[nfb-talk] observations about Foundation Fighting Blindness

Jeanette Fortin jeanette at fortin-home.com
Sat Apr 23 01:56:34 UTC 2011


there are a few nfb chapters doing the dining in the dark thing as well you 
know?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: <info at michaelhingson.com>; "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" 
<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 7:45 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] observations about Foundation Fighting Blindness


Oh my Lord!  Is the RP Foundation fighting Blindness involved in that Dining
in the Dark nonsense?  I fear me greatly there's no hope for them then.

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Michael Hingson
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 6:23 PM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: [nfb-talk] observations about Foundation Fighting Blindness

All,

First, note the subject line change.  I think the issue here is what is
"fulfilling"?  From the literature I have read from this organization as
well as from discussions I have had with staff their idea of a "fulfilling
life" does not contain the high expectations I or many of us have.  It all
goes back to the philosophy of blindness one chooses to have.

If, for example, you think that it is amazing that a blind person can cut
their food and even find it, but think that because a blind person does eat
independently their life is in part fulfilling then your view of the true
nature of blindness differs from mine.  "Dining In The Dark" is a
fundraising event the Foundation has sponsored in various parts of the
country.  Putting a group of sighted people under blindfold, then serving
them food while making statements like "this is what blind people face every
day" cannot help improve the public's view of the abilities of blind people.
Nevertheless this is the kind of thing the Foundation Fighting Blindness
does constantly.

As, I think, Mike Freeman said, it is all in what you mean by "fighting".
We in the NFB fight blindness every day.  The blindness we fight is that of
people who let their eye sight get in the way of their vision which has
become blinded by prejudice and misinformation.  (See Thunder Dog when it is
released).

The tragedy of blindness is not the loss of eye sight unless we make it so.
Any "tragedy" is only as serious as we allow it to be.  Those who lose their
sight can move forward and have as full and productive a life as before if
they are willing to get the proper training.  There is nothing new here but,
we need to keep saying it if we expect the world to come around and believe
that truth.  It's marketing pure and simple.

Happy Easter.


Best,


Mike Hingson

The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
 "Speaking with Vision"
Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info at michaelhingson.com
To learn more about my upcoming book, speaking topics and speaking
availability please visit www.michaelhingson.com Thunder Dog is now
available for early ordering on Amazon!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Dog-Blind-Triumph-Ground/dp/140020304X/ref=sr_
1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289090352&sr=1-3


for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 2:01 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report
fromChairmanGordon Gund

The choice of the word "fighting".  It's not the they're against the blind
leading fulfilled lives; they can't conceive of it.

Mike Freeman
sent from my iPhone


On Apr 22, 2011, at 13:10, "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net> wrote:

> I'm sure the Foundation Fighting Blindness is very much in favor of
> blind
people living rich and fullfilling lives. What makes you think they're not?
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Aldrich"
> <jajkaldrich at gmail.com>
> To: "Jeanette Fortin" <jeanette at fortin-home.com>; "NFB Talk Mailing List"
<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 11:20 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report
fromChairmanGordon Gund
>
>
>> Hello all!
>>
>> I greatly dislike how this organization the foundation fighting
>> blindness
reinforces how terrible it is to be blind!  Yes!  It is no picnic at first
when one loses vision I'm certain but we in the NFB are here to show there
is life after vision loss or there is life when one is blind!  We have a
more positive message!  Yes!  I'm all for preserving one's vision but if
this isn't possible, I for one wish to see someone continue to live a full
and enriching life as much as possible!  There are many who can't cope but
there are more who do and they live quite well!  At least, they have a life!
It is far better to be blind today than it was a hundred years ago but even
at that time, I'm certain some lived meaningful lives even then!
>>
>> Jim
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeanette Fortin"
<jeanette at fortin-home.com>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 4:03 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
ChairmanGordon Gund
>>
>>
>>> well let me say this, why not fight blindness? if there is a way
>>> some
people can regain their vision or if doctors can help folks to save the
vision they have, go for it.
>>> i got a call today from my cousin who works with hazzardess
>>> materials in
his job.  he was hit in the face with some costic liquid last week and lost
his vision for a couple of days.  Because he was rushed to a special
hospital and given specific treatment for his eyes which were damaged by the
costic liquid, the doctors are hopeful he will regain all or most of his
vision.
>>> from some folks way of thinking it appears they think it would be
>>> just
fine for him to have lost  his vision and subsequently his job.  it gave him
a true appreciation of those of us who have dealt with vision loss for years
and has made him grateful for whatever  vision he has.
>>> i think maybe the name of the organization, fighting blindness may
offend some folks, but if you understand how someone who had vision and
loses it feels maybe you would understand why the foundation is trying to
find ways to help folks either regain or not lose their vision, jeanette
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "S Baker" <srbaker12 at hotmail.com>
>>> To: "ANFBchat" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 3:31 PM
>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] FW: {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>>> Chairman
Gordon Gund
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> SRBaker
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: srbaker12 at hotmail.com
>>>> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: RE: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>>>> Chairman
Gordon Gund
>>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:29:26 +0000
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> This email solicits donations. It also has links to current
>>>> research to
correct blindness.There is nothing wrong with being blind, if that is what
you want. If there is technology that can reverse,cure me, I am all for it.
There is an old saying "There are none so blind as those who will not see".
Our eyes may not work but our brains do.
>>>> Steve
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> SRBaker
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> From: ladygloria at webband.com
>>>>> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:19:37 -0700
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from
>>>>> Chairman
Gordon Gund
>>>>>
>>>>> What in the heck is wrong with being blind!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Gloria Whipple
>>>>> Corresponding Secretary
>>>>> Inland Empire chapter
>>>>> nfb of WA
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>> [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On
>>>>> Behalf Of S Baker
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 14:14
>>>>> To: AMoLList
>>>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman
Gordon
>>>>> Gund
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> SRBaker
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:00:24 -0500
>>>>> From: GGund at FightBlindness.org
>>>>> To: srbaker at charter.net
>>>>> Subject: A personal report from Chairman Gordon Gund
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Like you, Steven, I follow the work of the Foundation Fighting
Blindness
>>>>> closely. As a donor, I want to know that my donations make a
difference.
>>>>>
>>>>> And believe me, they do. When I reflect on the last year and
>>>>> listen to
this
>>>>> video, I am reminded that we have more clinical trials for
sight-saving
>>>>> treatments underway than ever before. Clearly, hope and optimism
>>>>> are running high. Incredible strides have been made in the last
>>>>> few years,
and
>>>>> these remarkable advances would not have been made without your
support of
>>>>> the Foundation. They include:
>>>>>
>>>>> Vision Restored. We are continuing to build on remarkable gains in
gene
>>>>> therapy. As you may recall, in a Foundation-funded trial,
>>>>> 9-year-old
Corey
>>>>> Haas and 19 others received a gene therapy treatment and can now see.
And
>>>>> as the trial has expanded, participants have shown sustained
improvement in
>>>>> vision. Building on this success, similar gene therapy treatments
>>>>> are moving into clinical trials for choroideremia, Stargardt
>>>>> disease and
Usher
>>>>> syndrome.
>>>>>
>>>>> Innovative Technology. The high-tech industry has a treatment I'm
>>>>> incredibly excited about-- the world's first commercially
>>>>> available artificial or "bionic" eye. Early funding from the
>>>>> Foundation was key
to
>>>>> getting this engineered retina off the ground. Building on the
>>>>> studies
we
>>>>> funded, the light-sensing, implantable "chip" has been tested in a
clinical
>>>>> trial in Europe with great results. In the study, people who were
profoundly
>>>>> blind experienced improved vision that could help them to be more
>>>>> independent. In fact, many can now see shapes and recognize large
letters.
>>>>>
>>>>> Groundbreaking Therapies. A research team funded by the Foundation
Fighting
>>>>> Blindness developed an innovative technique for correcting the
>>>>> disease-causing gene by using stem cells derived from a person's skin.
While
>>>>> more work is needed to ensure safety, this advancement suggests
>>>>> that
doctors
>>>>> may someday be able to treat a patient's retinal disease using
>>>>> their
own
>>>>> skin cells.
>>>>> These few accomplishments barely begin to tell the story of all
>>>>> the
progress
>>>>> that's being made. And this is why words can never express my
>>>>> personal gratitude for your passionate and committed support.
>>>>>
>>>>> I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the video and see the
results of
>>>>> your support and the hope it has generated. But most importantly,
>>>>> I
hope you
>>>>> will see that research is progressing at a terrific rate. It's
>>>>> been a
long
>>>>> time coming, but we crossed a critical threshold when our
>>>>> researchers actually restored sight. It launched us into a new era
>>>>> when more and
more
>>>>> people will have their sight saved or restored every year. A lot
>>>>> of
work
>>>>> remains. But we'll get there by continuing to work together.
>>>>>
>>>>> The Foundation Fighting Blindness values the support you give us
>>>>> by donating, talking to your friends, and advocating for increased
research
>>>>> funding. As we continue our relentless pursuit to eradicate
>>>>> blindness,
we
>>>>> hope you will continue your steadfast support of our mission.
>>>>> Thanks
for
>>>>> envisioning a bright future for the millions affected by retinal
>>>>> degenerative diseases.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>
>>>>> Gordon Gund
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Check us out on:
>>>>>
>>>>> Tell a Friend | Subscribe | Change email address | Unsubscribe
>>>>> Foundation Fighting Blindness www.FightBlindness.org
>>>>> 7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100 Columbia, MD 21046
>>>>> 1-800-683-5555
>>>>>
>>>>> nonprofit software
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>>>>>
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>>>>
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