From: Richard Webb 
Subject: Re: Why the NFB   Hello listers,
I am attempting to respond to more than one person's comments which
have been made over the last couple of days on this subject.
Hopefully, me and my spellchecker will catch any real bad typos,
otherwise, apologies, as it's late.
Albert Sinclanton wrote:
  >I want to  comment here on only one aspect of this complex topic.
   >>  I can assure you that during leadership seminars, the
   >> mistakes we have made in dealing with situations or with people
   >>are  discussed and that we, whether making decisions on the
   >>chapter, state  affiliate, or national level, take such things
   >>into account.  Do we  loudly proclaim our failures to the public?
   >>Of course not.  What good  would that do?  Anyone involved more
   >>than perifferally, though, knows  about our past problems in

   >Yet, after reading in that presidential report that we continued to
   >oppose the installation of tactile warning strips along subway
   >platform edges, I then read how we were working or about to work
   >with the Johns Hopkins Institute of Applied Physics (think I got
   >the name right) to develop an electronic warning system for blind
   >people to use along those same platform edges.  As I considered
   >this (after the shock wore off a little), I thought this an abysmal
   >disregard for one of our best traditions, our opposition to
   >high-tech gismos designed to give us so-called help we didn't need
   >at a price (in image, and perhaps in real safety as well) we
   >couldn't afford.  As I understood it, the blind user of the
   >"electronic fence" would have to carry a device around in the
   >subway system, along with cane or dog, and make sure it was aimed
   >so that it would have contact with a device built into the platform.
   >With contact presumably came a warning signal.  The gismo one
   >carried around would have to be maintained in good working order,
   >as would the gismo that was in or part of the platform.  If either
   >of those conditions was false, the blind user of the system would
   >almost certainly be a lot worse off than if he or she had never
   >used it:  no signal from it might lead to tumbling, getting zapped
   >by the third rail, and serious injury or a quick trip to the void
   >or whatever beyond.  Generally, I think, high-tech devices screw up
   >more often than low-tech ones, especially if they get a lot of
   >handling, as would the carry-around part of the "electronic fence"
   >system.  Whatever else one may say about truncated domes, they work
   >a lot like Braille and they wear out gradually and, I suspect, more
   >or less predictably. Now, in 1984, on a presidential release, we
   >were asked to oppose a grant application by one Wolfgang Preiser,
   >who apparently intended to design a system of wires to put under
   >floor of malls and other places to guide the blind.  I did it
   >gladly, and I appreciated and still appreciate that I might not
   >have understood the potential harm in that project without the NFB.
I too oppose tactile warnings, beeping lights, and other such needles
gizmos.  You've probably seen some of the letters I've sent to
publications when they feature such needless technology.  I can
presume, however that the reason we would take part in such
foolishness at all is to try to demonstrate to the researchers that
there is no substitute for good orientation and mobility training.  A
person with such skills does not necessarily need the "talking fence"
or truncated domes.
One thing the NFB has given me is a positive outlook on blindness and
life in general.  I truly believe a person can overcome just about any
difficulty with intelligence and opportunity, plus some guidance form
folks who've been down that road before.
The latter is one thing I can get from the NFB.
Like Harvey, I can remember the Nac picketing.  THe fight for minimum
wages and fair treatment in the workshops
still isn't over yet so far as I know.  THere are still opportunities
and need for grass roots action, but most of the battle has changed to
another front thnese days.  WE need to educate consumer device
manufacturers about who we are, and what would work better for us.
Not just because it would work better for us, but it makes sense for
the general populace.  This is just one example of where the type of
action we're involved in has changed.  STill, we can't lose sight of
that period in our history.
I'm sorry I haven't heard more about the "talking fence" project.  I'd
like to hear more about what our role in that thing actually was.  Did
we spend any money?  If so, where and why?  If we lent people to the
project, maybe that was a good thing.  Maybe we convinced the
researchers it was a needless boondoggle.  IF so, all to the good.
Finally, I can truly say my life would not be what it is today were it
not for the influence of the NFB.  There are a couple of times I might
just have given up hope and remained a drunken fool were it not for a
belief in myself which has been reinforced by the teachings of such
good folks as Dr.  Jernigan and others, both leaders and rank and file
members of our movement.
One reason I've been so critical of Dan's stance on some issues is
that he hasn't been part of our movement.  Therefore, he has little
room to criticize.  I would encourage him to see what our movement
truly is.  Maybe he would come away feeling it wasn't for him, but
standing on the outside taking pot shots  at us through our leadership
isn't the way to effect things positively imho.  I took my share of
heat on blindtlk when I mentioned a cane instead of saying cane or dog
in a letter to a magazine regarding an article they published.  The
article regarded another technological marvel we didn't need, a cane
on wheels guided by a 486 chip.  I thought that dog vs. cane argument
would go on forever, but it hasn't held a candle to the recent round
here.
FInally,  I wish I could be with you all in Dallas this year, but I
have a prior commitment.  Hopefully next year.  I guess a small dose
of federation spirit at State convention in October will have to
suffice this year.  TO folks who have been lurking here that aren't
part of the movement and don't have a local chapter nearby, plan to
attend National convention.  If you can't do that, attend your state
meeting.  Like most organizations we are fallible, we're human, but I
think a newcomer will come away with a positive feeling.
Regards,
Richard Webb
Owner
Electric Spider Productions
Audio production & voice-overs.
I boycot all products marketed by spammers.
I want to die in my sleep like my grandfather
not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
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