[blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign

Peter Donahue pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com
Sun Feb 24 23:04:53 UTC 2013


Hello Arielle and everyone,

    Having experienced it up close and personal the presence of such signs 
can breed teasing and bullying. Both concerns should weigh heavy when making 
the decision to use such sinage or not.

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 12:58 PM
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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