[Blindtlk] Inferiority complexwithdisabilityvsnondisabledsociety

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Thu Jun 10 15:24:19 UTC 2010 

Jessica:

I assure you that I wouldn't have ever taken my daughter across a street *I* 
wouldn't cross. After all, any parent worth his/her salt wouldn't want to 
deprive his/her child of said parent.

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jessica Kostiw" <jessicac.kostiw at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 5:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Inferiority 
complexwithdisabilityvsnondisabledsociety


>I appologise if this has already been mentioned, I am behind in my reading. 
>Mike, normally I would completely agree with you.  I am a graduate of the 
>Louisiana Center.  I think Mary's situation is a little more tricky though, 
>because she is dealing with two small children.  Getting herself across a 
>busy street with no light is slightly risky, but doing so with small 
>children... well that is dangerous and a little wreckless.  Mary, I don't 
>mean to say that there is not a solution... it just may take a little more 
>thinking.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 9:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Inferiority 
> complexwithdisabilityvsnondisabledsociety
>
>
>> Hi, Mary.
>>
>> I can certainly empathize. It's a bit of a pain without a crosswalk. 
>> Nevertheless, where there's a will, there's a way. Put another way, if 
>> sighted pedestrians cross more-or-less safely, so can you. I realize that 
>> isn't necessarily comforting -- no one wishes to risk life and limb --  
>> but with practice and, admittedly, a bit of chutzpah, most 
>> intersections --  even tough ones -- can be tackled. It may take some 
>> work with a O&M person from the Texas Commission for the Blind but I'd 
>> bet they'd do it.
>>
>> That's not to say a crosswalk wouldn't be nice. But it would be nice for 
>> *everyone,* not just you. (smile)
>>
>> I know some will take what I've just said as meaning that I either have 
>> superior training, don't care or both. Both statements would be false. 
>> I'm a decent cane traveler but there are many who are better than am I. 
>> But practice and a proper mixture of boldness, courage and cautiousness 
>> generally will get almost any blind person through almost any 
>> intersection -- that and lots of practice.
>>
>> For many years, I had to cross a four-lane freeway at the bottom of a 
>> long hill where the cars picked up speed and were loath to stop at the 
>> crosswalk; in fact, there was no pedestrian signal -- just one activated 
>> by traffic from the side road I needed to walk up once I'd crossed the 
>> street. Although I didn't like it, I got fairly used to waiting for a 
>> relatively quiet interval and then crossing one lane at a time, holding 
>> up a llane of traffic by boldly stepping out.
>>
>> Eventually, thank goodness, a push-button signal was installed so 
>> pedestrians had equal rights with the cars. But I made it clear I 
>> wouldn't use it if an audible sigbnal were installed; it was not.
>>
>> Incidentally, I am not opposed to audible signals if they beep once and 
>> then shut up. But signals that blather on, obscuring other sound are an 
>> abomination.
>>
>> Anyway, there may be no easy fix but with determination, I suspect that 
>> you and we together can find a way.
>>
>> Will you be at the national convention?
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Mari Hunziker" <marihunziker at gmail.com>
>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 6:10 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Inferiority complex 
>> withdisabilityvsnondisabledsociety
>>
>>
>>> Hi Mike,
>>>
>>> The street does not have crosswalk. It is really unsafe without one due 
>>> to
>>> the traffic pattern. Light traffic at the main entrance of my 
>>> subdivision.
>>> But heavy traffic with the intersecting street. I have to cross it to 
>>> get to
>>> restaurants. a gym, etc. Really difficult without a crosswalk and 
>>> especially
>>> with two young children. Any suggestions on what to do. Plus, Summer is
>>> hibernating season in TX. It is extremely hot midday.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Mari Hunziker
>>>
>>> On Sun, Jun 6, 2010 at 5:01 PM, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Mary:
>>>>
>>>> What problems have you crossing the street in front of your 
>>>> subdivision?
>>>>
>>>> Mike
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mari Hunziker" 
>>>> <marihunziker at gmail.com
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 9:43 PM
>>>>
>>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Inferiority complex with
>>>> disabilityvsnondisabledsociety
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  Gary, I haven't had the STRENGTH to respond to Peter's message. I too,
>>>>> have
>>>>> suffered greatly. I used to receive transportation services here in my
>>>>> city
>>>>> but a few years ago they built a Park & Ride several miles away. And
>>>>> because
>>>>> of it I am no longer in the ADA service area. I have become a burden 
>>>>> to
>>>>> friends, family, and my husband. My kids and I are trapped in our 
>>>>> home,
>>>>> until some generous sameritan drives us to the store, the park, etc. 
>>>>> I'm
>>>>> not
>>>>> even able to cross the street across from my subdivision. I have
>>>>> contacted,
>>>>> TXDOT, Travis County, and the city to have them install safe 
>>>>> pedestrian
>>>>> crossings. They have not taken any action yet. I also was on a 
>>>>> committee
>>>>> to
>>>>> purchase new park playground equipment for the park near my home. The
>>>>> board
>>>>> of my HOA said it would be in by April. It is now June and they still
>>>>> haven't put any playground equipment in at the park. It makes me sad,
>>>>> because I do not drive, obviously since I am legally blind. I want to 
>>>>> make
>>>>> a
>>>>> difference in the world but sometimes feel like Peter, inferior to my
>>>>> circumstances and environment. It is very frustrating. I want so hard 
>>>>> to
>>>>> be
>>>>> independent but where I live it is impossible to get anywhere
>>>>> independently.
>>>>> I however, am proud of the fact that I can walk to my son's school, to 
>>>>> the
>>>>> DQ and Taco Bell and Walgreens near the school as well as a few other
>>>>> places
>>>>> like the Post Office that are on the same side of the street that my 
>>>>> home
>>>>> is
>>>>> on. How do I get the local governments and other organizations willing 
>>>>> to
>>>>> make accommodations so that I may become an independent patron of the
>>>>> establishments across the street from my subdivision? Oh and by the 
>>>>> way,
>>>>> cabs/taxi's are extremely expensive to call on just to get across the
>>>>> street. Please help!  Please give me some advise.
>>>>> Thank you,
>>>>> Mari
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Jun 4, 2010 at 8:21 AM, Gary Wunder <gwunder at earthlink.net>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>  Peter, I disagree with your characterization of the notes written to 
>>>>> you
>>>>>> as
>>>>>> arrogant or conservative.  No one has told you to just go do it 
>>>>>> yourself.
>>>>>>  People have put their hearts into words for you and in thanks for 
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> you
>>>>>> have told us what a small list we make up and how small minded we 
>>>>>> are.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Julie wrote to you a wonderfully constructive message.  The same is 
>>>>>> true
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> Steve and Dave and others.  You have to decide whether you are 
>>>>>> content
>>>>>> being
>>>>>> angry and figure out how to channel your anger into something 
>>>>>> positive.
>>>>>> If
>>>>>> you need help convincing Alabama rehab to send you to a Center, we 
>>>>>> can
>>>>>> try
>>>>>> to help.  We can't promise results, but we can promise our best 
>>>>>> efforts.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If your area has no chapter, then we need you more than ever because
>>>>>> there
>>>>>> is hope the NFB isn't offering which you can bring if you will.  If 
>>>>>> you
>>>>>> have
>>>>>> suffered more than most of us, then perhaps you will have more 
>>>>>> compassion
>>>>>> than we for people who really need you.  Your inspiration may inspire
>>>>>> them,
>>>>>> your perseverance may give them strength, and your willingness to 
>>>>>> give
>>>>>> some
>>>>>> of yourself to them will make all of us better.  Are you interested 
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> talking about problems and solutions or in just putting us down for
>>>>>> extending ourselves to you?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Gary
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>
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