the reasoning or can find out for us.
Over the years I have learned that tact and being assertive are important.
Aggression and being disrespectful are never appropriate.
This does not mean that we shouldn't demonstrate against things such as our
picketing of Goodwill or NAC or other things which are discriminatory.
We in the NFB must remember that we might lose some battles but we will
never lose the war.
Look at how we have learned to deal with situations in a respectful and
appropriate way which has caused us to be able to work with others for the
benefit of the blind of our nation and world.
We always need to stand up for what is right and not be afraid to act when
necessary.
As an example, years ago I really wasn't very happy "for the rights of Dog
Guide Users.
I supported their rights and will continue to do so.
I have learned that there is endeed discrimination and this area and I now
vigorously support those who are Dog Guide users.
i never can remember which way to say this.
By the same token, I wish Dog Guide Users would realize that their Dog
Guides should be kept under control. I must say that I didn't have any
unpleasant encounters because of lack of control on the part of Dog Guide
Users' this year.
I think that my attitude in this area has helped.
Compromise is a good thing if we can do it without watering down what we
believe in.
I can say that I no longer hate dogs, I just would rather not have them too
close.
Have a great day and oemember we need to do wha^ is best for the most
people.
Sometimes we just have to work around things we do not like or understand.
Go a great day!
Maybe someone could post something about which is the correct term, Dog
Guide or Guide Dog and explain the difference.
Colleen Roth



----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Duffy <eduffy at deltav.org>
To: "'Ationfb of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'"
<ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Saturday, Nov 10, 2012 07:23:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Are Blind People lemmings?

>
>
> I am never too excited about changing the Braille code, but I have to 
> trust those in a better position to know about the need for change than am
I.
> Those in the STEM fields believe there is a need for change. When the 
> Nemeth Code was created, I am sure there were those who saw no need 
> for it. How many of us would say get rid of it? Most people who 
> learned Braille after the Nemeth Code was adopted would say never get rid
of it.  In any case,
> Aleeha   and Chantel
>  Are right on target. We are a family, and we must remain united even 
> when we disagree with a decision or two.
> 
> Eric
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> Chantel Cuddemi
> Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2012 5:59 PM
> To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Are Blind People lemmings?
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I'd like to comment on the Braille thing.
> 
> In my home state, Massachusetts, I  was taught Braille at a very young 
> age, and will use it if I have to.
> 
> I prefer speech over Braille.
> 
> Yes, we all have to stand by the nfb no matter what, because, we are a 
> family.
> 
> Just my thoughts,
> 
> Chantel
> 
> On 11/10/12, Aleeha Dudley <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >  I agree entirely with what Colleen has just said. Even though I am 
> > young, I don't think I will give up my 9 contractions either. That's 
> > just  the way I have been taught. this, however, should not be your 
> > reason to not renew your membership with NAPUB. I have two points to 
> > make for my reasoning for this. The first is that since so many 
> > children are going without Braille education and so many newly blind 
> > adults or adults who have been blind for years do not use Braille or 
> > simply do not have the opportunity to learn it, it needs to be 
> > promoted and taught as much as possible, no matter what code it's in.
> > Braille is still a very important tool for the blind, especially in 
> > terms
> of literacy and education, and therefore should be promoted.
> >   The second point I have to make is about standing behind your 
> > Federation family, even though you may not agree with everything 
> > they say. I know someone at the convention, I do not remember who, 
> > talked for a bit about this. This is not made as an anger-provoking 
> > statement, and I hope it is not seen as such. Though you may not 
> > agree with everything your Federation family stands for, you should 
> > always stand by your family in the eyes of the public and other 
> > organizations of the blind. We are, after all, a family, and one's 
> > responsibility is to stand by one's family in all decisions, is it not?
> > I hope this message has not offended anyone and I apologize if it has.
> > Please feel free to reply with your comments.
> > I hope all are recovering from whatever was so generously shared at 
> > convention! I myself did not get it, but I hope everyone who did is 
> > faring well.
> > Best Wishes,
> >
> > Aleeha dudley
> >
> > On Nov 10, 2012, at 2:39 PM, Colleen Roth <n8tnv at att.net> wrote:
> >
> >ar Hi Milena,
> >ar I wasn't hapy about the proposed changes years ago when we first 
> >ar heard about them.
> >ar I am not happy we are going to change to UEB but I still think we 
> >ar should promote Braille.
> >ar If my notetaker continues to support translation from Grade 2 
> >Braille ar to text I will continue ! use that.
> >ar I will probably learn UEB because I still want to teach Braille to 
> >ar others.
> >ar I love all of my contractions too.
> >ar I find certain things rather cubersome and we do not need to have 
> >ar things take up more room.
> >ar However, we were outvoted and must live with this.
> >ar I gues for me I will write in Braille with all of my friend ar 
> >contactions when it is for my personal use or when I write to someone 
> >ar who can read Grade 2 Braille.
> >ar We still need to promote Literacy and for many of us that means
Braille.
> >ar Yes sometime in the future we can let children in on our nine ar 
> >contractions.
> >ar I personally do not plan to retire any of my current books.
> >ar I just hope that when I can no longer use them someone will still 
> >ar want them.
> >ar Let's promote Braille Literacy no matter what our feelings are about
UEB.
> >ar I guess I better look for a hardcopy of some Study Materials.
> >ar I actually want to read the changes in a hardcopy book.
> >ar I really do not want to go to a Website because I am not sure I 
> >can ar access Bana's Website with my Braille Sense.
> >ar Enjoy writing braille as long as you draw breath.
> >ar We have always experienced changes to the codes and have survived
them.
> >ar
> >ar Colleen Roth
> >ar
> >ar
> >ar
> >ar ----- Original Message -----
> >ar From:  <mzavoli at roadrunner.com>
> >ar To:  Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> >ar Date: Friday, Nov 9, 2012 08:41:40 PM ar Subject: [Ohio-talk] Are 
> >Blind People lemmings?
> >ar
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Hello Everyone,
> >>>
> >>> Although I wrote about Braille at the end of a previous message, 
> >>> it has been brought to my attention that many might have missed my 
> >>> comments, and so I am restating my thoughts under a separate 
> >>> subject
> line.
> >>>
> >>> I amm expressing my displeasure at NAPUB for what's about to 
> >>> happen to our well-crafted, space-efficient and cherished Braille
system.
> >>>
> >>> I voted against the BANA Braille changes at this year's national 
> >>> convention because Braille is fine the way it is.  Braille will 
> >>> become more cumbersome to read the way BANA plans to change it.
> >>> This is all an attempt to placate those who say that Braille is 
> >>> hard.  By lowering our standards to become "team players" we are 
> >>> harming ourselves and future generations of blind children and adults.
> >>>
> >>>  I love all of my contractions, and to have nine of the most 
> >>> commonly needed ones gone, feels like I've suffered a Braille
> amputation!!!
> >>>
> >>> Our complying with the demands of people in Europe or other parts 
> >>> of the world and settling for the inferior code they want makes us 
> >>> nothing more than lemmings.
> >>>
> >>> Imagine how the "blindness professionals" will say that Braille is 
> >>> even more long and cumbersome than it used to be, and they will 
> >>> have more reason to argue that Braille should not be inflicted on 
> >>> blind
> children.
> >>> Democratizing Braille should not mean lowering standards.
> >>>
> >>> NAPUB has lowered the standards for American braille, and I will 
> >>> not support or renew my membership in NAPUB.
> >>>
> >>> I will be a Braille maverick.  As my way of silent protest, I will 
> >>> continue to write Braille the "old fashioned" way.  One day, I'll 
> >>> be at a national convention telling blind youngsters about the 
> >>> good old days and showing them my secret Braille contractions.  As 
> >>> they gather around, I'll say, "I know nine secret contractions 
> >>> that they didn't teach you in school."  I bet anything they'll be 
> >>> very
> interested!!!
> >>>
> >>> Milena
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Ohio-talk mailing list
> >>> Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> >>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> >>> for
> >>> Ohio-talk:
> >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/n8tnv%40att
> >>> .n
> >>> et
> >ar
> >ar
> >ar
> >ar _______________________________________________
> >ar Ohio-talk mailing list
> >ar Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> >ar http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> >ar To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> >for ar Ohio-talk:
> >ar 
> >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/blindcowgirl19
> >ar 93%40gmail.com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ohio-talk mailing list
> > Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> > for
> > Ohio-talk:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/jawsgirl87%40
> > gm
> > ail.com
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Ohio-talk mailing list
> Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Ohio-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/eduffy%40pobox.
> com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Ohio-talk mailing list
> Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Ohio-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/n8tnv%40att.net

_______________________________________________
Ohio-talk mailing list
Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Ohio-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/wsloan4%40roadrunner.
com





More information about the Ohio-Talk mailing list