[il-talk] Fw: [Nfbc-info] Bus Driver Takes Blind Student'sCane...

Tue Dec 23 01:00:23 UTC 2014

I wonder if some sort of other legal action will take place to prevent this from happening again?  

Deborah Kent Stein via il-talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

>
>
>I have been in touch with Gary Wunder, president of the NFB of Missouri, 
>about this incident.  NFBMO has contacted the family and given Dakota an NFB 
>cane.  They have also put together a Christmas package with a slate and 
>stylus and other treats.  The school has issued a written apology.
>
>Debbie S.
>
>
>
>-----Original Message----- 
>From: Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors via il-talk
>Sent: Monday, December 22, 2014 10:15 AM
>To: rcubfank at sbcglobal.net ; NFB of Illinois Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [il-talk] Fw: [Nfbc-info] Bus Driver Takes Blind 
>Student'sCane...
>
>Here is more information on the child whose cane was taken away 'as 
>punishment'.
>Thursday, December 18, 2014 09:44PM
>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WLS) -- 
>A school took away an 8-year-old blind boy's cane and replaced it with a 
>pool noodle as punishment for acting up, the boy's father told ABC News.
>
>Dakota Nafzinger was born without eyes, a rare condition called bilateral 
>anophthalmia. Dakota's dad says the boy often taps the cane while he listens 
>to music, but the driver took it away when he tossed it in the air this 
>week.
>
>Donald Nafzinger says the school thought his son was acting up, and replaced 
>the cane with a foam pool noodle. Nafizinger told local media about the 
>incident because "there weren't enough caring people left in this world."
>
>"It's his eyes," Nafzinger told ABC News. "He said he was upset because 
>that's something he needs to get around with."
>
>Dakota's school system, near Kansas City, Missouri, has apologized for the 
>incident and has since given the boy his cane back.
>
>"The district has reviewed the situation," North Kansas City Schools wrote 
>in a statement. "We regret that a mistake was made in making sure the 
>student was in possession of his cane when he boarded the bus Monday 
>evening. The District has apologized to the family and is working to rectify 
>the situation. When we were made aware of the mistake, corrections were 
>made. It is always the District's policy when we become aware of situations 
>like this, we thoroughly and immediately investigate to ensure a safe 
>learning environment for all students."
>
>
>Thank you,
>Kathy Ungaro
>Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors
>53 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 502
>Chicago, IL 60604
>
>
>
>This message (including attachments) is privileged and confidential. If you 
>are not the intended recipient, please delete it without further 
>distribution and reply to the sender that you have received the message in 
>error.
>
>From: Rob Kaiser via il-talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 9:46 PM
>>Subject: [il-talk] Fw: [Nfbc-info] Bus Driver Takes Blind Student's Cane...
>>
>>
>>    I thought you might be intgerested in this. ?although there are two
>>sides to every story, I thought everyone should see this one.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Rob Kaiser, President National Federation of the Blind of California Orange
>>County Chapter cell#(760)792-0525 email;
>>rcubfank at sbcglobal.net
>>-----Original Message----- 
>>From: Lisa Irving via Nfbc-info
>>Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 7:12 PM
>>To: nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
>>Subject: [Nfbc-info] Bus Driver Takes Blind Student's Cane...
>>
>>Hello All,
>>
>>
>>
>>For many reasons my stomach continues to churn after reading this appalling
>>article about a blind child and how the school "punished" him for
>>misbehavior on the school bus.
>>
>>
>>
>>True, no child should be excused for unsafe and inappropriate behavior. I'd
>>like to know what this little boy's life has been like when riding the
>>school bus. I have a hunch this child was provoked one too many times and
>>lashed out. Whatever the precipitous it is inexcusable on the part of
>>"intelligent" school officials to make a blind child use a pool noodle
>>instead of his cane!
>>
>>
>>
>>Here's what I was able to cut and paste from the article.
>>
>>
>>
>>Dakota Nafzinger is an 8-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, who goes to
>>Gracemor Elementary. He was born without eyes, a condition called Bilateral
>>
>>Anopthalmia
>>
>>
>>
>>Recently, Dakota came home with a pool noodle instead of his cane. The
>>school said it was punishment for Dakota's bad behavior on the school bus.
>>
>>Recently, Dakota came home with a pool noodle instead of his cane. The
>>school said it was punishment for Dakota’s bad behavior on the school
>>bus.
>>
>>
>>
>>facebook.com
>>
>>
>>
>>Dakota's family is furious. They
>>
>>told
>>
>>local affiliate WDAF-TV that taking away Dakota's cane is the same as 
>>taking
>>away his eyes. "He shouldn't be treated the way he's being treated,"
>>Dakota's
>>
>>father Donald said.
>>
>>Dakota’s family are furious. They told local affiliate WDAF-TV that
>>taking away Dakota’s cane is the same as taking away his eyes.
>>“He
>>
>>shouldn’ to be treated the way he’ s being treated,”
>>Dakota’s father Donald said.
>>
>>
>>
>>The school said that Dakota has to use the pool noodle for the next two
>>weeks, claiming the boy used his school-supplied cane to hit someone while
>>riding
>>
>>the bus.
>>
>>javascript:
>>
>>javascript:
>>
>>
>>
>>North Kansas City School District Spokeswoman Michelle Cronk told reporters
>>that the school did take away Dakota's cane, but said it was a preventative
>>
>>measure to make sure the boy didn't hurt himself or others.
>>
>>javascript:
>>
>>javascript: As news of Dakota's punishment has spread, furious Facebook
>>users are pouring on to the elementary school's Facebook page, upset over
>>the school's decision.
>>
>>As news of Dakota’s punishment has spread, furious Facebook users are
>>pouring on to the elementary school’s Facebook page, upset over the
>>school’s
>>
>>decision.
>>
>>
>>
>>Facebook: Gracemor-Elementary-School
>>
>>
>>
>>From,
>>
>>Lisa Irving
>>
>>_______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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>>
>>
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