What is the NFB

What is the NFB

Future Reflections April/May/June 1985, Vol. 4 No. 2
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WHAT IS THE NATIONAL
FEDERATION
OF THE BLIND?
The real problem of blindness is not
the loss of eyesight. The real problem is
the misunderstanding and lack of
information which exist. If a blind
person has proper training, and opportunity,
blindness is only a physical
nuisance.
THE NFB
The National Federation of the Blind
is the largest organization of the blind
in America. Interested sighted persons
also join. Founded in 1940, the Federation
has grown to include more than ten
percent of the nation's blind (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 members at large. Each year
the National Convention of the Federation
is attended by approximately 2,500
blind persons--the largest gathering of
blind people in the history of the world
and growing each year.
PURPOSE
The ultimate purpose of the National
Federation of the Blind is the complete
integration of the blind into society on
a basis of equality. This objective
involves the removal of legal, economic,
and social discriminations; the education
of the public to new concepts concerning
blindness; and the achievement
by all blind people of the right to
exercise to the fullest their individual
talents and capacities. It means the
right of the blind to work along with
their sighted neighbors in the professions,
common callings, skilled trades,
and regular occupations.
THE NEWLY BLIND
The newly blinded person faces a difficult
adjustment. One of the best
medicines is to meet other blind people
and learn of their jobs and the techniques
they use in doing things without
sight. Membership in the NFB provides
this common meeting ground and, even
more important, a sense of participation
and restoration of confidence. Members
of the NFB contact newly blinded persons
to help them with problems of adjustment
and orientation.
Information is also given concerning
available services from governmental and
private agencies, as well as facts about
laws and regulations concerning the
blind.
A DISTINCTIVE ROLE
The Federation corresponds to blind
people in the same way that labor unions
correspond to workers, the Chamber of
Commerce to business people, the American
Bar Association to lawyers, the
NAACP to blacks, the American Medical
Association to doctors, and the Farm
Bureau to farmers. It is a vehicle for
joint action by the blind. In other
words, the National Federation of the
Blind is the voice of the blind. It is
the blind speaking for themselves.
WHO REPRESENTS THE BLIND
There are numerous governmental agencies
and private charitable organizations
and foundations providing services
for blind people, but only the blind
themselves (acting through their own
organization, the National Federation of
the Blind) are able to speak for the
blind, This is a basic concept of democracy.
The
government has a Department of
Labor, but it cannot truly speak for
workers. They speak for themselves.
Likewise the Department of Agriculture
does not replace farm organizations, nor
do governmental agencies or private
foundations take the place of democratic
membership organizations of minority
groups. This is true even if the agency
or foundation is headed or largely staffed
by members of the minority.
As with others, so with the blind.
More and more of the governmental agencies
and private foundations are becoming
responsive to the views and needs of
the blind and are learning new concepts and attitudes about blindness. The
future looks bright. There is an overwhelming
feeling of goodwill and a wish
to help on the part of the general public.
Most important of all, the blind
are moving forward to speak for themselves
and take a hand in the management
of their own affairs through their organization,
the National Federation of
the Blind.
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
By means of speeches, pamphlets,
radio, and TV appearances, members of
the NFB strive to educate the general
public to the fact that the blind are
normal individuals who can compete on
terms of equality with others.
The Braille Monitor is a monthly publication
of the NFB devoted to news and
discussion of issues important to the
blind. It is published in Braille, in
print, and on record, and is available
to the blind and the sighted alike upon
request.
Detailed studies of state programs for
the blind are carried out by the NFB
when offically requested by state governors
or legislatures.
Scholarships are awarded to blind
students. Assistance is given to blind
persons who are the victims of discrimination
or whose rights have been denied.
Such assistance takes the form of initiating
court action, negotiating with
public officials, conferring with private
groups or individuals, and seeking
publicity in the press and otherwise.
Future Reflections is the NFB magazine
for parents of blind children. Through
this magazine and other means, the blind
of this generation reach out to offer
help and encouragement (through Parents)
to the blind of the next generation.
New state and federal laws and regulations
concerning the blind are researched.
The blind are informed of services
available to them and of their rights
under the law. Consultation is provided
to congressional committees and state
legislatures, as well as to federal and
state administrators. Local and state
leaders of the blind from throughout the
country are brought together for seminars
to give them information to take
back to their home communities and pass
on to others. The Federation recently
promoted and helped develop and evaluate
a reading machine which translates the
printed page into spoken words. Other
new technology is also being evaluated
and promoted. In short, the National
Federation of the Blind is prepared to
take whatever action may be necessary to
improve the lives of the blind.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BLIND
The NFB works to insure that training
in the techniques necessary to function
efficiently without sight is available.
Some kind of training is available in
every state, but often it leads only to
sitting at home, or making brooms in a
sheltered workshop for less that $1.00
an hour.
Blind people today work as lawyers,
psychologists, machinists, farmers,
hairdressers; but the best estimates
indicate that 70 percent of those who
are able to work still do not have jobs
or work only a few days a month in
sheltered workshops. Many thoroughly
capable blind persons have never had a
job.
To respond to this critically high
unemployment rate, the National Federation of the Blind, in cooperation with
the United States Department of Labor,
developed a program of Job Opportunities
for the Blind. JOB helps qualified
blind people who are looking for work
find employers with job openings. JOB
also helps employers who have affirmative
action requirements for hiring the
handicapped find truly qualified employees,
not just token blind people to meet
a mandated government order. JOB conducts
educational seminars about blindness
for employers, and career planning
seminars for unemployed blind people.
PROTECTION OF RIGHTS
There are barriers to full participation
in society by the blind. The National
Federation of the Blind stands
ready to help blind people overcome
these barriers when collective action is
necessary.
Many blind mothers and fathers are
currently experiencing challenges from
social service agencies who want to take
their children. The recent increase in
the number of such reported instances
reflects not just an increase in government
meddling or custodialism (although
there is plenty of that), but heightened
awareness and determination to take
action on the part of the blind and
their friends.
The National Federation of the Blind
is responding to the challenge. A blind
mother in Florida is once again busy
raising her child without interference
from a social service agency. The agency
backed down when the National Federation
of the Blind came to her defense.
Several cases are currently underway in
which blindness is a central question of
a custody suit. Because the National
Federation of the Blind was not contacted,
it is already too late for some
blind mothers and fathers. The organization
is determined to establish sound
case law on this issue.
THE NFB IS IMPORTANT TO YOU
Blindness knows no discrimination.
Any child can be born blind. Any individual
can become blind in childhood or in later life. It is in the best interest
of every individual to understand
blindness and how to cope with its
problems.
YOU CAN HELP
The most important thing you can do is
help us spread the new concepts about
blindness. When you see our literature
in the mail or meet one of us on the
street, remember that we are people,
just like you--with all the range of
talents and capacities, wits and wants
that you possess. You can also help by
making cash contributions to our organization
or remembering the National Federation
of the Blind in your will. The
National Federation of the Blind is
principally supported by public contributions.
Donations are tax deductible.
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
Interested sighted people are encouraged
to join the National Federation of
the Blind. You can help us in our work
by becoming a member-at-large and an
Associate. Associates receive regular
mailings providing updated information
of programs and activities of the organization.
Many sighted people have
already become Associates in the following classifications:
Associate--$10
Contributing Associate--$25
Supporting Associate--$50
Sponsoring Associate--$ 10 0
Sustaining Associate--$500
Member of the President's Club-- $1000
To become a member-at-large send your
name, address, and your dues and
Associate contribution to:
The National Federation of the Blind,
1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD
21230.
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