[nfb-talk] Domestic violence Division?

Wed Oct 3 05:56:46 CDT 2007

Hi Mike B and Others;
I think a defence class at National would be a lot more benifisial than
having a committee on the matter.  It is not a subject we need to do
research on such as electronic cars.  It is a topic that the blind need
to teach the blind.  This will give those who feal they need to learn
about the subject the ability to learn and those who think they already
know enough, can take another class.
I am highly interested.

Long ago, I had a reader and he introduced me to a friend.  The reader
then left the room.  His friend then asked me if I had any merajuana.
It scared me to death.  I do not remember if I responded, but I know I
got up and walked out of the room.  If I had stayed, who knows what
might had happened.  He also might have been a nice person.  We can not
put our lives at stake.

Another thing, even though our cane is our mobility aid, it can also be
used as a means of protection.  Especially with a folding cane, a blow
to the lower extremities can nock a man out long enough for you to get
away, at least I have heard.  Thankfully I have not needed to try it.

Terry Powers

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Bullis [mailto:mabullis at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 6:08 PM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Domestic violence Division?

Sheri's point is a valid one about there being two subjects here.  I
responded to the mugging issues and was frankly not paying close
attention to the subject line of the message.  So, the other question is
whether NFB is conscious of domestic violence issues and should there be
a division for the matter?

My observation and reading suggest that one of the main factors in being
vulnerable to domestic violence is a self image that allows it.  To use
an antiquated phrase, it's usually a very low self image.  Given that
most blind people are told as they grow up that they are second class,
incapable of managing their lives, that their decisions should always be
subordinated to those of others--particularly the sighted, and so on, I
would suspect that blind people fall into a class that has more domestic
violence and abuse than the norm.

One of the things we strive to help blind people come to understand, as
part of our philosophy, is that they are not second class and their
decisions are valid and important.  I know of no other organization in
the blindness field that has more material on self worth and competence
than the NFB.  It is at the core of everything we do.  More than any
accusation made of us is the one that we are to militant about our
rights and about the rights of people who are blind.

Each of us as blind people daily struggle with old attitudes and
incorrect images of blindness in our own lives.  Not only do we struggle
with society, we struggle within ourselves as we seek to weed out
incorrect beliefs we have.  

Having said all this, I would still say that a Division isn't an answer
that appeals to me.  I would though like to see a Monitor article from
somebody who feels that the greater awareness they have gained from the
Federation has helped them recognize an abusive situation and stand up
for themselves.

We always struggle in the Federation with the issues we take on.  If we
focus, for example, on domestic violence, the casual reader will jump to
very wrong conclusions.  The thinking will go like this.  "Of course
they're victimized more than others, after all they're blind."  Or:
"Poor blind people.  They can't even take care of themselves in a
relationship."  

So, I would be uncomfortable with newspaper articles by kind but
misguided reporters on how blindness makes people vulnerable to domestic
violence.  I would however hope that we are all aware of situations in
our affiliates and do whatever we can to assist anyone in seeing
themselves as better than to receive abuse, whether they be sighted,
blind, female, male, or the member of some other minority class.

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 5:17 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Domestic violence Division?

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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