> I am a member of the NFB of Dane County (Wisconsin) and it's great. I wish I'd had a similar experience. I didn't start off with negative feelings towards the organization and you were actually one of the interesting individual members I had in mind. Amanda On 4/26/17, Linux for blind general discussion <blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I am a member of the NFB of Dane County (Wisconsin) and it's great. I > have met the most unbelievable people in that group. You know the > saying, "Get knocked down 9 times, get up ten"? Try get knocked down a > thousand times and get up a thousand and one. I used to think I had no > reason to hang out with other blind people. We happen to be blind but > other than that we have nothing in common. But I've never met a better > bunch of people in my life. Not only do I really enjoy it, it helps me > keep my perspective. > > PS: It was probably really stupid of me to start this thread. I didn't > intend to start an NFB vs ACB debate. I deliberately titled the thread > NFB *and* ACB as if that would matter. Stupid. > > -- John Heim > > > > On 04/26/2017 06:28 AM, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: >> Tony Baechler here. I don't know who you are, but I thank you! I >> couldn't agree more! I went to the LCB. That was the worst month of my >> life! They tried to take my SSI (I guess I shouldn't be allowed to >> manage my own money), wouldn't help me learn even basic tasks and told >> me to sink or swim. Huh? What about training? I'm a cane user and I >> don't like dogs out of preference. Guide dogs were absolutely forbidden. >> Too bad if you have some vision as you weren't allowed to use it. Oh, >> you need help in cooking class? Too bad for you! I was very much a >> believer in the NFB until then, but no more! I was a member at large of >> the ACB, but am not currently a member of either. Of the two, the ACB is >> far more welcoming and friendly. I would join them just for that reason, >> but I think their structured negotiation method of getting things done >> as opposed to suing the pants off everyone works much better and makes >> the blind look better. The NFB has benefitted from what the ACB has >> done, just as the ACB has. I'm starting to see those few, rare times >> when both worked together. I predict that within 20 years, they merge. >> Also, the ACB split off the NFB in 1961. >> >> On 4/25/2017 4:05 PM, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: >>> NFB members at a training center alienated me through their rigid >>> insistence on straight canes and failure to account for the >>> multiply-disabled or congenitally blind in training methods. I also >>> couldn't stomach their idea that I should run all my words and actions >>> through the "how does this make all blind people look" filter, or that >>> becoming normal should be my ultimate goal. Several of us in here >>> would have to lose a bunch of IQ points to be considered normal. And, >>> I hate the Borg. >>> >>> That was over a decade ago. I'm on some of their mailing lists and I >>> have some of their folding) canes since those are useful things. I >>> won't join, but I've met some interesting individual members. >>> >>> On 4/25/17, Linux for blind general discussion >>> <blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >>>> The ACB's lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Treasury to make >>>> them make money accessible was already flawed to say the least. >>>> According to the United States Constitution, the power to design money >>>> has been delegated to Congress, and the Department of the Treasury is >>>> only responsible for carrying out the orders of Congress. Therefore, >>>> the >>>> best way to make money accessible would have been for any and all >>>> so-called advocacy organizations to lobby Congress and get a bill >>>> passed >>>> and signed by the President of the United States that would redesign >>>> our >>>> money in an accessible way. Do I think the ACB's lawsuit was a >>>> publicity >>>> stunt? Absolutely, as if they wanted us to have accessible money for >>>> sure, they would have gone through the proper channels and we would >>>> have >>>> had it by now. Instead, where are we? No closer to truly accessible >>>> currency than we were when this whole sleighride begen nearly 10 years >>>> ago. Thank you, ACB and NFB for being such advocates for the needs of >>>> blind and visually impaired citizens of the United States. Without your >>>> petty bickering and your "We're not them" attitudes, the world would >>>> certainly be a better and more friendly place for all of us. >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Blinux-list mailing list >>>> Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx >>>> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Blinux-list mailing list >>> Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx >>> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list >>> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Blinux-list mailing list > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > _______________________________________________ Blinux-list mailing list Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list