[blindlaw] Discriminating Signs

[Paul Harpur]

The council might think they are being helpful so I would start being nice
about it and just ask them to remove it.  
Considering this is a public post I could not suggest vandalising government
property by having some friends around for dinner one night, and then around
2 AM going across the street with friends with the appropriate equipment and
cutting the sign down.  I would further not suggest having a friend with a
car dispose of the sign in an industrial bin a few miles from your home.
Such direct action would of course be unlawful and should not be
recommended.








-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Bill Reif
Sent: Monday, 12 September 2011 9:53 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Discriminating Signs

I don't know in what manner the sign can be said to discriminate.  I'm 
sure that whoever put it up has the mistaken belief that drivers in the 
area may be more cautious about hitting you.

There is nevertheless much objectionable about such a sign.  It 
signifies that you are owed some special degree of care, and can't look 
out for yourself.  Of more concern is the message such a sign would send 
criminals of various sorts.  Were I a criminal, I would relish the 
opportunity to wait for someone who can't visually identify me.  I could 
thus sneak in behind them to do whatever I cared to with them or their 
property; and they would have no way of picking me out of a lineup or 
even providing a description in the absence of other witnesses.  Please 
demand that the City remove its inadvertent way of making you a target.

cordially,
Bill


On 9/11/2011 5:02 PM, Leslie Fairall wrote:
> Hello:
>
> I have moved to the state of Rhode Island to take another position. 
> I'm renting a single family residence and have lived here for a month.
>
> To my horror, the town of Cranston has erected a sign that says "blind 
> person" directly across the street from my home. I would not have 
> known this if a friend of mine who picks me up for church hadn't told 
> me. It is a bright yellow sign with black lettering.
>
> I will be contacting City Hall both by phone and in writing to have 
> the sign removed. I have a few questions.
>
>
> 1. Would this be considered discrimination under the Americans with 
> Disabilities or some other act?
> 2. Is singling out a person because of disability a form of 
> discrimination? My knee-jerk reaction is yes, but I want to get the 
> facts straight.
> 3. What is a reasonable timeframe to request that the sign be removed? 
> In my rough draft, I stated seven days.
>
> 4. Are their any other points I should make that would strongly 
> encourage them to remove the sign?
>
> Thanks for any and all advice.
>
>
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