[Blindtlk] "Its not safe for someone who can't see"
Chris Nusbaum
dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
Fri Jul 29 23:32:13 UTC 2011
Hi David and Penny,
Right on, David! Penny, if you want to do some education and
training, you might want to see if you can find some NFB
literature that might help. Go to www.nfb.org, click
Publications, then Literature. I definitely recommend printing
out NFB's Ten Courtesy Rules of Blindness. You can find this
also on the nfb.org site, just search for Ten Courtesy Rules of
Blindness in the first form field you see. What you're dealing
with here is a prime example of the problems that NFB has worked
to solve for 71 years; problems that Dr. Jernigan described as
"the real problem of blindness." But, if you know anything about
the Federation, you know that in solving these problems and
combatting these attitudes, the blind usually come out on top!
Hang in there, keep up the great work, and I wish you good luck!
Chris
"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
The I C.A.N. Foundation helps visually impaired youth in
Maryland have the ability to confidently say "I can!" How? Click
on this link to learn more and to contribute:
www.icanfoundation.info or like us on Facebook at I C.A.N.
Foundation.
Sent from my BrailleNote
----- Original Message -----
From: "Hyde, David W. (ESC)" <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List' <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:22:51 -0500
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] "Its not safe for someone who can't see"
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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