[stylist] Working in blindness field

Sun Feb 17 13:59:41 UTC 2013

It does.  That was correct.  

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 8:08 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Working in blindness field

Bridget,

Could it be that more of the state board members and generally more really
active members of the NFB are working in the blindness field because
blindness is their passion?It makes sense to me that if promoting
opportunities for blind people was your life's mission that you'd work in
that field and be more active within an organization that supported you.  I
do think all blind people have an interest in achieving true equality for
blind people. However I think for some it is their major life's work, while
for others of us it is something we do when we can around our other main
pursuits. So it makes sense to me that there would be a large number of
people within the NFB that do or want to work in the blindness field.

I've been blind for around 20 years now.  While I do know quite a few blind
people who work in the blindness field, I'd say I know a larger number who
don't.  Perhaps that's because I have never been very involved in leadership
within the NFB.  It does seem that those in leadership positions do work in
the blindness field much more frequently.  Again that makes sense to me due
to their strong interest and commitment to the cause.

Julie

On 2/17/2013 11:13 PM, Bridgit Pollpeter wrote:
> Ashley,
>
> Without actual stats, we can't really debate this, but that being said,
> I beg to differ, at least to a degree.
>
> I don't think anyone here is trying to make generalizations seeing as we
> all are blind, but we are all speaking from our experiences and personal
> observations.
>
> In the ten years I've been blind, which isn't long compared to some,
> I've met more blind people working in a blindness-related field or
> hoping to be employed in a blindness related field. For every lawyer,
> teacher and computer programmer I've met, I've met ten who worked in a
> job relating to blindness.
>
> There's nothing wrong with this, and most of us would agree that blind
> people need to be working in these fields, but I also think it can
> become a safety net for some; not all, but many.
>
> I've been to NFB conventions, and yes, there are people employed in
> various fields, and many scholarship winners plan to, or are, pursuing a
> myriad of career paths, but again, for every one of these people I've
> met, I've met a dozen working in the blindness field. Or many of these
> people end up in a blindness field despite their choice of degree.
>
> And having heard several scholarship winners speak at conventions, a
> good number of them hope to work in some way in a blindness field or
> teaching the blind. Again, nothing wrong with this, and we do need blind
> people doing this, but, for me, it shows how many blind people go into a
> blindness related field.
>
> And in our affiliate, most of the leadership either works in the
> blindness field or hopes too. Of our eleven state board members, only
> two are employed outside of a blindness field, and one is working
> towards a degree so they can work in a blindness job.
>
> More and more blind people are seeking opportunities outside of a
> blindness related career, but many are still drawn to the field for
> whatever reason. Again, we need strong, competent blind people in this
> field, but we also need to consider what we truly want as a person and
> not a blind person.
>
> And a side note, I don't think Lynda meant anything negative by her
> comments nor was she implying all blind people work in a blindness
> related field. She was merely detailing her experience and speaking to
> that experience alone.
>
> Bridgit
>
> Message: 11
> Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2013 22:28:29 -0500
> From: "Ashley Bramlett"<bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List"<stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Sending this again: Article
> 	showingwhatparentsofblindkids are facing
> Message-ID:<D073072BEB3F4E1F938EB6B7A6FF190A at OwnerPC>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> 	reply-type=response
>
> Lynda,
> I beg to differ. Have you been to a nfb convention?
> There are people employed in all walks of life and most scholarship
> winners
> have a career aspiration in a non blindness field; they include future
> teachers, therapists, researchers,  counselors, and doctors.
> Most blind people I know work either in the IT field as computer
> programmers
> or in the government, far from the blindness
> fields! Read the braille monitor and you will see the wide variety of
> fields
> too!
>
>
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