[blindlaw] Proposal

[Norman, Gary C. (CMS/OSORA)]

Yes. I am proposing one centralized event, either a debate or more likely a facilitated dialogue. The broader the focus, the better; I do agree.


Whether it is intra-disability rights (meaning within all Disability People's Organizations or just among one sector of the disability rights movement, e.g. blindness) or inter-disability rights (by that I mean among the disability community and even "misinformed" members of the business community), I think a facilitated approach to resolving accessibility issues is lacking and a facilitated dialogue would be helpful. Public policy facilitation tools are being used, and have been applied, in an array of issue sets, e.g. the environment.


Assuming that people are "hip" to the idea, I am not sure how to "get this off the ground".


From: Carrie Griffin Basas [mailto:cdgesq at yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 10:55 AM
To: Norman, Gary C. (CMS/OSORA)
Cc: Charles Crawford; NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List; Mbrunson at acb.org; Phelan, William; Cantos, Ollie (CRT); Janet Lord; dmorrissey at usicd.org; Day Al-Mohamed; Steven Mendelsohn; ostephen at utk.edu; Sheehan, Pat; rsvp at aapd.com; Craig Brieske; Andrew Levy; CMPDL-3D at MAIL.ABANET.ORG; Bob Rhudy; chris at license.state.tx.us; craggio at mdod.state.md.us; Caroline Griffin; Joshua Friedman; Perry, Jason
Subject: Re: Proposal

I would recommend going for a broader focus than just blind orgs, but that's mostly because I'm not blind and I'm interested in fostering a dialogue cross-disability.

I'm not sure that most members of the business community would feel comfortable talking in a public forum about their concerns re: disability.  They'd have to be pretty exceptional and informed businesses and then they're on "our" side anyway.

Isn't some of this kind of discussion happening in bits and pieces at the NFB conference, ODEP's events, AAPD?  Perhaps, what you're proposing is centralizing it into an additional event?

Carrie

On Aug 24, 2011, at 9:44 AM, Norman, Gary C. (CMS/OSORA) wrote:


Greetings:


Providing a missive to spark discussion about a potential on-going forum for the disability rights movement is the purpose of my writing.


As my contribution to the disability rights movement, I would propose an annual debate or an annual facilitated                 dialogue, perhaps as part of the annual symposium of the N.F.B., on some issue.


I have thought initially it would be interesting to have an annual debate between a leading figure of A.C.B. and the N.F.B.


Having an annual debate between the two organizations might still be helpful. I do believe that, having an even broader focus, would be useful.


As an alternative approach, having a facilitated dialogue on disability law and policy with panelists being comprised of Disability Rights Organizations (e.g. the N.F.B.) and other stakeholders, such as the business community, would be helpful.


This is a kind of event and forum, intended at creating and fostering discussion, that I, a dispute resolution professional, would be willing to lead. Indeed. This year, a focus of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and its board on which I am serving of the Maryland State Bar Association is fostering, through facilitation and related tools, public dialogue. I believe that the agenda of the Section is laudable. Fostering dialogue, even among leaders within the disability rights movement and also among the leaders of the disability rights movement and outside stakeholders, is something to be sought. I would welcome any comments or suggestions.


                Sincerely,
Gary C. Norman, L.L.M.