NFBO Portland Central Chapter

National Federation of the Blind Philosophy:
• Blind people are simply normal people who cannot see--we are not defective sighted people.
• Blind people are as different as sighted people are; that is, we are a cross-section of the broader society and, therefore, are not all alike as some assume.
• Given proper training and opportunity, the average blind person can compete in all facets of society on an equal basis with the average sighted person.
• Blindness is a physical characteristic, and the limitations resulting from this normal characteristic can be overcome using alternative techniques to do without sight what an individual would do with sight if he or she had it. (Graphic to the right is an electronic Braille display used for converting print and digital displays into Braille.)
• It is respectable to be blind, and, given proper training, blindness may be reduced to the level of a nuisance or inconvenience.
• The real problem of blindness is not the loss of vision itself, but is wrapped up in all of the public misunderstandings, misconceptions, and superstitions about it.
• Because of these incorrect attitudes with their resulting stereotypes, the blind have organized for the same reasons other minorities have--to make positive social change through collective action.