[visionary] Re: Fw: Mark's Questions from 1/10/03 conference call
- From: Ian Minicuci <iminicucci@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'visionary@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <visionary@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 10:04:25 -0500
Hello all <smile>,
First I want to thank you all for your support. Things here are a bit slow
but ok. I have another appt tomorrrow for a meeting with the
anesthesiologist (I know I spelled it wrong). Friday I have what is called a
sterotactic biopsy and by next week we should have all of (or most of) our
answers. Obviously Kenny, Nicole & Crew will know more as I do and I will
ask them to share if I am unable to.
Thanks again to all and I will talk with you soon!
Best,
Ian
-----Original Message-----
From: Donna Smith [mailto:dsmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 1:51 PM
To: visionary@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [visionary] Re: Fw: Mark's Questions from 1/10/03 conference
call
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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