[Blindtlk] "Its not safe for someone who can't see"

Thu Jul 28 10:55:10 UTC 2011

Joseph is right, and to remind and reinforce what the law says that differential treatment is discrimination.  The agency you would contact here is the Department of the Interior, and I would definitely encourage you to do it.  Did you get the name of the person at all?  

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of T. Joseph Carter
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 4:45 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] "Its not safe for someone who can't see"

Sadly this is all too common, and when pressed these people can 
always come up with excuses that sound plausible to someone who 
hasn’t given it any thought—but which we recognize to be totally 
bull.

When we can, the best thing to do is educate.  When that fails, we 
have to decide whether or not we want to take it further.  The 
problem is that the simplest way to take it further, litigation, 
probably won’t fix the underlying problem.  You might get a payout 
for your trouble, but it mostly benefits the lawyers to sue 'em.

The best option is when you can file a complaint with some agency or 
other.  If it goes anywhere (and it might not), you can usually get 
them to make some positive changes.  I have rarely fixed the problem 
for myself doing that.  In fact, for me, it usually makes things much 
worse.  But it makes life better for the next person.  Usually.

Sounds like you don’t really have interest in pursuing this incident, 
even though it still bugs you.  The last major incident for me cost 
me my entire career before I had even left college, so it was worth 
going after them.  It’s borne good fruit for others, but not much 
good came out of it for me personally.

Joseph - KF7QZC

On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 09:10:43PM -0400, Penny Duffy wrote:
>I am still very upset over this but I want to know what a good response
>would be.
>
>Today I had a wonderful visit to an historic site that is part of the
>National Park service with my son Sam.  My daughter Abby who is blind is
>away this week at the Perkins School.   There was an artist in residence
>there.  She was a little odd but i heard her mention that they where having
>a class there for children .  the children would make casts of their hands.
> It seemed like a great activity for Abby.
>
>The artist didn't know if there was space or if they where even having the
>class (due to no enrollment) really she didn't know anything (there is a
>number you call to make reservations)  When I mentioned my daughter who is
>blind would really love to go to this class she told me she would NOT
>recommend it.  That it was unsafe for blind person and said but your son is
>welcome to take part if there is space and its sill going on.  I should have
>responded right away  I should have went right to visitor center and
>complained.  I was shocked. I am still shocked.  The only reason I didn't
>talk to someone there is the day was about my son Sam and having an "Abby
>Free" day.  That and honestly I was so taken back by what happened. I spoke
>with Sam in the car so he understood that what  was said was WRONG.
>
>I really don't feel this artist was projecting official national park policy
>but she is still an employee of the park so she should have just not said
>anything.   I would never have mentioned Abby's blindness when making
>reservations because I would have seen it has irrelevant.  If its safe for a
>sighted child 6 to 11 then it would be safe to a blind child 6 to 11. We are
>talking about an art class not driving a car over a single lane bridge over
>glass.
>
>We are not really interested in the class anymore (we have a lot of stuff
>going on) I am just really upset over comments by this artist.  I have never
>had any one say Abby couldn't do anything.  I know there was people who
>thought that but no one ever pretty much implied "Your child is not welcome"
>  Mind you I am only been dealing with Abby being blind for a year.
>
>I feel I should say something.  I just don't know what is a proper response
>and what is me over reacting.
>-- 
>--Penny
>----------
>Adventures with Abby - visionfora.blogspot.com
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