[nfb-talk] why is it important to join an organization of the blind?

[Larry D. Keeler]

Also, there is power in numbers.  I was one of the folks who didn't want to 
be political at all!  Well, I still don't have a job.  I still don't always 
get the respect that I would hope I should recieve.  And, often, still don't 
get taken seriously just because I happen to be blind.  After long 
deliberation with myself and talking to folks with other organizations, I 
chose the Federation.  Mostly, because we are accomplishing the most of any 
of the other organizations.  If things have gotta change, then we're the 
ones to do it!
----- Original Message ----- 
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>
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2012 8:36 PM
Subject: [nfb-talk] why is it important to join an organization of the 
blind?


> 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
>
> "The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The real 
> problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that exists.  If a 
> blind person has the proper training and opportunity, blindness can be 
> reduced to a mere physical nuisance."
> -- Kenneth Jernigan
>
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