[visionary] Re: Fw: Mark's Questions from 1/10/03 conference call
- From: "Donna Smith" <dsmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <visionary@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 13:51:08 -0500
Thanks Carol for prodding us into the discussion we're suppose to be having.
1. Who brings people together?
Groups and strong individual leaders is a good answer to this question. I'm
not as concerned about there being different groups each with strong leaders
within the movement, as I am about the divisiveness that goes on among those
groups that prevents a united front on big issues. The blindness organizations
Carol mentions are a good example of what I'm talking about. AFB (American
Foundation for the Blind) is not a consumer-based organization with a
constituency, so I'd take them out of the picture for this discussion. But NFB
(National Federation of the Blind) and ACB (American Council of the blind) are
not always on the same side of blindness issues which is very confusing to
policy-makers and is usually counterproductive for all concerned. Having said
that, I think ACB has taken a prominent role in working with other disability
groups and is generally considered to be the more prominent voice for affecting
change. I don't think we know how to resolve that in-fighting that exists
within the disability movement and it's certainly not limited to ACB/NFB and
blindness issues. I tend to think of it as maturity issues. In the grand
scheme of things, the disability movement has moved pretty quickly from total
exclusion to our current level of inclusion (noting that we've still a long,
long way to go), and I think we as a community have to grow into our progress.
It's like fighting to get accepted into a graduate program and then realizing
that you succeeded and now have to be willing and able to do the course work.
So what brings us together? Groups, strong leadership, issues of mutual
concern, the need to find solutions, and in the current political climate,
fighting for our lives.
2. How does our movement measure the results of our efforts?
Carol gives some good global measures, and I would add that at the grassroots
level I think success is measured by the changes people experience in their
day-to-day lives...an employer who provides accommodations without a fight; a
restaurant the has a braille/large print menu; a reduction in the number of
incidents in which taxi drivers, business owners, public agencies refuse to
allow service animals; a subtle but definite change in societal attitude toward
acceptance; the incremental increases in supports that make living with a
disability a more independent effort; car shows that feature modified vehicles;
better assistance within airports; a Dear Abby column that appropriately
addresses the issue of sexuality and disability; and the list could go on and
on. Certainly for every measure of success there is still a volume of work to
be accomplished, but there is no doubt that I have witnessed a very marked
difference over my 41 years of being a person who is blind.
I'm doing some checking with regard to model programs, with an emphasis on
rural transportation, and will send that info in later.
On another topic entirely, I was so very pleased to see that the I-quip this
week was from a fellow Mississippian, Hodding Carter. It kind of helps to wash
away the bad taste left by Trent Lott. <smile> Unfortunately, when people
think of Mississippi and Civil Rights, they think of the Trent Lott's and
forget entirely, if they ever knew, that the Hodding Carter's were there
fighting on the right side.
And finally, how is Ian? He has been very much in my thoughts, but I haven't
wanted to ask for information you weren't ready to share. Still, please let
him know that he has our support.
Peace and Hope,
Donna
Donna Smith
Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
Easter Seals Project ACTION
700 Thirteenth Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-3066 or 800-659-6428
<dsmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
www.projectaction.org
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