Changing What It Means to Be Blind

Changing What It Means to Be Blind

Future Reflections October 1981, Vol. 1 No. 1
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THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND... WE ARE CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BLIND
The National Federation of the Blind is the largest organization of the
blind in the United States. It is not a governmental or private service
agency for the blind, but rather the blind speaking for and helping themselves.

Founded
in 1940, the federation has grown to become the nation's
largest organization of blind people--(over 50,000 members). The federation
is organized in every state and has local chapters in almost every community
of any size in the nation. Where there is no local chapter, there are almost
certainly members at large. Every year the National Convention of the Federation
is attended by some 2,000 blind persons, the largest gathering of blind people
anywhere in the world, and the largest in history.
The long-range purpose of the NFB is to integrate blind people into society
as normal people who can participate on an equal basis with others in all aspects
of life. To achieve this purpose, we work to educate the public to
new concepts about blindness and we strive to remove the legal, economic and
social discrimination that prevent blind persons from achieving their fullest
potential. In short, the National Federation of the Blind does whatever is
necessary to improve the lives of blind people.

By doing so, we are changing what it means to be blind for thousands of
people. Blindness does not need to mean helplessness and dependency. Perhaps
the best way to demonstrate some of the specific ways the federation goes
about promoting a new image of blindness, an image of respectability and
normalcy, is to share some comments of members and non-members alike whose
lives have been touched and improved by the National Federation of the Blind.
BLIND COLLEGE STUDENT, FELLOW, INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP, WASHINGTON
D.C.: "I grew up ashamed to admit that I was blind. I thought that blind
people begged or worked in a sheltered workshop or lived on welfare. Because
I refused to carry a cane, I was afraid to cross the street by myself. Meeting
successful, employed blind people from all walks of life through the
National Federation of the Blind helped me to believe in myself. Through
their encouragement I returned to school and am working on my doctorate."
BLIND SISTER OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, REHABILITATION TEACHER, ALCOHOL COUNSELOR,
MILWAUKEE: "The NFB is very much a priority in my life. I need to be with
people who have a positive philosophy about blindness. It's discouraging to feel
alone, with people who stereotype and underestimate me. The NFB helps blind
people believe in ourselves, motivates us to go out and help the other guy.
Federationists are in this because we want to help other people."
AMERICAN ADOPTION AGENCY: "You cannot know how wonderful it is to get some
adequate information to share with families adopting blind children from Korea.
We appreciate so much the complimentary copies that you sent us (A Resource
Guide for Parents and Teachers of Blind Children, recently published by the
NFB) and we'll certainly refer parents to you."
BLIND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, SMALL TOWN, CALIFORNIA: "If it were not for
the NFB I wouldn't have a job. In 1954 the NFB gathered the statistics about
blind teachers looking for jobs and got the law rewritten so that vision wasn't
required for a physical. Hopefully some day we will have educated enough of
the public that we blind people can walk down the streets and be treated like
anybody else."
ELDERLY AMERICAN, INDIANA: "I want to thank you for the letter and kind
thought that your Federation had for my wife's troubles. She has lost 85%
of her sight and the doctor tells us that she could lose all of it. Now
after reading your letter we contacted the public library and are now
receiving talking book records and a player to handle them."
BLIND SHELTERED SHOP WORKER, UTAH: "I have made brooms in a sheltered workshop
for 18 years. Every day I take the bus 40 miles each way and make just
enough money to pay for my bus fare. Why do I work? I am like many older
blind people. I haven't had very many opportunities and I want to contribute
to society. It is better than sitting at home with nothing to do. I never
heard of the NFB until recently. The NFB visited our shop and is trying to
improve wages for blind shop workers."
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