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

Thu Jul 28 14:26:47 UTC 2011

Thank you David.

On Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 10:22 AM, Hyde, David W. (ESC) <
david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us> wrote:

> Penny, it is a great class for her. What it appears you have, is an artist
> who has no idea how a blind person could do her class. She needs education.
> If you, or someone in your area has the time, contact the park, and find out
> who is coordinating the program. Explain the problem, and offer to do some
> training. It is more work than a complaint, but worth it. Also, you might
> get her in touch with Anne Cunningham if Colorado (you may have seen her
> work at national convention, or the national center) who does a lot of
> tactile art. Sometimes an artist will respond better to another artist.
>  Great job talking to your son about the whole thing too. Hang in there, and
> keep helping to change attitudes.
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Penny Duffy
> Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 8:49 AM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] "Its not safe for someone who can't see"
>
> Thank you everyone.  I thought I had posted this in blindkid and not here
> but I like your imput too.  It actually is good.  I wanted to say the reason
> I mentioned my daughter was blind was because I was excited.  It seemed like
> a perfect class.
> On Jul 28, 2011 9:41 AM, "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at icrc.in.gov> wrote:
> > Penny,
> >
> > (big hugs) First of all, you should never feel that you are over
> > reacting
> if someone implies that your Abby is unwelcome, or less competent than any
> other child. I completely understand how you feel. Keep in mind that this is
> coming from a person who is very much driven by her emotions, (smile) but I
> will try to step back here and offer a constructive response.
> >
> > You might simply have responded to the artist that Abby's blindness
> > made
> no difference in her ability, and that she was no more unsafe than any
> other child. She just has to employ different techniques to compensate for
> her loss of vision. You've already said that the artist was "odd," so who
> knows what she would have said or done. But, it is also my understanding
> that she wasn't in charge of the enrollments and didn't necessarily have
> veto power.
> >
> > I understand that you are no longer interested in the class, but if
> > you
> were, I would then go enroll Abby in the class, take her, and try to
> educate by example. If you were turned away, I would then go to a local
> Civil Rights agency and file a complaint with them. As a remedy to that
> complaint you might request that the employees of the park and the
> administrators undergo some education regarding such discrimination and
> stereotypes.
> >
> > There is just so much I want to say here... If you enrolled Abby in
> > the
> class and weren't sure whether she would be accepted, you might just
> prepare her a little bit. Just talk with her a little bit about the fact
> that many people don't understand that blindness doesn't mean that she is
> less capable, and that they might have these prejudices and might not want
> her to try. Emphasize the fact that these perceptions are wrong, and that
> people sometimes need to be educated, and held accountable when they refuse
> to be educated. Unfortunately she'll meet with this ignorance throughout her
> life, and will need to understand how to handle it, while holding her head
> up high and not letting it stop her. Do you know what I mean?
> >
> > Even if you don't want to have her take the class now, you might still
> call the park administrators, let them know what happened, and find out
> whether this is actually the attitude of the facility, or whether it was
> just the odd artist talking off the top of her head. I think the park needs
> to know that this happened, and that it wasn't acceptable.
> >
> > Diane Graves
> > Civil Rights Specialist
> > Indiana Civil Rights Commission
> > Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
> > 317-232-2647
> >
> > "It is service that measures success."
> > George Washington Carver
> >
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> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> > On
> Behalf Of Penny Duffy
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:11 PM
> > To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> > Subject: [Blindtlk] "Its not safe for someone who can't see"
> >
> > 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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-- 
--Penny
----------
Adventures with Abby - visionfora.blogspot.com