by Christopher Gray
There are bound to be moments as we do our organizational advocacy work when we ask ourselves whether or not we really matter. When a minor defeat must be overcome or overlooked, when legislation comes forward that is not in the best interest of blind people, when we must overcome difficulties within our local organizations, the question "do we matter?" is a natural and inevitable thing one cannot help but wonder.
Just after Thanksgiving, I was hit squarely with an event that made me, momentarily, ask myself this question. While reading my mail one morning, I came to an announcement about an organization who was providing donations to blind people on a nationwide basis, but not offering such an equal opportunity to ACB members who might choose to use this method of making a contribution to ACB. Concerned and curious, I wrote back to raise the possibility that perhaps ACB had been inadvertently overlooked or forgotten in this display of Christmas spirit. I found out a little later that Charlie Crawford had made an identical contact and was as perplexed about this situation as I.
After some phone conversations and the exchange of other messages, we learned that in fact, ACB had not been overlooked, but that we were being intentionally left out by the company in question. No, we would not be considered for inclusion in this program that would have allowed our members who shopped at the company's web site to specify a contribution to ACB.
How, I asked myself, could a responsible company that works in our field decide that ACB consumers are not worthy of making a contribution to their organization via making a purchase through the company's web site while others can? I'm still wondering, or is it only that I am in a state of wonderment?
Of course, I know the answer, at least a major part of it. Whether rightly or wrongly, ACB is perceived by some as an organization that will not stand up for itself, particularly to organizations serving people who are blind. Despite our continually expanding successes and influence, some organizations that work in service to the blind think they can do as they please and ACB will turn the other cheek. What do you think?
It is time for this perception to be set right! In fact, it is time for every reader of this article and every member of ACB to take five minutes and let this company know that in fact, ACB DOES MATTER. A couple of years ago, there were two notable vendors of products for people who are blind who elected not to demonstrate products at an ACB convention. That problem got resolved when ACB members spoke up, made their voices heard, and said to these companies: WE DO MATTER. Apparently, one similar organization hasn't quite gotten the message. I am asking you to clearly communicate the message to the owner of EnableLink that, in fact, ACB does matter. If they are willing to solicit, accept, and transmit donations to any national organization that relates to blindness, they had better include the American Council of the Blind, the largest single representative organization of blind people in the United States today. We are not asking that any organization be precluded, but we are insisting on being included.
EnableLink and its parent company, DeWitt and Associates, has chosen to discriminate specifically and directly against the American Council of the Blind. Given their reliance on blind people for their business and given their acceptance of significant public funding with which to provide services to the blind of their region, one can only wonder about their fairness and the degree to which they take into consideration the needs of all blind people when they take such a rash and discriminatory action. I encourage you to contact this company and let them know of your concern. Further, I, speaking as a personal matter here, will not consider their web site as a source for purchasing and hope that others will follow suit until this unfortunate situation is resolved. Contact EnableLink and John DeWitt and Associates at (201) 447-6500. You can also e-mail Mr. DeWitt at [email protected].
(Editor's Note: EnableLink is not related in any way to the well-known and much-respected company Enabling Technologies. We felt it was important to point this out, since when one reads the article with a screen reader, it might be easy to confuse EnableLink with Enabling.)
This brings us inevitably to the second question: "Can we make a difference?" In this particular case, if enough of us take action and do so today, I know the answer is "yes!" In a larger sense, we can recognize that the answer is "yes!" ACB is directly and specifically responsible for saving lives on city streets today in communities throughout the United States. It is our membership that has provided the support and counsel that nurtured and brought to life the radio reading service movement and later the descriptive video movement in America. It is ACB members who, through their positive, forward-looking activities, make the real difference in the lives of all blind people in this country. Of this I am certain, and I am very proud to be able to work each day in support of these efforts. Yes, there are days when it's easier to feel discouraged than hopeful; and we do have our battles to wage. With our work of today in support of our vision tomorrow, ACB's successes and achievements will only continue to grow and magnify our ability to accomplish even more.