[blindkid] blindkid Digest, Vol 123, Issue 24

[Lalena Fayre]

Hi Arielle -
I firmly believe there is a disconnect for some members of the NFB
regarding independence and the usage of "sighted-guide." I have listened to
and read the speech by Dr. Jernigan. It's a wonderful speech actually and
he is right. Unfortunately though, there are many who have never heard that
speech or have a misguided notion that using assistance (blind or sighted)
means you aren't an independent blind person.  I have had blind friends who
have tremendous guilt because they feel more comfortable utilizing a guide
(sighted or blind) through an airport, across major streets, in shopping
malls or other heavily trafficked, echo chambers. When we talk about the
guilt part of it comes from the message that successful blind people don't
need assistance. Sadly, this extreme also influences those kids who need
assistance or are learning the skills. I agree that providing 1:1
assistance isn't necessarily for all blind children and that if it is
needed it's usually due to other factors beyond blindness.

You are right in that the inappropriate actions of few isn't representative
of the whole but when these actions happen at conventions or meetings it's
hard to give the organization the benefit of the doubt.
Lalena

----- Original Message -----
From: "Arielle Silverman via blindkid" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
To: "Sarah Thomas" <seacknit at gmail.com>; "Blind Kid Mailing List,(for
parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 6:10 PM
Subject: [blindkid] NFB and Independence


Hi all,

In reading Lalena's point about the NFB's position on independence, I
would point out former President Jernigan's article titled "the nature
of independence" that is a prominent part of NFB literature. In it,
Jernigan describes times in his own life when he uses sighted
assistance, or assistance in general,
to get things done. While I will not claim that all NFB members have
the exact same view of independence, I know many NFB members,
including myself, who utilize assistance at times--including in the
airport. Providing a 1:1 aide isn't necessary for all blind kids, but
it could very well be needed for some kids--usually not because of
blindness (and I think a properly trained blind person could
competently assist a blind multi-disabled child in participating, so
it's not a "visual guide" that's needed, just a guide). It is truly
unfortunate if our members openly criticize parents for their choices,
and that is not something we should tolerate as an organization. But
please know that the inappropriate actions of a few individual members
should not represent the NFB or NOPBC as  a whole in its response to
the needs of multi-disabled members.

Respectfully,
Arielle