[stylist] Blind and segregation
Donna Hill
penatwork at epix.net
Wed Dec 31 23:45:39 UTC 2008
Judith,
I don't write specifically or solely about Braille literacy. I try to
throw it in when I am writing press releases for the Performing Arts
Division or when I am commenting on articles about blindness such as the
rash of articles accompanying the Saramago book/movie, the CDC's
predictions of a three-fold increase in diabetic-related blindness among
working-age Americans expected by 2050 and the Saturday Night Live skit
ridiculing Governor Paterson's blindness. There are probably
opportunities for you to help out on the national level with the NFB's
PR. If you are interested, try contacting Chris Danielsen, NFB's public
relations specialist.
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:
> 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
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/
More information about the Stylist
mailing list