[nfb-talk] Open Letter to Marc Maurer

[MARSHA R WALLEN]

David I have been in both NFB and ACB and I have made my choice becuase
of those philosphies you speak of.  I however think both organizations
have good an bad points.   NFB is certainly stronger in its convictions
and  more willing to take on controversy than ACB is no matter how
misguided they may be.   ACB tends to stand back and I for one am happy
to see ACB take a stand on this issue.  It is a welcome stand from
sitting back and letting the world pass us by.  NFB has been very good in
getting some positive legislation passed but over the years is becoming
more of a money making organization.  This bothers me.  I was equal
disturbed when NFB so quickly dropped the AOL lawsuit and with NFBs
partnerships with private industrie for new devices in order to make a
profit.  If you say we do not need accomodations then franks do we need
the KNFB reader?  After all a lot of material is available on the web and
we have screen readers.  Do we need screen readers will training alone
make us able to compete?  Ok I am going overboard but you get the gist.  

as for ths APS signal who knows maybe the tone or announcement made a
difference in the case but do we know for sure.  You say you can listen
for traffic patterns but surely you have noticed cars are quieter and
quieter.  Trust me I have friends who have cars you would never hear. 
APS signals are not a replacement for good mobility skills but just add
information the same information that is accessable to our sighted peers.

I do not think ACB thinks we have to have the world fully accomodated in
order to function on an equal footing but we do believe that these
accomodations can make us more independant and help us to function even
better.  Some of us may need them more than others.

Your posts saddens me in that you are so concerned about how the sighted
world sees you.  How sad to be so miserable that you feel you have to be
perfect every moment in order not to reflect badly on the blindness
community.  Have you ever met a perfect sighted person who never makes a
mistake?  There are no perfect blind people nor any perfect sighted
people.  I am not putting you down I feel truly saddened by anyone who is
so concerned they must be a perfect example of blindness it is a heavy
cross to bear and one that will over time wear you down.

I remember in my younger days feeling so volunerable and so deteremined
to show the world I could be just like everyone else and I remember
worrying about what everyone was thinking but then I had a revalation and
realized that the majority of the sighted world are far less concerned
about how I do things than I was.  They simply have more things to do in
their lives that are far more important then worrying about that poor
pitiful blind girl.  As for the people who commented on blind money this
is a sign of ignorance on that persons part.  Anyone who would even make
those comments is obviously rude and ignorant in the first place.

You were luck this time with your money but it does not always happen
that way.  However when you first got that $20 bill did it tell you what
it was so you could fold it or did you depend on the bank teller or a
note identifier?

I am an ACB member and proud of it and have been ever since I left NFB. 
I still have friends in NFB and we agree to disagree on some issues but I
believe both groups have good points.  I am an ACB member who works in a
mainstream job and with only sighted coworkers yet they do not pity me or
look down on me.  I use my software and I compete on the same level.  I
took Call A Ride to work for years until a coworker and I got the same
shift.  I have APS signals in my area I fought for and I am glad they are
here although they do not replace my mobility skills but give me the same
information as the sighted world has.  I believe education and employment
are top priorities for both groups but I believe that accessable money
may just help make us more employable.  The cost of changing vending and
change machines is not a big deal they have been changed a lot in the
last few years with all the new bills so the blindness issue wont enhance
the cost any more.

These are just my views an feel free to have your own.

Robyn