[nfbwatlk] Mandatory and most Diversity Training Ineffective, Washington Post, 1/20/08

[Rebekah Jakeman]

Hear, Hear, Rick and Carl.  Very well stated.  I remember at a time in my 
life, I felt as a consumer that it wouldn't be politically correct for me to 
get involved in what I consider mere blind support groups.  My rehab 
Counselor at the time didn't even tell me about the ACB or the NFB, so I 
thought they weren't important.  How wrong I was.  Thank goodness someone 
pointed this out to me.

Rebekah
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Jarvis" <carjar at olypen.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Mandatory and most Diversity Training 
Ineffective,Washington Post, 1/20/08


> Well said Rick,
> And in all the years that I worked for Services for the Blind, I recall 
> only
> one staff training where the organizations of the blind were invited to
> train staff.
> When I first became a client of DSB, the blind staff carefully avoided
> belonging to the consumer organizations.  They believed that it would
> compromise their professional objectivity.  Although one VR counselor told
> me that he did not feel he needed to belong because his work was his
> contribution toward improving life for the blind.  It was sure helping his
> own life style.
>>From the mid 1970's, with the hiring of a director who was a member of the
> NFB, most blind staff found that it was a good thing to join the organized
> blind.
> The difference between these two approaches was like night and day. 
> During
> those first years as a Commission for the Blind, a positive attitude 
> spread
> among staff and reached out to touch the blind clients.
> Having blind leadership that understood the basic issues and had a
> philosophy that was proven to be effective, coupled with energized blind
> staff who stood out as solid role models, put our agency on the map as a
> national leader.
> But once again I have been told that a newly hired blind VRC believes that
> in order to maintain professional objectivity she must refrain from 
> joining
> either NFBW or WCB.
> And I do not think that she is alone in this thinking.  What that says to 
> me
> is that we, the consumers, are falling down on the job.  The leadership of
> both NFBW and WCB know full well that it is our job to ensure that the
> Department maintains a strong philosophy, and cutting edge programs.  What
> kind of a message is being handed to newly blinded men and women when the
> very professionals serving them will not stand shoulder to shoulder with
> other blind people?
> We cannot afford to allow the message to go out, inferring that it's all
> right to try to go it alone as a blind person.  Of all the times when we
> need to work as a solid force, these are those critical days.
> If the Agency administration forgets to come to the organizations for help
> in their diversity training, then our leadership should be demanding that 
> it
> happen.
>
> Carl Jarvis
>
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