[blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign

Arielle Silverman arielle71 at gmail.com
Tue Feb 26 01:20:10 UTC 2013


There was a Braille Monitor article from a few years ago, maybe 2009,
that Harold Snyder wrote about "blind but intelligent" signs being
posted above his hospital bed when he went in for surgeries.
Apparently this happened to him three or four times. I like what he
says near the end of the article: "I wouldn't have minded if the sign
said "blind" or if it said "blind *and* intelligent"; what I mind is
that the sign says "blind *but* intelligent"."
Perhaps at times it might be useful for nurses to know that a heavily
sedated patient can't see them, if the patient is too drugged to say
so him or herself. But it's still a problem if the sign is posted
against the patient's wishes or against their spouse's wishes if the
patient isn't able to make competent decisions at the moment.
Arielle

On 2/25/13, Bernadette Jacobs <bernienfb75 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I am a very strong opponent of blind, deaf, Autism, or any other
> signage.  None of us needs to be put on that kind of display!  Only
> thing this says to me is, "Walking Target!" Target!" Walking Target.
> When I had my hysterectomy at an inner city hospital here, when I came
> out of surgery and into my room, my husband mentioned to me that there
> was a sign on my door, "Blind Patient!"  If I wasn't sick enough from
> just having had surgery, I sure was sickened then.  So, my husband
> tore down the first sign.  Bright and early next morning when he came
> in vack in to visit me, another signed had replaced the first one.  He
> went out to find that nurse.  Before long, suddenly I heard the nurse
> arguing with my husband.  I forced myself up out of bed, grabbed my
> cane and began walking down the hall, holding onto the rails for dear
> life and simply excused myself quietly and then proceeded to waste no
> bones about how that woman oughtta do something real quick.  After
> all, who was her bread and butta???  I had insurance.  I didn't feel
> guilty in the least.  She turned on me and I simply went back to my
> room; called my doctor at his home; and Hmmm!  For some strange reason
> I never heard from or saw that woman again and the sign soon
> disappeared.  Then when someone called weeks after I had been released
> from the hospital to ask me about how I felt about my hospital
> experience, I really laid it on thick that to post blind signs, or any
> other Special Needs' sign, would only serve to identify those
> individuals as vulnerable walking targets and no matter what the
> intent, it was truly a bad idea.  After all, Seems I actually remember
> Dr. Jernigan saying once, that "The road to Hell is paved with good
> intentions."  I'm sure I need not say more.
>
> Bernie
>
> On 2/22/13, Carly B <barnesraiser at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi Merry-Noel,
>>
>> I've thought about this, too. There are a couple of signs on streets near
>> our own. We have not pursued trying to get a sign for our neighborhood. I
>> haven't really thought that through, I think it's just a gut feeling that
>> I
>> don't want to put more of a spotlight on my child than there already is.
>> Know what I mean? I'm not really sure the benefits of having a sign...
>>
>> Thanks for bringing it up. I look forward to hearing what others think!
>>
>> :) Carolynn
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 22, 2013 at 7:40 PM, Merry-Noel Chamberlain
>> <owinm at yahoo.com>wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>   Hi,
>>> My daughter, Ashleah, is working on a girl scout project and would like
>>> to
>>> know your thoughts about the "Special Needs" sign.  She is blind and
>>> walks
>>> to and from school independently.  Do you think having a Special Needs
>>> sign
>>> by our house is a good thing?  Why or why not?
>>> Thanks.
>>> Merry-Noel
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>
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