[Stylist] Food for Thought: NFB Literature for a Younger Audience

[Tina Hansen]

I'm not sure I'd want to dumb down our philosophy. I'm after how to relate
the philosophy to a younger audience.

Back in 1995, there was an issue of Future Reflections that tried to do
that. We didn't have the one-minute message at the time, but the philosophy
was there. Our philosophy has stood 79 years, and I don't see it changing.
My thinking is that yes, kids may not yet have fully developed minds of an
adult, but they do need to be able to appreciate our philosophy. That is why
I'm asking this question. Is it necessary that the wording for a younger
audience should be different from an adult audience? Also, since technology
has indeed changed since that issue, how can we leverage technology to reach
the younger generation?

I also got this idea thanks to a podcast.

https://www.dreambigpodcast.com/

The host is a young girl, Eva Cartman, with help from her parents. She
started this because her parents were listening to self help podcasts in the
car, and Eva says she wasn't relating to them. She wondered: Can a podcast
be done that relates the concepts my parents are hearing, but in a way kids
like her can understand and relate to. I was impressed, and I think what
she's doing is blazing a trail. Not only do kids like it, but I also like
it. I admire her youthful energy and her enthusiasm.

Face it, I'm not knocking anything we've put out for the parents, but I do
wonder if there is a need for NFB literature targeted at a younger audience.
Face it, these kids may have many of the same struggles adults do. They need
to also be able to make friends, learn effective socialization, and other
things. Like adults and work, kids are always needing to learn how to cope
with school.

I'm also not intending the literature to take the place of interactive
training. I believe kids learn best in a highly interactive environment,
whether it's provided by a school or with the parents.

I'm also not wanting to say that parents can't do any teaching. They should.
But again, should someone write or record something for kids? In the podcast
I referred to, Eva uses examples from her own life to make her points. Her
hope is that kids can relate to her stories, and as an adult, I feel drawn
in just because she's being real.

And no, the last thing I want to do is to water down our philosophy. I want
to keep it intact, but find out how we can help kids, especially elementary
and middle school students, relate to it.

I'm not sure if there is a need for a lot of literature like this, but I'm
just putting this out there as food for thought.

I also recognize this potential gap because apart from our own literature, I
get nervous when I find a book for that audience with a blind character. I'm
always aware that any book written for that audience could fall into that
trap of going for the old stereotypes, unless it's been written by one of
our own members.

Also, are there already books that do a good job of showing children the
truth about blindness? If there are, I've not spotted them.

I think once they hit high school, there is less of a need for such targeted
literature. They may need some things around being a teenager, but that's
about it. Their minds are more developed, and with some guidance, they
probably could work through our literature.

Any thoughts? Thanks.