[nfb-talk] Domestic violence Division?

[Sheri Wells-Jensen]

Mike and all,

It's important to separate the two kinds of violence we're talking about 
here since they need to be addressed in very different ways:

I have no clear idea whether blind folks are more or les likely to be mugged 
than sighted folks in general: probably about the same if you take this as a 
measure of the number of pedestrians robbed or attacked by strangers rather 
than the number of people in general who may or may not be found walking as 
opposed to driving cars. An argument can be made that a self-defense class 
(or several) might help in these cases.

The other kind of violence is systematic and occurs within the confines of 
an intimate relationship: between spouses or lovers for example.  there are 
stats to show that there are classes of people who are more vulnerable here: 
anyone, for example with limited transportation options or who is under 
economic stress.  A self-defense class isn't the answer in these cases.

It's not my intention to start a discussion of what causes domestic violence 
in general. Rather, I meant to ask whether the NFB might already be thinking 
about this issue since eric broughtit up.

Peace,

Sheri W-J

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Bullis" <mabullis at hotmail.com>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 4:04 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Domestic violence Division?


>A new division is seldom the answer to what ails.  You rightly point out 
>the
> options such as  self defense training.  I think it also comes down to 
> good
> training.  Blind people who walk around with their heads down and 
> hesitantly
> are probably more vulnerable to attack than others.  I think that sighted
> people who walk around like this are also victimized more often as well.
> Often local police forces have self defense training which involves how to
> keep onesself from looking like a victim or a target.
>
> Again though, I don't think the problem of blind people being mugged has
> ever been demonstrated to be greater than among the sighted population. 
> So,
> I would suggest that a monitor article describing the problem and some
> solutions might be in order.
> Mike Bullis
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Sheri Wells-Jensen
> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 3:36 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Domestic violence Division?
>
> Hello, Folks,
> If we mean domestic violence as it is usually defined (violence between
> intimate partners), it's certainly the case that women with any kind of
> disability are more vulnerable than general statistics might suggest.  I'm
> not sure if a division as such is what is needed, but it would be nice to
> know if the NFB has any kind of resources for women caught in such
> relationships.
> Peace,
>
> Sheri W-J
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Eric Calhoun" <eric at pmpmail.com>
> To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 1:18 PM
> Subject: [nfb-talk] Domestic violence Division?
>
>
>> Is there any interest in starting a Domestic Violence Division of the
>> National Federation of the Blind?  Too many times we hear of blind people
>> get accosted, either because they have had no self-defense training, or
>> people feel that, "i won't _ever happen to me!"  Women are the most
>> vulnerable for getting mugged.
>>
>> Earlier, Nfb of Florida members were horrified to learn that one of their
>> leaders was being robbed and attacked.
>>
>> Any comments from the membership please?
>>
>> Eric
>> -
>>
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