[nfb-talk] new list for blindmembers withotherdisabilities--was: Re: NFB Pride Text

Mon Nov 27 07:05:55 CST 2006

Hi Laura;
I sure agree with you.  I have even had to use a wheel chair because of
foot injories in the past.  Hope I can come up with a good title for
you.  
The Blind Plus Plus is neet but I am not sure if many would understand
that we mean other handicapps.  It almost sounds like we are saying
blind (extra fine).  We need something to let on multi but not run it in
the ground.  

How about;
Independent Multi blind

I am trying to get in independence, multi handicapped and blindness.

Now its your turn.
Terry Powers

-----Original Message-----
From: Laura Eaves [mailto:leaves1 at carolina.rr.com] 
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 5:52 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] new list for blindmembers
withotherdisabilities--was: Re: NFB Pride Text

PS: there is also the problem of diabetics losing sensation in their 
fingers, for one additional example, and there are probably other
concerns.
The point is, if there was a list for combination disabilities, people
might 
come out of the woodwork so to speak and ask question or share
experience 
that might be valuable.
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 5:23 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] new list for blind members 
withotherdisabilities--was: Re: NFB Pride Text

Terry:

Trigger finger can be cleared up with minor surgery under local
anesthetic
(ten minutes or so max). Diabetics get it and I've known a couple.

I've also taken antiseizure medication for over thirty-five years but
since
I haven't had seizures and it has little impact on my life, I've seen no
reason to say anything about it.

I know it's fashionable for individuals to believe there are synergies
between disabilities and, in the case of deaf-blindness (now fashionably
called "dual sensory impairment"), this is certainly true. But I don't
think
there are synergies between blindness and most other disabilities so I
see
no reason to worry about it much or broadcast my other problems.

For example, there are a myriad of tasks you might have a problem with
if
you leave your trigger-finger untreated. Best to get it treated and stop
worrying! (broad grin)

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <powerst at dcpcepn.nci.nih.gov>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 11:27 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] new list for blind members
withotherdisabilities--was: Re: NFB Pride Text

Chris and others;
I am thinking of a group of blind people who also have other handicaps.
I want to relate to others with my complications and shair with others
how each of us copes with our problems.  This surely can not be done on
the BN list or the NFB list so where else is a discussion like this
welcome.  Until I met Peter Donahew, I had no idea that being blind and
epileptic exestid anywhere else.  I thought I was the only one with this
strange combination.
I now have trigger finger in my right hand and had to get a cortisone
shot.  If this does not clear up, how am I going to use a cane.  This is
an example of how this kind of list could help.
Thanks.
It sure would be nice if NFB would allow us to use thair list, but this
does not relate to the NFB, just to blindness.

Terry Powers

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Westbrook [mailto:westbc at clw19.com]
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 12:15 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] new list for blind members with
otherdisabilities--was: Re: NFB Pride Text

My only concern with a list like this is it further separates us from
those
who do not have any disabilities, and as was mentioned below many people

with multiple disabilities have vastly different experiences even having
the
same disabilities.  I think there will always be Federationists who do
not
understand the nature of multiple disabilities and how they affect us,
after
all the Federation is simply a cross section of society, but I think
many
Federationists realize that our philosophy is simply an ideal and not
always
attainable all the time by everyone or even most people.
Chris Westbrook
email or msn messenger; westbc at clw19.com
skype: chriswestbrook (please write a message that explains who you are
if
you add me to your contacts.)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <powerst at dcpcepn.nci.nih.gov>
To: "Laura Eaves" <leaves1 at carolina.rr.com>; "NFB Talk Mailing List"
<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 9:26 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] new list for blind members with other
disabilities--was: Re: NFB Pride Text

> Hi Laura;
> Just came across your message while cleaning up.  Great idea.  I think
> Chris from the UK would be interested.  I sure am.  Lets go for it.
> Hope you had a nice Holiday.
> As they say, better late than never.
> Terry Powers
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Laura Eaves [mailto:leaves1 at carolina.rr.com]
> Sent: Monday, June 26, 2006 12:48 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: [nfb-talk] new list for blind members with other disabilities
> --was: Re: NFB Pride Text
>
> Wow, you took the words right out of my mouth -- I also battle
> additional
> handicaps and would really love to meet people who deal with some of
the
>
> same issues.  I wonder if we could start a mailing list, if nothing
else
> --
> the problem is that I won't be at the convention this year -- also,
> different combinations of disabilities require different coping
> strategies.
> For example, deaf-blind persons have their own sub-culture  built
around
> the
> way they communicate, but a person in a wheelchair who hears but is
> blind
> would probably not find much in the way of coping strategies from that
> culture.
> I think it might be good to start a mailing list for physically
disabled
>
> (i.e., non-ambulatory or paralyzed persons) who are blind.  I fit in
> this
> category, and also have a profound hearing loss, although thank the
Lord
> I
> have hearing aids that correct most the problem.
> Anyway, I would love to moderate such a list if anyone things it worth
> starting.  Please let me know.
> rah rah rah rah nfb!!!
> --le
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <powerst at dcpcepn.nci.nih.gov>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, June 26, 2006 8:37 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] NFB Pride Text
>
>
> Mike;
> Most of the groups, such as lawyers are related to the work force or
> training.
> I would also like a group for epeleptics or multi handicapped.  No
> affence,
> but I sure think this would be more affective.  coping with blindness
> and 2
> other handicaps, like me, is not easy.  Many out there could use some
> support.  From NFB talk, I found out that there were others with
> blindness
> and epolepsi.  For the longest time, I thought I was the only one out
> there,
> in this big world.  I also have a mild hearing loss and some medical
> problems from car accidents.
> Look at the lady in charge of Guide dogs.  She is blind and gets
around
> in a
> wheel chair.  I have used one before, but I had some sight.  Shairing
> how we
> cope with problems like I have mentioned, I think is a lot more
> benificial
> to the NFB.
>
> Terry Powers
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Bullis [mailto:mabullis at hotmail.com]
> Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 4:58 PM
> To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] NFB Pride Text
>
>
> Very very interesting discussion.  I suspect though that in the same
> sense
> that our society isn't broadly ready to accept same-sex marriage, nfb
> well
> may not be able to see this issue as one it ought to embrace.  That's
> not a
> justification, but more of an explaination.  And I don't think my use
of
> the
> word embrace is Freudian?  No, really!!
>
> Thinking about it another way, we've allowed blind lawyers to form a
> division so why not gays?  I mean, is there any more villified and
> dishonored group than lawyers?  They're regarded right down there with
> politicians, news personalities and well, you know, all those less
> reputable
> scum in society.  Laugh.
>
> I am sure there are real issues confronted by homosexuals who are
blind
> that are unique to their status as blind people.  I mean, referring
back
> to
> the blind lawyers.  Blind lawyers have lots of signifficant issues
> related
> to lawyering and blindness that naturally fit into the concerns of the
> NFB.
> Far be it from me to decide that gay people don't or to stand in their
> way
> if they wish to organize.  I've always favored enlarging the tent in
> most
> every organization I've been in and this is no exception.
>
> I'm not sure how this is going to be taken because it's hard to tell
> jokes
> regarding these sensitive issues in person, let alone through email
but
> please be assurede I mean nobody any disrespect.  Some of my best
> friends,
> ok, well, acquaintances, alright, people I have met, are lawyers.
> Mike Bullis
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
> Behalf Of Craig Eckhardt
> Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 3:49 PM
> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfb-talk] NFB Pride Text
>
> Appearantly my document didn't show up in the message (the digest
> version
> anyway), so I'll just paste it here...enjoy!
> Blind and Gay in America: A Perspective by Craig Eckhardt The National
> Federation of the Blind teaches the philosophy that blindness, when
> given
> the proper education and opportunity, can be reduced from a
catastrophic
> life-ending tragedy to a mere inconvenience or, as some state, a
> characteristic.  What makes this philosophy difficult to fully grasp
for
> some is the fact that blindness is usually not the only
"characteristic"
> needing to be dealt with.
> Compounded with the stigmas associated with other "minority" factors,
> one
> can understand why many blind people might shrug off the NFB ideology
> "for
> other blind people"; mainly, the affluent, white, Christian, and
> heterosexual male blind population.
> The need for kinship and integration into society is a part of human
> nature.  I, being someone with a "disability" in addition to being
gay,
> had
> a disadvantage in "fitting in" while growing up in a military family.
> At
> times I often wondered how much more difficult adjusting would be if I
> was
> also a different race (I'm
> white) or religion (my family's Episcopal) or poor (I grew up middle
> class)
> or a woman.  The greatest advantage I have in coping is the fact that
I
> live
> in the 21st Century where, thanks to many bold pioneers, support
> structures
> have been developed and the integration of all lifestyles as equals in
> modern society is well on its way.
> The quest for equality never stops and, despite the amazing efforts
> from the past, work will always need to be done to ensure the
> enlightened
> knowledge and attitudes passes from generation to generation.
> Personally, I
> was able to learn positive perspectives on my blindness from the
> Federation
> as well as on homosexuality from various community groups.  While I am
> grateful that these resources are available, I often think how nice it
> would
> be to find a support system that could address both issues.  I've
often
> discussed the idea of creating such a division within the Federation,
> and
> have received mainly negative criticisms.  The argument people have
> against
> forming a "PRIDE" division in the NFB is that sexuality is irrelevant
in
> regards to the Federation's goals and distracts from its mission of
> improving the lives of the blind.  In addition, many believe there
isn't
> a
> substantial amount of support to warrant the creation of such a
> division.
> My belief is that the seeming lack of support derives from the
negative
> philosophy which demeans the significance of sexuality in terms of
human
> relationships.
> The main problem in discussing sexuality is that many don't
> recognize the importance it has in our lives.  Homophobic people
degrade
> homosexuality to a mere act of sex and perversion that is "unnatural"
to
> the
> purpose of sex as a means for procreation.  I contest that in most
> cases,
> the act of sex is not so much a tool for pregnancy as it is an
> expression of
> love and intimacy.  As mentioned before, humans long for kinship and
> their
> sexuality, in addition to their religious beliefs or their cultural
> values
> or other factors, is equally important in being used to alleviate that
> longing.  Furthermore, I believe that as blind people, feeling
> comfortable
> with our sexuality is necessary in combating the stigma which states
> that
> people with disabilities aren't capable or interested (or the polar
> opposite
> of being too interested) in sexual issues.  This attitude can be
noticed
> in
> society today; for instance, by observing the lack of consideration in
> adapting sex education materials for disabled students.  The lost
> opportunity for a formal education on sexuality often leaves the blind
> student ignorant of the facts, thus asserting the previously mentioned
> stereotype.
> To state that incorporating a support group for gay, lesbian (as
> well as a myriad of other sects of the "gay community") within the
> Federation is irrelevant to the blind cause is an ignorant and
> homophobic
> argument which denies the recognition that sexuality has in developing
> meaningful, loving relationships between two consenting adults.  I
> understand that as a consumer organization, other issues such as
> establishing economic security and job opportunities should take
> precedence;
> but at the same time, social issues like this should not be ignored
any
> longer.
> In closing, I believe that the philosophy of the Federation can be
> accessible to all people (blind or sighted) in all life situations by
> rewording the credo as such: With proper education and opportunities,
> all
> situations in life can be reduced from catastrophic, life-ending
> tragedies
> to mere inconveniences or characteristics.
> Specific to sexuality: With proper education, all people can
understand
> the
> significance of sexuality in there lives as one of many factors that
> contribute to developing loving, intimate relationships (regardless of
> gender) which ultimately help to improve the quality of life.
> I urge the leadership of the Federation to help improve the lives of
the
> blind by recognizing this truth about sexuality and implementing its
> knowledge with the positive philosophy which has made the National
> Federation of the Blind "The Voice" of blind people throughout the
> world.
>
> __________________________________________________
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