[blindlaw] The homeless blind.

[Michael Fry]

I'd like to retract the last half of my previous post and apologize to
anyone that I may have offended.  This morning I must've been in a
peculiar mood, some of my remarks were insensitive and probably just
incorrect.

On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 9:24 AM, Michael Fry <mikefry79 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I have no information to directly answer this question, however, I'm
> compelled to give you my thoughts on the subject because I think it
> will help you.
>
> It's doubtful that there are appreciable amounts of totally blind
> homeless people, though there are likely a few, since sustaining a
> homeless life style and being blind is nearly unimaginable because
> blindness is such a debilitating disability that utilizing the
> resources of society are necessary for survival.  If there are
> significant numbers of blind homeless people, I'd be surprised and the
> U.S. would not be the country I thought it was, my observations
> suggest no correlation between disfiguring or catastrophic disability
> and homelessness in wealthier countries.  Where as in poor countries,
> like China, nearly all the homeless and beggars were disfigured,
> maimed, or suffered a seriously noticeable disability.  The inhumanity
> of having a significant population of blind homeless people would be
> shockingly surreal.
>
> On the other hand it would not surprise me in the least if a
> significant number of homeless people are visually impaired, falling
> on that spectrum of impairment ranging from 20/300 acuity to 20/60
> visual acuity.  This population is underserved by society.  They are
> unable to obtain any cushy government jobs such as for example
> firefighter, police officer, paramedic, or severe in any branch of the
> armed forces.  Moreover, they suffer academically because their
> disability is not properly accommodated.  Further, it is a symptom of
> our sick uneducated society that these are the contemporary
> unfortunate souls.  Rather, than being poor peasants united by
> circumstance, poor government, drought, weak physical countenance as
> with other unfortunates in history this lot has nothing in common
> except they lost the genetic lottery.  They are weaker than the
> weakest functioning members of society.  Cultural values have changed
> a lot in the last fifty years, and now it seems that people with this
> type of disability find themselves on the low end of the societal
> totem pole.
>
> I doubt you'll find any usefully statistics on the subject.
> Regardless, I sincerely hope that you can help them.
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 1:15 AM, David R. Stayer
> <davidandloristayer at verizon.net> wrote:
>> I have been asked to circulate the following:
>> Please reply to the e-mail address below as he is not subscribed to all the
>> lists to which this is being posted.
>>
>> David Andrews
>>
>>
>> From: "David R. Stayer" <davidandloristayer at verizon.net>
>> Shalom.  I am chair of the Social Services Committee on our newly formed
>> Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped Executive Board in New
>> York.  Our committee is trying to ascertain whether states track the
>> homeless blind and visually impaired.  Anyy data you could furnish would
>> help us in recommending to the Commission for the Blind.  I cannot find any
>> data for New York and wonder how other states handle this population.
>> Each day is a precious gift.
>> David R. Stayer, LCSW
>> davidandloristayer at verizon.net
>>
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>>
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>