[nabs-l] A common-since legislative idea

Wed Apr 1 00:23:37 UTC 2009

People usually do ask for a drivers license rather than an ID, but they
*ALWAYS* mean an ID. "Drivers license" is just the thing said out of habit
because *MOST* individuals are sighted and use their license as their ID. I
have never once encountered a situation where a state ID wasn't as readily
accepted as a drivers license when ID was needed, even if "drivers license"
was the term used, nor have I met anyone who has expressed difficulty with
this. I'm not sure I understand the problem. If you are classified as
legally blind, there is obviously a reason for it, and even if you could
"sneak by" an eye test at the DMV, you shouldn't *have* to sneak by at all.
You shouldn't be on the road. Just get a state ID. I have a friend right now
who is a high partial, but he is most definitely legally blind and it shows
in day to day activities. He is convinced he can drive though and has even
gone as far as buying a vehicle. He fully intends to "sneak by" on the
vision test, or possibly even listen to the person before him and memorize
the letters on the chart. I think he's a fool if he does this. Regardless of
how high a partial you are, if you are labeled as legally blind and your
vision is less than what is required to get a license, you *SHOULD NOT HAVE
A LICENSE*.

On Tue, Mar 31, 2009 at 8:11 PM, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com> wrote:

> Blind people should have some form of ID, and the problem I have with
> the surrender of a driver's license is this: everyone asks for a
> "driver's license."  Not necessarily a Florida Identification Card.
> It has a number and that on it like a license, but stll not a license.
> Beth
>
> On 3/31/09, Nathan Clark <troubleclark at gmail.com> wrote:
> > anybody who is blind should not be driving.
> >
> >
> > On 3/31/09, Jason Mandarino <blind.subscriber at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> I have had a few friends that are legally blind, but were not in a
> >> position
> >> of degenerative eye sight. Of course they were of the large print
> >> category,
> >> but never the less unattractive glasses and additional equipment as they
> >> would put it.
> >>
> >> My only issue with this is that it is yet another thing based on
> >> generalizations. I understand the point, but I thin that statements like
> >> these am what corner us into our own issues. We are easily caught up
> into
> >> what works for one or a few, and forget that blindness is just as
> >> individualized as personality. I am completely for the safety of others,
> >> but
> >> even when it comes to elderly people and their driver's license, perhaps
> >> it
> >> would be more appropriate to have them do something more than a written
> >> test
> >> and a brief eye exam.
> >>
> >> Unfortunately, there is no expectation to even have driver's education
> in
> >> Georgia, so in my opinion the established safety nets are the true issue
> >> not
> >> more policies.
> >>
> >> Mandarino
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> >> Behalf
> >> of Jim Reed
> >> Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 2:02 PM
> >> To: MAB List
> >> Subject: [nabs-l] a common-sence legislative idea
> >>
> >> Hey all,
> >> The following is not going to sit well with some of you so let me
> preface
> >> it
> >> with some personal background to set the context:
> >> 1. By 2005 I was legaly blind with RP.
> >> 2. In the summer of 2007 I bought a car.
> >> 3. In summer of 2008, I wrecked said car, with a passenger, because I
> did
> >> not see the sharp turn ahead. Fortunatly, the accident was injury-free,
> >> but
> >> could have just as easily been a fatal roll-over.
> >>
> >> That said, my idea:
> >> Blind people, contingent upon recieving any government services which
> they
> >> qualify for,(in part, or in whole) as a result of being blind, must
> >> permanatly surrender their drivers license.
> >>
> >> I know some will say this is cohersive, and it is.
> >>
> >> Some will say it prevents blind people from recieving essential
> services,
> >> it
> >> does; but, no one has the right to endanger the life of another, and, if
> a
> >> person chooses to do so, that person does not deserve the support of
> >> society
> >> or it's government.
> >>
> >> And lastly, some will make a free-choice arguement. To them I would say
> >> blindness isnt a choice, its a fact.
> >>
> >> This is one of those "father knows best" type situations where what is
> >> truely best for the individual is percieved by that individual as
> >> negitive.
> >>
> >> As it seems likely that it is the younger blind people who are most
> >> inclined
> >> to make choices similar to mine, what we are really talking about here
> is
> >> saving the next generation of blind people from injury, death, or legal
> >> troubles.
> >>
> >> As negitive as this may seem to some blind people, if it saves even one
> >> life, blind or sighted, then it was worth it.
> >>
> >> Thoughts?
> >> Jim
> >>
> >> "Ability is of little account without opportunity."
> >>
> >>       |
> >>           -Napoleon Bonaparte
> >>
> >>
> >>
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