Whereas, The Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) recently produced a number of short video segments designed to acquaint potential employers and the general public with the capabilities of the blind as well as some of the problems faced by the blind; and
Whereas, Most of this material presents a positive image of blindness, ably demonstrating that the blind can work and compete successfully alongside their sighted colleagues; and
Whereas, Notwithstanding the positive tone of much of this material, one of these video segments, entitled "Blind-sided", purports to illustrate some of the vexing situations often encountered by the blind during a typical day, often resulting from the ignorance and/or thoughtlessness of the sighted; and
Whereas, In a "retake" of the incidents depicted, the video segment purports to show how these vexing situations can be avoided or ameliorated; and
Whereas, The video segment is harmful in that, rather than showing the blind person in control, taking steps to avoid or defuse these irritating situations, the video segment tends to show the blind "victim" as passive, implying that it is up to the sighted to make blind persons comfortable; and
Whereas, This picture of passivity contradicts the experience of many thousands of blind people and the message of hope and capability DSB wishes to convey to potential employers and to the public at large concerning blindness, thus undercutting its effort to integrate the blind into society as first-class citizens.
now therefore:
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of
Washington in Convention Assembled this Second day of November, 2008, in the
city of
that this organization condemns and deplores the production of the "Blind-sided" video segment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that we demand that the "Blind-sided" video segment be withdrawn from circulation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that we insist that if a video segment depicting the minor vexations of blindness (vexations that are, after all, little more than nuisances) is to be produced, it should show blind persons in charge of their lives rather than as passive victims; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the National Federation of the Blind of Washington stands ready to assist DSB to make such a video segment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that we insist that we be consulted before future video segments depicting blindness are contemplated and produced.