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

Wed Dec 24 03:57:20 UTC 2014

I agree with this one.  Although there are policies in many places about 
having headphones and other items on school buses.  I have heard of 
policies, thought I do not have any kids.  I hear what parents talk 
about when it comes to kids.  Still, this was extremely inappropriate 
and I think some sort of discipline has to happen to these school employees.

Robert H

On 12/23/2014 12:14 PM, David Meyer via il-talk wrote:
> 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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