• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 205 0

change. They can be shown that we are in no way inferior to them and that the old ideas were wrong, that we are able to compete with the sighted, play with the sighted, work with the sighted, and live with the sighted on terms of complete equality. We the blind can also come to recognize these truths, and we can live by them.

For all these reasons I say to you that the blind are able to compete on terms of absolute equality with the sighted, but I go on to say that blindness (even when properly dealt with) is still a physical nuisance. We must avoid the sin and the fallacy of either extreme. Blindness need not be a tragic hell. It cannot be a total nullity, lacking all inconvenience. It can, as we of the National Federation of the Blind say at every opportunity, be reduced to the level of a mere annoyance. Right on! We the blind must neither cop out by selling ourselves short with self-pity and myths of tragic deprivation, nor lie to ourselves by denying the existence of a problem. We need your help; we seek your understanding; and we want your partnership in changing our status in society. There is no place in our movement for the philosophy of the self-effacing Uncle Tom, but there is also no place for unreasonable and unrealistic belligerence. We are not out to “get sighty.” Will you work with us?

RESOURCES FOR

BLINDNESS

National Federation of the Blind

From the Web site: “The National Federation of the Blind is not an organization speaking for the blind—it is the blind speaking for themselves.”

200 East Wells Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21230

410-659-9314

E-mail: nfb@nfb.org

Web: http://www.nfb.org

American Foundation for the Blind

Nonprofit organization enabling blind or visually impaired people to achieve equality and access.

2 Penn Plaza, Suite 1102

New York, NY 10121

800-232-5463

E-mail: afbinfo@afb.net

Web: http://www.afb.org

American Printing House for the Blind

The world’s largest provider of accessible educational and daily living products with over 150 years of service.

1839 Frankfort Avenue

Louisville, KY 40206

800-223-1839

E-mail: info@aph.org

Web: http://www.aph.org/

Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired

1703 N. Beauregard Street, Suite 440

Alexandria, VA 22311

877-492-2708

Web: http://www.aerbvi.org

Braille Institute

Nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate barriers to a fulfilling life caused by blindness and severe sight loss.

741 North Vermont Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90029

800-272-4553

E-mail: la@brailleinstitute.org

Web: http://www.brailleinstitute.org

Braille Monitor: Voice of the Nation’s Blind

A monthly magazine of the National Federation of the Blind. Available in large print, Braille, audiocassette, or by e-mail. Back issues are available online through the online directory.

510-659-9314, ext. 2344

E-mail: nfb@nfb.org

Web: http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Braille_Monitor.asp

Daisy Consortium

International association promoting the DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) standard for talking books.

Grubenstrasse 12

8045 Zurich, Switzerland

Web: http://www.daisy.org

Google’s accessible web search

for the visually impaired

Web: http://labs.google.com/accessible

Guide Dogs for the Blind

Nonprofit, charitable organization with a mission to provide guide dogs and training in their use to visually impaired people throughout the United States and Canada.

P.O. Box 151200

San Rafael, CA 94915

800-295-4050

E-mail: information@guidedogs.com

Web: http://www.guidedogs.com

K-NF B Reader: Reading Technology from Kurzweil Technologies

Software packages that run on a multifunction cell phone to enable the user to read printed material by way of scanner and digitized voice technology.

415-827-4084

E-mail: info@michaelhingson.com

Web: http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com/

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically