[Blindtlk] A Horrible Experience at Kmart

[Ray Foret Jr]

I have been following this thread with much concern from its beginning.  My view is this.  IF you call a store in advance to let them know you are coming and want to shop there, you might alert the employee to what kind of things for which you are looking and might want to buy.  So, you might perhaps begin by asking whether a given shop has this or that sort of item or that brand of merchandise.  IF their anser is yes, I suspect that they're more likely to be willing to help you out.  The only way I can frame this in ADA terms is to say that the store is obligated to assist any blind person who honestly needs the help and asks for it:  however, it works the other way too.  IF a store offers any accomidation and the blind customer does not want or need it, they have the right to refuse.  IN fact, if the ADA did not have this clause in it, the NFB would have opposed its passage.

Now, I don't say that a store employee should take all day on one person:  But, they should help as best they can.  The shopper, though, has a responsivility too.  That responsibility is having some notion of what you want even before you set foot in a store.  IF all you want to do is browse, then you'd be better off doing so with a family member or close friend who doesn't mind taking the time do acompany you for that purpose:  This way, you are not taking up the time of an employee potentially for nothing.

I wasn't there, but, I understand that, some years ago, close to the beginning of one of our national conventions, the manager of a local grocery store where we were indincated that he didn't want a bunch of blind people in his store.  I dare say some here will remember that episode and how we dealt with it.  



Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray

Still a happy Mac, Verizon Wireless iPhone 6+ and Apple TV user!

Sent from my Mac,
the only computer with full accessibility for the blind built-in

> On Jul 17, 2015, at 12:31 PM, Gary Wunder via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Charlotte, as others on this list of noted, what happened to you is
> inexcusable. I think it is good that you are making your concerns known to
> the store.
> 
> One of the issues I think I would like to explore in the pages of the
> Braille Monitor is just what the Americans With Disabilities Act has to say
> about blind people and shopping. I understand that a restaurant must either
> put its menu into an accessible form or have someone read it to us. To what
> extent does this extend to grocery stores, discount stores, and other forms
> of retail? I really don't know the answer and would love to hear from those
> of you who do. I think this is an intriguing subject and welcome any
> information about it.
> 
> 
> 
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