[stylist] Blind and segregation

Judith Bron jbron at optonline.net
Wed Dec 31 20:41:53 UTC 2008 

I just wrote a response to Lori with most of your suggestions in it, but 
using different words.  Aside from the legislation part, I applaud your 
suggestions.  If you give me more information about blind children learning 
braille I would be happy to write articles for your PR campaign.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Blind and segregation


> Judith,
> Then, pray tell, what would you do?  Your objections are valid, but almost 
> seem to be a throwing up of ones hands in defeat.  After all, if society's 
> really as far gone as you suggest -- and I would not want to argue against 
> that perspective -- then we're all doomed anyway, so what's the point? 
> Personally, I have a very negative view of society.  I'm the one who 
> thinks educators are so poorly educated themselves that they don't know 
> what literacy means.  I also believe most teachers are so poorly educated 
> about financial matters that they are poor role models and worse teachers 
> on that score as well.  My feeling and suggestion is that we proceed 
> despite these facts and on all fronts.  Use PR like the NFB video on Time 
> Square, encourage Braille literacy through programs like Braille Readers 
> are Leaders and the new Braille oriented Writers' Division contest, talk 
> to parents of blind kids, talk to educators, write things for national and 
> local media -- both blindness related and mainstream -- and make the 
> changes in legislation that will give some parents the amunition they need 
> to insist upon Braille literacy.  So, what's your suggestion?
> Donna
>
> -- 
> For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
> http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>
> Apple I-Tunes
>
> phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374
>
> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
> www.padnfb.org
>
>
>
>
>
> Judith Bron wrote:
>> What you could legislate are guidelines to school boards for visually 
>> impaired or legally blind students.  But then you are depending on school 
>> districts to enforce a law that will cost them more money.  Perhaps you 
>> could lobby the NEA, but don' count on results.  Their priorities go in 
>> this order:  salary, benefits, more control over students to garentee 
>> docile behaviors and on time dismissals.  No, I don't have much faith in 
>> unions who are handed more and more money each year to come up with 
>> negative results. Want to go this route?  You will feel better for making 
>> a dent in a failed system, but it won't make a darned bit of difference 
>> to blind students.
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
>> To: "NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 11:00 AM
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Blind and segregation
>>
>>
>>> Angela,
>>> I'm just saying that getting all of those parents to do that wil take 
>>> even longer than legislation  requiring it.  Obviously, consciousnesses 
>>> need to be raised, PR needs to be done, people's minds need to be opened 
>>> to the capabilities of blind people.  Nevertheless, a law requiring the 
>>> teaching of Braille to all kids whose visual limitations prevent them 
>>> from reading at a speed and with the comprehension of what is considered 
>>> average for their age/IQ or however you want to measure it would catch 
>>> some kids who would otherwise fall through the cracks while waiting for 
>>> the sensabilities of the nation to catch up.  Also, isn't that what NFB 
>>> is currently recommending, state laws mandating Braille education?
>>> Donna
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
>>> http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>>>
>>> Apple I-Tunes
>>>
>>> phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374
>>>
>>> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
>>> www.padnfb.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Angela fowler wrote:
>>>> Donna,
>>>> Legislation is only part of the solution. A piece of legislation 
>>>> without the
>>>> backing of heart and determination is a worthless thing. The civil 
>>>> rights
>>>> act didn't make one less racist. The ADA didn't make one less person
>>>> closed-minded to the capabilities of blind people. We can legislate if 
>>>> we
>>>> will, but real change must take place at the grass-roots level. In 
>>>> short, it
>>>> is more important that parents all across this country stand up for 
>>>> their
>>>> children's right to literacy!
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>> Behalf Of Donna Hill
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 3:59 PM
>>>> To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Blind and segregation
>>>>
>>>> Parents don't insist because they are strong-armed by the public school
>>>> officials with budget concerns who tell them that their child doesn't 
>>>> need
>>>> Braille.  We still live in a world where authority figures are deferred 
>>>> to,
>>>> whether they're right or not.  I think it would be easier to convert 
>>>> the
>>>> school authorities with a change in the legislation than trying to find
>>>> every parent who isn't standing up for their kids and train them in 
>>>> time to
>>>> avoid having the kid miss out on their education.  Surely, the parents 
>>>> who join the NFB are given some support for standing up
>>>> for Braille literacy, but how many parents don't belong?  I really 
>>>> think the
>>>> schools must be forced to do it.
>>>> Donna
>>>>
>>>> -- 
>>>> For my bio & to hear clips from The Last Straw:
>>>> http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
>>>>
>>>> Apple I-Tunes
>>>>
>>>> phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=259244374
>>>>
>>>> Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind
>>>> www.padnfb.org
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> LoriStay at aol.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> No.   The main reason is that parents don't insist, loud and long, 
>>>>> with advocates behind them when the schools balk.   Braille has been 
>>>>> taught to
>>>>>
>>>> the two
>>>>> blind children in Chatterton School in Merrick, and all their work is
>>>>>
>>>> presented
>>>>> to them in Braille.   Actually, one of them is now in Middle school, 
>>>>> and
>>>>>
>>>> I've
>>>>> no idea what they do there, but her background is solid because her 
>>>>> parents insisted.
>>>>> Lori
>>>>>
>>>>> In a message dated 12/29/08 2:26:11 PM, penatwork at epix.net writes:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> The main reason that Braille is not taught in public schools is 
>>>>>> two-fold.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> **************
>>>>> One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and 
>>>>> Yahoo Mail. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&
>>>>> icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Writers Division web site:
>>>>> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org 
>>>>> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>>>>>
>>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>>
>>>> stylist:
>>>>
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40e
>>>>> pix.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version: 
>>>>> 5.11440 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386) Database version:
>>>> 5.11440 http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Writers Division web site:
>>>> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org 
>>>> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>>>>
>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> stylist:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/fowlers%40syix.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Writers Division web site:
>>>> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org 
>>>> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>>>>
>>>> stylist mailing list
>>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>>> stylist:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40epix.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386)
>>>> Database version: 5.11440
>>>> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386)
>>> Database version: 5.11440
>>> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Writers Division web site:
>>> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org 
>>> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>>>
>>> stylist mailing list
>>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>>> stylist:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40optonline.net
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Writers Division web site:
>> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org 
>> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>>
>> stylist mailing list
>> stylist at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> stylist:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/penatwork%40epix.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386)
>> Database version: 5.11450
>> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>>
>
>
>
>
> E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (6.0.0.386)
> Database version: 5.11450
> http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
>
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site:
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> stylist:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40optonline.net

More information about the Stylist mailing list