[nabs-l] Why is it important to join an organization of the blind?

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Chris,

You pose very interesting and valid questions. Most of us have met
people who are blind and adopt a similar attitude as the people you
describe. There are many reasons why people do and do not join an
organization, but we must look at what the purpose of these
organizations are.

First, sighted people do develop, promote and advocate for many issues.
Now, most of these groups have a blend of people with plenty of
diversity, but many ethnic and racial groups have organizations
dedicated to serving minorities and the issues and causes important to
them. As a type 1 diabetic, I've been involved in diabetic groups
advocating for better care, encouraging research and providing
education; I did this sighted. There are other health-related groups
doing similar work. And the list goes on and on. We often fail to see
the other perspective especially with blindness. People focus on this,
forgetting many organizations exist doing similar work. The Federation
is not unique in terms of an advocacy group promoting causes and
initiatives.

Now, the initial goals of the Federation were to promote independence,
work towards changing attitudes and serving as a political platform for
blind causes led by those with the experience of being blind. So, first
and foremost, a group like the NFB is dedicated to political activism
and advocacy. Despite the growing number of divisions within the
Federation catering to various interests, the priority of the Federation
has always been to promote and advocate the ideas and causes important
to Federation members.

That we meet other blind people, having opportunities to network, is
essential to the growth and success of the Federation because we need
each generation to adopt healthy, positive mindsets about blindness. The
social aspect, however, is secondary to the political element. Not
everyone joins to be politically active. In my experience, a majority of
people join the Federation purely for social reasons, though many
eventually come to understand the importance of an active voice
advocating for equal rights and fair treatment of the blind. This has
been debated again and again, but at the fundamental level, an
organization like the NFB is similar to those groups fighting for
equality among other minority groups. We've been labeled second-class
citizens for years, not always given opportunities and our abilities are
questioned and doubted. So we stand up and demand equality.

That we have a chance to network and ask questions of those with
experience, is a benefit to joining the Federation. You have a support
system backing you, ready to help in any way. For example, we've heard a
lot about law students denied bar exams in an accessible mode they
prefer. The Federation has stepped in to take legal action, assisting
those law students and others to come. The couple in Missouri whose
newborn was taken by CPS a couple of years ago for no reason other than
both parents were blind. The Federation also stepped in to help take
legal action along with the couple. As technology grows, we struggle
more and more as blind consumers to use current technology due to the
lack of accessibility. Again, the NFB is fighting to change this,
demanding equal access for all consumers. As well as taking legal
action, the Federation provides advocacy and education.

Many feel Federationist are Nazi-like in their fervor about
independence. True, many are more combative which does not lead to a
nurturing environment allowing others to adopt independent ideals. The
truth is, though, that the NFB supports independence in any way
providing you with efficiency. Unfortunately, many of us could benefit
from alternative techniques, which many refuse to learn or use on a
regular basis. In my experience, and having once been a "partial," often
the alternative skills truly do make one more efficient than using
useable vision, and this is why the Federation seems, at times, to be
against sight, but it's actually the contrary. If you're being
independent, living your life, not caving into stereotypes and negative
attitudes, the Federation supports this way of life. The Federation
expects us to grow and challenge ourselves as ours peers challenge us
likewise. This is one of the huge differences I see between the NFB and
other organizations of the blind; we're not expected to stay where we
are; we're urged to move forward, carving a path before us, challenging
ourselves to strive for new and greater heights.

So why am I a Federationist? Because I'm not content to sit idly by
letting others make decisions for me. I'm not content to feel entitled
to services, legislation and technology that I had no say in, no
contribution to changes. I don't want to watch a chef cook, I want to
roll my sleeves up and get my hands in the mix. Networking with fellow
blind people and learning what we are all doing is great, but I want to
affect change, and I want to be a part of that change. It's not about
isolating ourselves from society and forming an elite group made up of
people who are blind; it's in fact about encouraging and fostering
integration. We are people with dreams, desires and interests; that we
are blind is but one attribute of our being. I wasn't always blind, and
when I lost my sight, I didn't change who I am. My interest and goals
are the same; I now just accomplish certain things with different
methods and tools at times.

We all have to decide what we believe in and why. I believe it's
important to analyze and question beliefs and ideas in order to truly
digest it. Only then can we form decisions based on our own ideas and
opinions rather than any thoughts and opinions thrust on us whether
unwillingly or not. I think we all need to understand that the
Federation's priority is advocacy and education; when we know this, it
can make it easier to explain the Federation and its purpose. Despite
the plethora of members affiliated predominantly for social reasons ,
this does not change the goals and direction of the collective group, of
the heart. We've not been accepted as equals, as people just as capable,
so we created an organization dedicated to breaking barriers and
demanding equality just like many other groups. Anyone curious about the
Federation, wanting to join, should understand that first and foremost,
the Federation is a political group determined to use advocacy,
legislation and education to change what it means to be blind, and fight
for our equality.

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: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:36:38 -0500
From: Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com>
To: NFB Talk List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>,	NFB Blind Talk list
	<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>,	NFB NABS list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [nabs-l] why is it important to join an organization of the
	blind?
Message-ID: <4f14d0d5.54dfe00a.0ef7.ffffd34b at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed

Fellow Federationists,

As I have become more and more active in the blind community and 
have met more and more blind people, I notice that a lot of blind 
people are not affiliated with any organization of the blind, for 
one reason or another.  Some say they are put off by the 
political arguments between the NFB and ACB; some say they don't 
want to be "tied" to one organization; some say they don't agree 
with either organization's philosophy and don't want to identify 
themselves with either organization and their philosophy, and 
there are other reasons as well.  I try to explain to them the 
value of the Federation in my life, and how joining an 
organization of the blind connects you with a diverse network of 
resources, who can help answer almost any question they would 
have related to blindness.  I also try to explain to them that if 
they had any problems, being a part of an organization would help 
them with their advocacy efforts; the more people you have 
advocating, the more effective the advocacy is.  But they still 
don't want to be affiliated with an organization.  So I want to 
get your thoughts on these questions; why do you think it is 
important to be a member of an organization of the blind? Of what 
benefit/value is an organization to its members, and to blind 
people at large? Some people have said to me, "Sighted people 
don't have any organizations dedicated to their concerns as 
sighted people; why should I join an organization dedicated to 
blindness?" Still others have said, "Don't you (Federationists) 
want to be equal with sighted people? If so, then why do we 
(blind people) need to be organized in some kind of organization 
exclusively of and for the blind and people associated with the 
blind?" These are some interesting questions; what would your 
responses be to those people? I look forward to hearing your 
thoughts on this!
Thanks,

Chris