Humanitarian Issue – National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Mission

May 21, 2014

By Padmini Arhant

The vision impairment might limit normal functioning but not necessarily the determination of those faced with such challenge.

Unlike earlier, blindness is overcome with many useful techniques and aid especially with technology enabling free movement and ability to perform tasks at home and work environment.

However, there are estimated 1.3 million blind men, women and children in the United States and more around the world in need of assistance for self-support existence.

On behalf of several citizens around the world affected by blindness,

I kindly request the global community to donate generously in improving the lives of many people through programs and modern facilities in progress due to organizations such as National Federation of the Blind commitment to change the perception about blindness and support those in the situation to cope with ease and dignity.

The excerpts of the letter received from President Marc Maurer, National Federation of the Blind, (NFB) presented for clarity. 

“Blindness can be a terrible tragedy…but it doesn’t have to be if people like you understand.

Remember, blind people are not looking for a handout.  We don’t want pennies thrown in a tin cup with pity.  We want the chance to pay our own way, to go to school, learn a skill and do an honest day’s work for an honest living.

The 74 percent unemployment rate that blind citizens in the United States face is outrageous! –

Blindness affects our eyes, not our competence, intelligence, skills, aptitude, or ability.  We’ll prove that with proper training, we can show superior performance on the job.

With your help and the help of others, sighted people will exchange their fear and pity for understanding and acceptance.

Blind people have had to struggle against these misunderstandings, and we need you to help spread the message about what blind people can and can’t do…especially when it comes to employment.

Blindness is, and always will be inconvenient, but it doesn’t have to be incapacitating. WE NEED A CHANCE. We need trust and understanding!  WE NEED YOU.

The National Federation of the Blind was organized almost seventy-four years ago to assist all blind persons, and particularly to help lessen the hurt for blind children who must function fully in a predominantly sighted world.

But, we can’t do it alone…we need your understanding, your voice, and your help to spread the word more than ever before…and we need it right now.

Here is some of the work we do which we need you to help us spread the word about:

           > Building and equipping the largest, most up-to-date Braille and Technology Center for blind workers     in the world.

           > Creating Newline for the Blind the talking newspaper service that allows blind people to hear their local  newspapers over the telephone.

            >Developing the first Portable Hand-Held Reading Machine for the blind and most recently, the smallest text-to-speech reading device ever created – the knfb READER mobile.

            This is such a life-changing innovation because it REDUCES THE  INCONVENIENCE AND NUISANCE OF BLINDNESS.   For the first time, a blind person, without help, can go shopping and distinguish between bottles of  medicines and vitamins or tell if he or she is handing a cashier a $20 bill or a $1 bill.

            >Establishing the innovative Online Blindness Education Program designed to teach critical information about blindness and blind people to sighted educators, blindness professionals, family members of blind children or adults, and anyone else interested in what blindness is – – and more important  – what it isn’t.

            >Working to improve the resources and opportunities for blind senior citizens to remain active, independent members in our communities.

            >Providing White Canes free of charge to blind and visually impaired people who need them.”

You may please contact National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells Street, At Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230-4998. United States. Tel. # (410) 659-9314. 

In conclusion, NFB President Marc Maurer plea is for the fundamental development utilizing innovative information and technology to allow the partial or full blindness condition to become less of an impediment. 

The global empathy towards mankind would alleviate difficulties and suffering through sharing and caring for all.

Peace to all!

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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