National Federation of the Blind Comments on Saturday Night Live Segment

National Federation of the Blind Comments on Saturday Night Live Segment

Largest Organization of the Blind Criticizes Attack on Blind Americans

BALTIMORE, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Chris Danielsen, spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind, said: "The biggest problem faced by blind people is not blindness itself, but the stereotypes held by the general public about blindness and blind people. The idea that blind people are incapable of the simplest tasks and are perpetually disoriented and befuddled is absolutely wrong. This misconception contributes to an unemployment rate among blind people that stubbornly remains at 70 percent. That is why the National Federation of the Blind is disappointed that Saturday Night Live chose to portray Governor Paterson in a comedy routine that focused almost exclusively on his blindness. Attacking the Governor because he is blind is an attack on all blind Americans -- blind children, blind adults, blind seniors, and newly blinded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The National Federation of the Blind urges the producers of Saturday Night Live to consider the serious negative impact that misinformation and stereotypes have on blind people before continuing in this unfortunate vein of humor."

Source: National Federation of the Blind

CONTACT: Chris Danielsen, Public Relations Specialist of National
Federation of the Blind, +1-410-659-9314, extension 2330; +1-410-262-1281
(Cell), cdanielsen@nfb.org

Web Site: http://www.nfb.org/

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