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

[Jedi]

You know, it occurs to me that part of the "problem" (in quotes) that 
we're discussing has much to do with our "recruitment speech" (in 
quotes). I think it was Bridgit who felt that the P word scares people 
off. Maybe instead of talking about a philosophy of blindness, there's 
always the option of saying "I believe." For instance, I believe that 
the blind are as capable as anyone else. Or, I believe that training is 
a key component to functioning as a blind person in a sighted world. 
Or, I think that social definitions of blindness are a much bigger 
problem than actually not being able to see. These phrases should be 
familiar to you, but they're just worded differently.

And as to the issue of persuading people to get training, it's tricky. 
No one likes to hear that they have much to learn, and I don't care 
what the topic of conversation is. We all like to believe that we've 
got it together even if it's obvious to outsiders that we don't. I 
could really believe this to be especially the case when discussing an 
emotionally charged topic like adapting to vision loss. Not only would 
someone like not to hear that they haven't got it together, but they 
don't want to hear that they're blind enough to need such services to 
begin with. Now, legitimately, there are those who really don't need 
such services, but there are many more who would find them useful if 
they ever decided to try. So as a result of all this, I've taken to 
describing how blindness training has helped me if and when it seems 
appropriate. Most people can draw the line between their experience and 
mine. But at the very least, they realize that i'm talkiing about 
myself and not them, so it takes some of the pressure off. Another 
option is to just wait and let the individual identify issues they're 
having and talk about how blindness training helped you to overcome 
similar barriers. And then there's always the option of just waiting it 
out. Sure, some folks told me I needed training. But I think I really 
made that discovery for myself when I noticed that the totally blind 
Federationists around me could function in ways I could not and that 
the partially blind Federationists around me functioned no matter what 
they saw at any given point.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> Hi Bridget and Others:

> Thanks so much for writing such a thoughtful message Bridget.
> This really hit home with me.
> I currently know a very successful lady who used to live in my town
> but now lives in Washington DC. I consider her to be very independent
> and to me she lives her life the way I feel our philosophy encourages
> blind people to be. She is not totally blind;she is visually impaired.
> She has glaucoma and right now medicine controls it but she could
> someday lose her vision.
> When she was in high school she was a member of the chapter that was
> once in this area. She told me that the people were very nice but she
> was very pressured to use a cane, possibly get a dog, and go to one of
> our training centers. She said she felt very pressured and did not
> understand why she was being asked to do these things when she had
> decent vision. She says now as an adult she knows how to handle it but
> back then she didn't know how to handle this so she decided to quit.
> I have tried to tell her many times how the federation has changed and
> influanced my life for the better and she said maybe at some point she
> would possibly reconsider joining but right now she neither has the
> time or desire.
> I really wish she would join because I think she would be a huge asset
> to the organization and I love how she does not let her blindness stop
> her. I believe she may even have a doctorate. I know she holds at
> least one Master's degree and practices psychology at several places
> in the DC area and teaches psychology in a college in Virginia.
> I wish she would join but I have to accept she does not want to right
> now. I have no right to treat her any differently because she won't
> join. If we treat those who do not wish to join us differently or we
> hold a superior attitude to those who do not want to join us this will
> turn them away from ever considering joining. All we can do is
> encourage.
> When I was younger I held many misconceptions about the federation and
> did not believe at all in joining an organization of blind people.
> What was the point? I lived my life. I didn't need blind people.
> I have since changed my views and think it is very important to be in
> an organization for the blind. It not only changed my life, but it
> makes me think about what my beliefs about blindness are. It has given
> me many social opportunities and a whole network of people to help me
> solve problems, support, and encourage me. I wish every blind and
> visually impaired person would join this organization because that
> would expand our network of blind people and make the organization
> stronger but unfortunately this will not happen.
> I am pretty active in my state affiliate but I do not make the
> federation my life or believe in every decision or policy the
> federation makes. I believe this is taking an organization way to far
> and making it your whole life is silly. I certainly believe in the
> federation and consider myself a pretty active member but I do not
> make it my whole life.

> Just my opinions/thoughts.
> Kerri

> On 1/18/12, Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> Chris, Sean, Arielle and others,

>> I think each of you have hit the nail on the head. Perhaps, and this is
>> not the first time I've had this thought, referring to a "philosophy" of
>> blindness is too closely associated with religion or philosophical
>> schools of thought, which it is, but not to the extent in which some
>> think. I can't tell you how many people I meet, sighted and blind, who
>> hear philosophy of blindness and this phrase alone is what turns them
>> off. Certainly some Federationist, along with members of other
>> organizations, have the fervor of an evangelist, but this concept is
>> strictly related to how we view blindness and what we think blind people
>> can accomplish. Nothing more; no connection to religious views, no
>> association politically other than political issues specific to
>> blindness, no connotations on morals or what constitutes "good" and
>> "bad" people. Maybe though, we need to consider a new word or phrase so
>> immediate lines are not drawn to other definitions and ideas about what
>> "philosophy" means.

>> We all have varying personalities and degrees of interest. As blind
>> people, we know our interest and personalities are as varied and vast as
>> those who are not blind. Advocacy and political activism come naturally
>> for some while others, for a myriad of reasons, are not interested in or
>> comfortable with the role of activist and advocate. Some find a way to
>> advocate in nontraditional ways or non-political ways such as community
>> involvement, creative writing, art or simply living their life. Some
>> seek a social outlet in which to meet like-minded people and many are
>> eager for information. I've heard stories about people learning about
>> the Federation simply by researching blindness. Many of us join
>> organizations like the NFB and grow into different roles as we progress
>> as a human and as a blind person. As pointed out, some have to
>> prioritize their lives and simply can't always make the Federation a top
>> priority all the time.

>> Many people join organizations like the Federation for a plethora of
>> reasons, and as Sean points out, there's no Litmus scale measuring
>> superiority or what reason is more important than others. Like in the
>> world in general, some have political interest, others don't; some
>> people use artistic expressions to relay emotions and concepts, others
>> just enjoy being creative for no deeper reason than it brings joy to
>> them and others; some enjoy participating in interest and activities
>> with like-minded peers, while others don't feel a necessity to see out
>> social settings this way. We follow the same path in the Federation or
>> any organization working to bring awareness and equality to the world.

>> Joining an organization doesn't label us "better" or superior to those
>> who don't join. And to be quite frank, if members of any organization
>> belittle and demean those who don't join, or feel they are a "better"
>> blind person for joining a group, they're in the wrong. No one should
>> ever, ever treat people in a demeaning way. If we claim to fight for
>> equality, we can't turn around and treat others who don't join with
>> mindsets and attitudes suggesting inequality. We all have a right to how
>> we live and what, and how, we participate in groups. Likewise, we can't
>> adopt superior attitudes towards members who, in the opinions of some,
>> lack involvement, or those who participate in certain aspects of the
>> Federation but not others. If someone wishes to make the Federation
>> their life (and I'm not coating this with any meaning good or bad) that
>> is their choice, but if others don't and can't devote all or even half
>> of their life to the Federation, this is also their choice, and either
>> one should not be made to feel guilty, inferior or treated as though
>> they don't care, or live in a safety-net of blind-specific interest and
>> pursuits.

>> We can't expect the world to treat us as equals and deal fairly with us
>> if we don't extend the same courtesies to each other. When I had to step
>> down from most of my Federation positions last spring due to personal
>> reasons, whispers went up in some corners that I had "back-slid" in my
>> ideas of blindness and what is important. To be a bit honest, I have
>> felt quite isolated since stepping down though I made it clear I had no
>> intention of quitting the Federation or that I was no longer interested
>> in assisting in what way I can; I just reached a point where I couldn't
>> have the sense of obligation board positions hang over you as a huge
>> part of my life. I needed to claim back the balance in my life so I
>> could focus on personal and professional ventures as well. So I
>> understand how some may feel, like you're either in all the way or
>> you're not in at all, which is not realistic for most people in general
>> no matter the group or topic.

>> I'm much like Sean; though I believe whole-heartedly in the fundamentals
>> of the Federation-- complete independence and that blind people can, and
>> will, do anything-- I don't agree with each decision, each direction,
>> the Federation takes, just as I don't agree with each thought and issue
>> adopted by the Democrat party. This is how human nature works. Think of
>> the relationships in your life-- parents, siblings, significant others,
>> teachers, friends-- do you always agree with them? Of course not, and an
>> organization like the Federation operates like a family just on a larger
>> scale. We support one another and are there for one another even if we
>> don't always see eye-to-eye, no pun intended, smile!

>> Let's not stop moving becoming stag net because we tear one another down
>> simply for not joining an organization of the blind or because some of
>> us pick and choose where we are involved; this does nothing to help our
>> cause, it only disintegrates what we're working towards. Joining a group
>> like the Federation has a lot of benefits, but the NFB is working for
>> the blind community at large, whether you're a member or not. And like
>> Arielle said, we have an instant network of people to turn to for all
>> sorts of things. Whether it be employment, education, relationships and
>> even things like home management and parenting, we have a vast network
>> of people who have, or currently are, been there and can answer
>> questions and help us along our path. Let's not discredit a group like
>> the Federation or lump all Federation members into one cookie-cutter
>> shape, but let's not adopt superior attitudes either towards those who
>> don't join. Learn to think for yourselves and not be swayed by one
>> thought over another. You can be a Federationist and not agree with
>> every decision made, but you can also agree with many sentiments of the
>> Federation without actually joining. At the end of the day, is not
>> equality and independence for the blind what matters? And if this is
>> happening in the world, our country, does it really matter who is
>> involved and where they choose to be involved?

>> 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


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