[blindlaw] Discriminating Signs

[AZNOR99 at aol.com]

You might be able to argue that by placing the sign, the Village is  
providing a reasonable accommodation (a weak argument though) and that you have  
the right to refuse a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.  You might  
also be able to argue that by erecting such a sign, the Village is violating  
your right to confidentiality under the ADA (also a weak argument).
 
I suggest you contact Shawn Mayo, Executive Director at BLIND, Inc.  I  
believe that the City of Minneapolis recently put up signs similar to yours 
near  the training center, but Shawn, her staff, and the affilliate 
successfully  advocated to get them removed. Shawn's email address is 
_smayo at blindinc.org_ (mailto:smayo at blindinc.org) .
 
Good luck,
Ronza
 
 
In a message dated 9/11/2011 7:53:49 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
billreif at ameritech.net writes:

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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