[blparent] question for my fellow parents

[Scott C. Labarre]

Hello everyone, I am new to this list but, of course, not to the Federation.
On Monday, our kids, Alex and Emily, started school.  It's hard to believe
that they are 10th and eighth graders respectively.  On October 4th Alex
will turn 16 and plans on sitting for his driver's license exam at some
point close to his birthday.

 

That is what brings me to my question.  I wonder how some of you have
handled auto insurance.  As many of you know, Anahit and I are both blind
and thus do not drive.  Insurance companies will sell us a policy to cover
Alex for $6000 a year or, $500 a month and which only covers one vehicle.
This is far more expensive than what sighted parents are paying for their 16
year old children.  For example, a couple we know whose son turned 16 in
July and is driving are paying only an additional $133.00 a month and only a
total of $3800  a year or $317 a month to cover three drivers and two cars.


 

They tell us that it is so high because neither one of us drives.  This
argument makes no sense to me because the fact is that a child will not be
driving with their parents in the car 90 percent of the time or more.  The
whole point of getting a license is for the child to be independent and
drive themselves places.  Even when sighted parents are in the car with
their teenage and licensed  child, it is highly likely that the parent will
be driving.

 

The bottom line, in my opinion, is this is a case of discrimination based on
a disparate impact theory.  Although the policy is facially neutral, it has
a disparate impact on those of us who are blind for no justifiable reason.  

 

So, I am researching the legal aspects of this, as you can imagine, but all
of that takes time and I really don't want a lengthy battle on my hands.
Consequently, I am turning to my fellow blind parents to see what solutions
you may have discovered to all of this.  

 

I thank you in advance for any thoughts.  

 

Best,

Scott