[Tn-talk] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Urges Education about Living Successfully with Blindness, Not Scaring People with the #HowEyeSeeIt Blindfold Challenge by the Foundation Fighting Blindness

[NFBTN Secretary]

Please look at the below release from the NFB. What do you guys think about each one of our chapters making a short video and participate in this campaign?



James Alan Boehm
Contact Information:
Phone: 901-483-1515
Personal Email: jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com
NFB Email: secretary at nfb-tn.org
Kustom Cane: kustomcane at gmail.com

Blindness never limits-low expectations do! Live the life you want!

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Jimmy <jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com>
> Subject: National Federation of the Blind Urges Education about Living Successfully with Blindness, Not Scaring People with the #HowEyeSeeIt Blindfold Challenge by the Foundation Fighting Blindness
> Date: September 27, 2016 at 8:02:41 PM CDT
> 
> National Federation of the Blind Urges Education about Living Successfully with Blindness, Not Scaring People with the #HowEyeSeeIt Blindfold Challenge by the Foundation Fighting Blindness
> NFB  /  dtrevino
> 
> Blog Date: 
> Tuesday, September 27, 2016
> Don't Participate. Don't Donate. Educate.
> 
>  
> Members and leaders of the National Federation of the Blind from across the nation do a fantastic job of countering low expectations, misconceptions, and stereotypes about blindness.  We believe the #HowEyeSeeIt Blindfold Challenge being promoted by the Foundation Fighting Blindness unnecessarily perpetuates negative perceptions and fears about living with blindness. If you haven't taken action yet, or want to let others know how to counteract this harmful fundraising campaign, here are three quick tips:
> 
> 1. Don't participate. Putting on a blindfold for a few minutes is not the way to learn about blindness and blind people. This does not demonstrate the reality of what it is like to live successfully and independently as a blind person. Do not participate in the #HowEyeSeeIt Blindfold Challenge.
> 
> 2. Don't donate. The National Federation of the Blind generally supports medical research on eye conditions, but spreading fears and misconceptions about blindness is not the right way to fund this research. New treatments or cures may or may not be available in the future, but the one thing we know for sure is that perpetuating fear about being blind, jeopardizes the dreams and aspirations of blind people living successfully and independently today. The Foundation Fighting Blindness must understand that this approach is unacceptable, and does not portray the way blind people the way they want to be portrayed, there must be consequences. Don't donate to the Foundation Fighting Blindness until it stops spreading unfounded fears of blindness and blind people.
> 
> 3. Educate. Blind people, along with our family members, friends, and supporters, please post photos and, preferably, short videos with the #HowEyeSeeIt hashtag showing how blind people perform various tasks and live the lives they want. If you're blind, take a few minutes to make a video of yourself preparing a meal, cleaning the house, or playing with your children. Here are some          tips for shooting a video. <https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/shooting-selfie-videos> If you're sighted, help a blind friend or family member make a video, or make one yourself in which you talk about what you have learned from the blind people you know and how they are living the lives they want.
> 
>  
> It's really that simple: don't participate in the #HowEyeSeeIt Blindfold Challenge or donate to the FFB. Instead, educate the public on how blind people live the lives we want.
> 
>  
>  
> Posted in: 
> General <https://nfb.org/vonb-categories/general>
> 
> Original Article: https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/national-federation-blind-urges-education-about-living-successfully-blindness-not <https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/national-federation-blind-urges-education-about-living-successfully-blindness-not>
> 
> 
> James Alan Boehm
> Phone: 901-483-1515
> Personal Email: jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com <mailto:jimmydagerman80 at gmail.com>
> Refer NFB correspondences to:
> secretary at nfb-tn.org <mailto:secretary at nfb-tn.org>
> 
> "Blindness never limits- Low expectations do! Live the life you want!"