[Blindtlk] Quick introduction and a question for pet owners

Wed Jun 11 22:51:37 UTC 2014

Lucy,
	Perhaps you should ask her if she asks such questions of every
individual who is interested in adopting an animal. If not, her line of
questioning is founded in the very misconceptions that create our high
unemployment rate and are the barriers to our full participation in society
on terms of equality. It is certainly creating a barrier in this case. Her
mindset is archaic, insulting, and out of order and discriminatory. You may
also want to remind her that there are hundreds of thousands of blind people
who successfully and diligently care for pets, not to mention the tens of
thousands who care for and work highly trained guide dogs valued at $30,000
or more. I feel you have given this person adequate opportunity to correct
the discriminatory behavior and it is time to press the issue at a higher
level. How many other blind people are being treated in such a dismissive
manner? 

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lucy
Sirianni via blindtlk
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 6:14 PM
To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Quick introduction and a question for pet owners

Thanks so much to everyone who responded to my initial email with
suggestions and support; I really appreciate all of your perspectives! I
just had another conversation with the manager, and her latest question is
how I would go about giving the cat medicine if that need were to arise.  I
said I was sure this would not be an obstacle but wasn't sure what
techniques might be most effective.  Any suggestions from those of you who
may have experience with this?

I continue to be frustrated by the lack of trust in non-visual techniques
these people are displaying, but this last conversation gave me some reason
to believe that they may at least be listening to what I have to say.

Thanks again, everyone!

Lucy
 ----- Original Message -----
From: Serena Nickell <scnickell1980 at gmail.com
To: Lucy Sirianni <lucysirianni at earthlink.net>,Blind Talk Mailing List
<blindtlk at nfbnet.org Date sent: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 14:17:59 -0500
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Quick introduction and a question for pet owners

I am the owner of two cats, one who thinks she's a little escape artist at
times.  She only tries to get out if the door is held open too long and even
then if the door gets shut she makes a lot of noise in protest to come back
in.  I used to have collars with bells on them so I could tell them apart
until my Nightlight got caught in the blinds and almost hung herself.  I
guess that's rare but it freaked me out so I took both their collars off.  I
have hard wood floors so I'm able to hear most of what they're doing.  My
Tiggerous, the escape artist, is extremely vocal so as long as I'm paying
attention I can usually tell what they need.
Good luck with the shelter.  I hope this helps.
Serena

Sent from my iPhone

 On Jun 11, 2014, at 11:07 AM, Lucy Sirianni via blindtlk
<blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

 Hi all,

     I'm Lucy, a doctoral student and graduate student instructor in the
English department at the University of California, Berkeley, and a new
member of this list.  I wanted to reach out to this group to ask for
suggestions regarding a situation I'm currently attempting to resolve.  Over
the weekend, I contacted a local animal shelter who had indicated a need for
foster homes for its animals, thinking this would be something I'd enjoy
doing and knowing I met all of the specified qualifications.  The staff
member I talked to initially expressed a lot of interest and immediately
matched me with a cat who seemed like a great fit with me and who was going
to be euthanized in a matter of days if no one stepped forward to take her
(unlikely, I was told, since she's on the older side).  I was eager to meet
this cat and seriously consider taking her into my home, but when I happened
to mention to the staff member in charge that I am blind, she became
concerned and is now uncertain of my ability to care for the cat.  Her main
concern is that I may not be able to keep the cat from leaving my house,
despite the fact that I have explained to her in detail the measures I would
take to ensure the cat's safety and assured her that I have countless blind
friends who routinely and successfully care for animals.  I've told her that
I would plan to have a bell on the cat's collar so I'd consistently know
where she was, as well as my name and contact information so that she could
be returned if she were ever to get lost; I've also suggested that, before
leaving my home, I simply place the cat in a comfortable area from which she
wouldn't have access to the entrance to my apartment.  This is all in
addition to pointing out the rather obvious fact that vision can't in fact
keep a cat indoors and that sighted pet owners have to deal with similar
worries.  I would welcome hearing from blind cat owners who may be able to
suggest other techniques or allow me to mention their situations in further
conversations with the people in charge at the shelter.  I'd hate to see
this cat end up dying because of ignorance surrounding blindness.

 Thanks, everyone, and I very much look forward to being a part of this
group!

 Lucy

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