[blindkid] Determining what comes first and...

[Carrie Gilmer]

Dear Eric and all,

 

I wanted to put a bit of perspective on the issues of access and civil
rights that we work for. It is hard to realize if you are not keeping up or
involved at the center all that goes on everyday. I have heard Dr. Maurer
say that people regularly call him about some issue and exclaim "There
oughta be a law!". he also said.well maybe there should be, maybe education
is the answer, maybe there already is a law but needs enforcement or
clarification.

 

Many times it has been rumored or perceived that we are resistant or against
something when we are really exploring the best way to address it or our
resources are being gobbled up addressing something bigger or we get
sidetracked fighting someone pushing for what we don't need.

 

Think of an IEP-in our case in sixth grade the primary thing was to get
Jordan access to reading-he needed full time Braille. Yet there were many
other things, we also wanted him to have access to his locker.  They wanted
access to the locker too, but the offer was to have his locker specially
grouped by the kids who had developmental disabilities or specially placed
by the front door and the lockers already had accommodations.we did not want
that.he did not need that.all he needed was not to have a combination
lock.we had to focus on first things first, while other things came up and
went on tangents we never dreamed.

 

While we are working for all kinds of things nationally new things and old
things come up. Last year a blind woman was denied treatment at a fertility
clinic because they said she shouldn't be a parent because she was blind.a
court agreed.well we couldn't just leave that be.In Hawaii the U.S. Navy
tried to take over and give to someone else a business/vending opportunity
that was supposed to (by law) be offered to the blind. Most parents do not
understand the Randolf Sheppard Act or the business enterprise system or why
it is important.we have over a 70% unemployment rate, some of your children
might very well need that small business opportunity to own and operate
their own stores.not everyone will go to college and some who do will want
to go into business.it is a critically important issue. We have a battle of
a thousand fronts.Where do DVD's and descriptive access fit into books on
time, Braille for the other 90% who don't get it, requirements for teacher
and O and M certification, teacher shortage, teacher training, access and
non-discrimination to public places, rights to be a blind parent, job
opportunities, quality blindness training in rehab.It is like the locker, we
always wanted it, Jordan needed it, but in the scheme of things it was not
at the top of the list, and when it was done we wanted it done in a way that
made sense (including we did not demand $$ for an entire new locker to be
built especially for him) and that fit his true needs.and then some big new
thing comes along that will affect hugely and has to be met while it is
forming.quiet cars and online classrooms.it takes brains, energy, $$, time,
uses up our key people's hours in the day. 

 

 

The NFB is fighting everyday, all over the nation, the world even, for
progress.the more involved you can be, with your voice, with your fact
finding, with your sweat and talents, with your $$$ or helping to raise $$$
from others (funding our movement-it must be done-or all our battles will
not be won).the more we can get done and get done faster. The future of the
NFB and its health-well it is your child's future at stake, and our children
are the NFB's future, we have a vested interest in each other.

 

 

Carrie Gilmer, President

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

A Division of the National Federation of the Blind

NFB National Center: 410-659-9314

Home Phone: 763-784-8590

carrie.gilmer at gmail.com

www.nfb.org/nopbc