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

Tue Dec 23 20:21:37 UTC 2014

This is one of the worst cases of discrimination against a blind child that 
I can remember!  I am glad the NFB is involved.  I hope these parents become 
staunch members of our Missouri Affiliate.
                    Cathy Randall

-----Original Message----- 
From: David Meyer via il-talk
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2014 1:14 PM
To: 'Lin H.' ; 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Fw: [Nfbc-info] Bus Driver Takes 
BlindStudent'sCane...

Whatever the problem was on the bus, it was inappropriate for the school to
take Dakota's cane away and it was embarrassing to replace it with another
device.  If it really happened for almost half a school year, a simple
apology is not enough.  I'm not sure how Dakota should have been
disciplined, but taking his mobility away is most certainly inappropriate.
That would be like an employer taking someones car keys for three months
forcing the person to make other travel arrangements when there may not be a
coworker close enough to ask for a ride, and no public transportation to
use, leaving the employee possibly stranded at his/her home on weekends once
he/she was able to get there.  This, of course, would never happen.
Nevertheless, I think there is some parallel.

One wonders why a bus aid would try to snatch Dakota's headphones in the
first place.  If he was listening to them, he was not causing any disruption
on the bus.  The actions of the school district were both inappropriate and
punative.

-----Original Message-----
From: il-talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lin H. via
il-talk
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2014 7:40 PM
To: Deborah Kent Stein; NFB of Illinois Mailing List
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Fw: [Nfbc-info] Bus Driver Takes
BlindStudent'sCane...

I heard that the School had apologized too!  And I'm glad they made a gift
package for the boy.  But, what's done is done!  They shouldn't of took his
cane away from him!  What good was that pool toy if it wouldn't help him
really feel where he's going or what he may run into!    Sincerely, Linda

-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah Kent Stein via il-talk
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2014 4:38 PM
To: Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors ; NFB of Illinois Mailing List
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Fw: [Nfbc-info] Bus Driver Takes
BlindStudent'sCane...

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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>il-talk mailing list
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>et
>
>
>
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