[Community-service] Discrimination in volunteering based on blindness

[Darian]

What if they don't?  

> On Aug 31, 2014, at 10:32 AM, Aleeha Dudley via Community-service <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I often find that, when I am working with children, I often get pushed to the side. Unless, that is, it is specifically a blindness oriented event. I'm not sure why this is, but I feel that a big way we can address this is to demonstrate our abilities. If the person lets us, we must show them that we are perfectly capable human beings who can and will take care of ourselves, along with our young charges. 
> 
> Aleeha Dudley and seeing eye dog Dallas 
> Vice President, Ohio Association of blind students
> Blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com
> "The wind of Heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears." Arabian proverb 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Aug 31, 2014, at 12:48 PM, jonathan franks via Community-service <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Greetings everyone,
>> I wanted to get people's experiences and thoughts on this topic.
>> 
>> Last year, I was to find a volunteer agency to do 45 hours of
>> volunteer work for one of my Social Work courses. I had ran across an
>> agency dealing with children and I wanted to offer my services there.
>> During the initial interview portion of the volunteering process, I
>> was told that based on my blindness that I could only do
>> administrative work. The reason I was given was that the children in
>> this agency often got into fights and that if there was a fire, they
>> were worried that I could not get out of the situation for my safety.
>> Even though I expressed that I had orientation and mobility skills,
>> they refused to let me volunteer with the children in this agency.
>> 
>> I felt as though I had been discriminated at this point and felt as if
>> it was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, my
>> Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor explained to me that since it was
>> not an interview for compensated employment, that there was a loophole
>> that they could do this.
>> 
>> Luckily for that semester I found a great alternative place to
>> volunteer. I was hoping to get other people's experiences so that we
>> can all come up with strategies to advocate for ourselves so that we
>> can show our sighted peers we are efficient contributors to society.
>> 
>> I hope everyone is well.
>> 
>> Jonathan Franks
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Jonathan Franks
>> Austin Chapter Board Member
>> National Federation of the Blind of Texas
>> www.nfbaustin.org
>> 
>> Hook the Cure Board Member
>> Social Media Manager
>> The University of Texas at Austin
>> www.texashookthecure.weebly.co
>> 
>> Diabetes Action Network (NFB)
>> National Board Member
>> https://nfb.org/diabetics
>> 
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