Often people ask the same controvercial questions about the federation and what we believe. Here are a few questions that we discussed in the August 2011 chapter meeting.

Q: Isn’t it true that you guys hate guide dogs?

A: It is not true that the federation hates guide dogs. What is true is that as federationists we believe that blind people should be in control of their lives including the control to make informed decisions about what tools and techniques they will use for independent travel whether that tool is a guide dog, white cane, GPS device, or anything that gives a blind person independence. What is true is that the National Association of Guide Dog Users is a proud and thriving division of the federation which ensures that blind people with guide dogs have free and equal access to all locations and activities where they choose to go.

Q: I heard that the NFB is against audible traffic signals.

A: The federation is against audible signals that will interfere with a blind person’s ability to hear the traffic sounds around them. Also it is important that blind people not be trained to depend solely on the audible signal for getting crossing information. As a tool which simply provides information about the color of the traffic light, and with the training to pay attention to what cars are actually doing as opposed to what they are supposed to be doing audible trafic signals are useful.

Q: Does the NFB want to make blind people use busses and not paratransit?

A: Richie answered this question very well in the following post from the members mailing list.

It’s great to see the discussion regarding the Para-Transit changes. The NFB for years has advocated for blind individuals to fine-tune their own individual skills of mobility to become as independent as possible. I can understand the concerns folks may have with the changes regarding conditional rides. Especially if this is your only form of transportation. The NFB has always supported the concept of proper training, adjustment to blindness, and responsible choices in obtaining and accomplishing successful orientation and mobility in our homes, work places, and public communities.

I encourage you to read:

1. “Blindness — Handicap or Characteristic” by Kenneth Jernigan to examine the federationist philosophy related to Blindness and disability.
2. “The Nature of Independence” to learn of our stance on independent travel.
3. Last year we agreed on resolution 2010-01 regarding the austin area travel system.

Q: Why doesn’t the NFB like folding canes?

A: The NFB uses the straight fiber glass cane with metal tip at our training centers because we believe that this cane provides the most useful feedback, but once training is complete individuals should choose the cane which works best for them. At the 2011 national convention the NFB debuted a seven section folding cane in both fiber glass and carbon fiber. These canes offer the light comfortable feel of the traditional NFB cane in a small size.

Q: Why does the NFB try to make everyone wear blindfolds? Is it because they want all blind people to be totally blind?

A: The purpose of the blindfold is to allow blind people in training to focus on learning non-visual techniques regardless of their level of vision. Once you have learned non-visual techniques, and have skills of blindness in place you will feel confident with or without a blindfold and be able to incorporate the vision you have in the way that works best for you. You can also be secure in the knowledge that you experience any vision loss you can still enjoy the same quality of life because you learned your skills with a blindfold.

Q: Do you have to be totally blind to take a leadership position in the NFB?

A: No, certainly not, many of our finest leaders at the local, state, and national levels have a wide range of remaining vision. One possible reason for this misconception is that leaders in the NFB don’t talk a lot about their remaining vision because many sighted people will attribute their success to their remaining vision and not to their tallents and skills.

Q: I am visually impaired, do I have to be blind to join the NFB?

A: The blind community is already such a small population that in the NFB we feel it is important not to focus on further divisions by making distinctions between blind, legally blind, visually impaired, and any other label intended to make blindness more “palletable”. It is respectable to be blind and we needn’t use any other words to gain respect.

Q: Does the NFB ever work with the ACB?

A: The NFB and ACB both work in the ways the organizations believe best for improving the lives of blind people, but the two organizations have different philosophies and methods which they use to accomplish their goals. Whenever possible we in the NFB are happy to work with any organization which works to achieve equality, independence, and opportunity for blind people.

Q: What is the NFB’s problem with descriptive video?

A: The members of the NFB appreciate descriptive video as much as anyone, but we do not believe it is essential to watching a movie or television show. As a non-essential service we in the NFB do not believe public money should be spent to describe movies and TV shows when it could be spent on more important things. If private organizations wish to describe videos either for sale or for free, and individuals wish to take advantage of that service, the NFB values both these decisions.

If you have any more questions, answers, or comments on what is written here please leave a comment, and we will answer your question.