[blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign
Albert J Rizzi
albert at myblindspot.org
Sun Feb 24 20:08:26 UTC 2013
Arielle,
I can follow your reasoning, but I honestly do not agree with it. I mean no
offense at all. I just respectfully disagree.
However, to that end, and to in fact appreciate your point, which, from a
labeling and potentially stigma causing concern, perhaps, if this is in fact
true for the family that posed the initial concern, would posting a sign
alerting drivers that children, of all abilities are at play?
I would have to assume that the choice to post a sign or not post a sign
might also depend upon the level of traffic in the area in question. I
assume we are speaking about a residential area, and that the posted limits
might exceed 30 miles per hour, but I learned to assume nothing. Lol.
There are many factors that I am sure go into making a decision of this
magnitude, but for what it is worth, my self esteem is intact, and my adding
a sign or two in the neighborhood has not impacted that in any way.
now, not being able to independently access the various school sites, which
by default are protected and regulated by section 508 of the rehab act most
certainly does rock my self esteem, and blocks my full assimilation into
that area of our community I and other print disabled individuals are
wanting to traverse. peace.
-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
Silverman
Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 2:56 PM
To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign
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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