[blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign

Arielle Silverman arielle71 at gmail.com
Sun Feb 24 19:56:17 UTC 2013


The reason it is a threat to self-esteem is because it is a sign that
distinguishes one child from another. It would be one thing if every
kid in the neighborhood had a sign in front of their house signaling
there are children present; that would not threaten self-esteem. But
if there is only one blind kid, or a handful of blind kids, and signs
only in front of their homes signaling that a blind kid lives there,
that is a potential source of stigma. If a sign is used to point out
the presence of some people but not everyone, then the sign functions
as a label. Most of us agree that being labeled "handicapped" carries
a stigma Having that label broadcast to the world just intensifies
that stigma. Walk signs, or stop signs, apply equally to everybody and
don't separate one individual from another. I hope that makes sense.
Arielle

On 2/24/13, Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org> wrote:
> Regarding self esteem and how a blind individual may or may not feel about
> themselves when we are discussing environmental signage.
>
> How is a sign of any nature, which is there not so much for the blind in
> this instance, but for the drivers and visitors to the neighborhood,
> perceived as a compromise to self esteem?
>
> As a kindergarten teacher, there is a whole component on environmental
> signage for students. When we consider one way signs, or stop signs, or
> crossing signals, which are used daily and very regularly by the sighted
> community as cues, is it a stretch to then assume, following the logic
> offered regarding the impact on self esteem, that the sighted community
> suffers a lack of self esteem because of the environmental signage that is
> abundant?
>
> I am not able to make the connection between signage that offers
> information
> to individuals as a causation for a lack of self esteem for anyone. The
> same
> position is taken when we discuss audible crossing signs. Yet the sighted
> community has been using them  for decades, and no one  suffers from low
> self esteem when they see the sign that says walk or don't walk.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
> Silverman
> Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 1:59 PM
> To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign
>
> Hi all,
> I am less concerned about a child getting teased or bullied because of a
> sign, and more concerned about how knowing about a sign could affect a
> blind
> child's self-esteem and feelings about himself and his blindness.
> Albert, I don't personally agree with your choice to get a sign, but you
> are
> a competent adult and I respect your right to make that choice. It is
> different when we are talking about making that choice on behalf of a child
> who doesn't have the power yet to make that decision for herself.
> I really think that on the benefits side of the argument, we need to ask
> ourselves whether we really believe that blindness makes street crossing
> more dangerous than it is for any pedestrian. Getting a sign implicitly
> supports that belief. I used to think the same, but my training at the
> Louisiana Center for the Blind has taught me that, on average, I can be
> just
> as safe crossing the street as anybody else.
> I'm not just saying that because that's what my instructors told me, but
> because I have actually crossed many intersections and learned that through
> my own experiences.
> Arielle
>
> On 2/24/13, Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org> wrote:
>> Peter,
>>
>> Opinions are just that, opinions. Everyone has one. agreed, probably
>> best to leave this one covered as discussions go, and best to agree to
>> disagree.
>> Peace.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Peter
>> Donahue
>> Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 12:07 PM
>> To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign
>>
>> Hello Albert and everyone,
>>
>>     Our experience is not simply from suggestion. I lived it! Even
>> more ironic is the fact that our house was located in a school zone.
>> During school hours drivers are required to drive slower to enhance
>> the safety of children . Having sinage alerting motorists to the
>> presence of a blind child in this situation was over-kill and
>> unnecessary. Such sinage only reinforces the mistaken belief that the
>> blind cannot travel safely and that it's the public's job to "Take
>> care of us." And there's the issue of the presence of these signs
>> encouraging malicious persons to hassle the disabled individual by
>> throwing things at the persons, the signs, attempting to run the blind
>> person over, etc. Such behavior creates an even more dangerous
>> situation for all children in areas where such sinage is posted.
>> Fortunately I was not harassed by neighbors when I decided it was time
>> to venture out on my own.
>> This is a can of worms best left sealed.
>>
>> Peter Donahue
>>
>>  ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
>> To: "'Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)'"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 10:24 AM
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign
>>
>>
>> All,
>>
>> I had signs put up on my block after  walking out of my home, in a
>> quiet residential neighborhood and while crossing the street to my
>> neighbors house, and individual in a car thought they would be funny
>> and sped up and nearly hit me, intentionally, for kicks.
>>
>> For warned is for armed. I do not agree with some positions here that
>> a sign lessons our stature in the community, but provides information
>> to others for interpretation and action.
>>
>> Much as signs are put up on the sides of roads, as they have been for
>> decades, and much as they have been the target for rocks, and or pop
>> shots, to think that signs alerting drivers to circumstances and
> situations that
>> will impact their driving,   and how their driving might or might not
>> impact
>> members of the community is not a bad idea. It is an option, that like
>> any option, is just that. an option. We can either choose to take
>> those options or not. to think that some would suggest that such
>> signage would then pave the way for a blind child or a deaf child to
>> be tormented by others is a stretch in my opinion.
>>
>> I feel good about my choice, and my insistence to have the signs up,
>> to add to the tools I have to ensure that I am not run down by
>> careless drivers who might mistaken me for someone who can see them
>> coming down the road, especially with those hybrid cars on the road
>> these days.
>>
>> My choices, are mine, and for me they are not wrong. So I say, if so
>> inclined, and if as a parent you feel it will give you a piece of
>> mind, and add a layer of safety for your child, as well as other
>> children in the area, put that sign up and put it up with confidence
>> and purpose. Peace.
>>
>> .
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Peter
>> Donahue
>> Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 11:10 AM
>> To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign
>>
>> Good morning everyone,
>>
>>     Like Merry's neighborhood there were signs for a deaf child posted
>> near the child's home. My parents saw this and had "Blind Child" signs
>> placed near our house as well. They attracted more attention then was
> desired.
>> They
>> made fine targets for the neighborhood kids to throw rocks at or shoot
>> at as if they were meant for target practicing. Given these reactions
>> these signs had the very opposite effect then originally intended. If
>> I had a disabled child I would avoid them like the plague. If a
>> municipality insisted on putting up these signs due to my disabled
>> child I'd tell them "Not on our block!"
>>
>> Peter Donahue
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Merry-Noel Chamberlain" <owinm at yahoo.com>
>> To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>; <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 9:46 AM
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign
>>
>>
>> This has been a very interesting conversation. I thank everyone for
>> their input in helping Ashleah with her Girl Scout research project.
>> My daughter, Ashleah, is a super traveler. (She has no choice as I am
>> an O&M
>> instructor.)
>>
>> My husband & I have been discussing this topic ever since buying this
>> house this past summer. It is his old neighborhood of his growing up
>> days. At that
>>
>> time there was a sign for a deaf child. We live four houses from the
>> Middle & Elem. schools and on the street where parents drop off and
>> pick up their children. It can get quite busy- especially in the
>> morning as parents are in
>>
>> a rush to get to work.  Needless to say, my husband  and I have
>> opposite opinions about this topic.  We have discussed this idea with
>> Ashleah, now in
>>
>> 7th grade and walking to school for the first time in her life.
>> Although we
>>
>> live so close to school, she does need to cross 2 streets/one
> intersection.
>> Before school, most times, there is a crossing guard but  afterwards,
>> she enjoys staying later for social activities and, at that time,
>> there is not a crossing guard by the time she leaves school.  I did
>> some research and discovered our town no longer has a special sign for
>> blindness, deafness, or otherwise. Rather, there is a "Caution,
>> Special Needs Child" sign.  Here, the sign can be posted only up to
>> when the child is age 13 or entering Middle School.  Sometimes
>> I'll meet her at school and walk with her home to monitor her
>> street crossing skills..... She used to run to dross the street but
>> now, she is walking... Her confidence is growing!
>>
>> Merry-Noel
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>>
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