[nabs-l] Blindness and other minorities

[Chris Nusbaum]

Hi everyone,

Bridgit, I agree that sighted guide certainly has a time and 
place.  A great speech on this topic is The Nature of 
Independence, a speech that Dr.  Jernigan gave at the national 
convention in 1993.  I encourage everyone to listen to it, it's a 
great speech and a classic.  You can read it from the Speeches 
and Reports page of the Publications section at nfb.org or you 
can listen to it in the Audio/Video Center, under Audio, then 
National Convention Banquet Speeches.  I would provide the direct 
link, but the NFB server must be down at the moment.

Chris

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com
To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sun, 6 Nov 2011 12:07:51 -0600
Subject: [nabs-l] Blindness and other minorities

I think it's great that people are doing positive things during 
Meet the
Blind Month.  My chapter says every year that we're going to do 
something
then we don't.  It is doing activities like this that allow us to 
do
community outreach that begins to people an opportunity to learn 
a
different way of thinking.

However, and I make this comment without knowing the full extend 
of
which you did a presentation on, but perhaps we need to display a
broader view of blindness and present more independent concepts.  
Nothing
is wrong with sighted guide, and it's important sighted people 
who
assist with guiding us know the proper way, but what about 
explaining
the importance of independent mobility with a cane or dog, andhow 
this
is equal to traveling with sight? And what about demonstrating 
Braille
and how efficient it can be? As we educate, we want to instill 
the idea
of independence, and how we can be equally independent among our 
sighted
peers with little, to no, sighted assistance.  I'm not suggesting 
blind
people never require a pair of eyes, and we should instruct 
people in
the best way in which to assist us, but I think we need to focus 
more on
our independent capabilities and how we can be equally efficient 
than on
how best to assist us such as sighted guide.

I'm probably sparking controversy, but it goes back to the role 
we play
in educating and informing.  We don't have to "water-down" our 
message
just because sighted people may be uncomfortable.  We present 
ourselves
with diplomacy, but we don't have to cater to what makes them 
feel
better.  The truth needs to be unleashed even if that makes 
people
uncomfortable.  Independence truly is a state of mind, and 
society must
understand that a lack of sight doesn't equate to inferior or 
less
capable- it's just a different way to do most the same things.

I mean no offense, and I'm glad to hear of people being active in 
their
communities, but I think what we present needs to focus on our 
best
interest and not on issues making those who aren't blind feel 
less
awkward and uncomfortable.  It's our turn to assert and instill 
our goals
and concepts.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 6
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2011 17:59:21 -0500
From: Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Blindness vs.  Other Minority Groups
Message-ID:

<CAO83KOt2vZ949nEBnLKB5PfkxtDHKAwsY=Tt7TT6htU+F_Tmug at mail.gmail.c
om
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I actually did a presentation at my college, for "Meet the 
Blind," month
where I showed everyone how to guide a blind person, and I taught 
them
the blindness courtesy rules, from the NFB.  I'd encourage all 
students
here, to ask if you can do the same thing, at your colleges.  
Blessings,
Joshua


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