[nabs-l] Exclusion of blind persons with secondary disabilities

[Jim Reed]

Hello all, 

I have mixed feeling about bringing this to your attention, but after some consideration I desided to do so. This post is in reference to the post I sent earlier titled "New Opportunity for Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired: An Online Employment Preperation Program." In that post, I forwarded a program description for a an Online
Employment Preparation Program specificly for blind people that is offered by The Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, Mississippi State
University. Unfoutunatly, this program excludeds blind persons with signifigant secondary disabilities. For your convenience, I have copied and pasted the relivant section from the program description:

"Specific requirements for participation include:

*    Legal blindness or more severe visual impairment 
*    Blindness as the primary disability, without additional significant
disabilities ..."

I had mixed feelings about bringing this to your attention because this program is clearly trying to do good for the blind community; yet at the same time they are discriminating against blind persons with secondary disabilities. I'm sure the program's director has perfectly rational, valid, and legitimate reasons for excluding these individuals, but I think he/she is wrong, regardless of the rational. 

I think a friendly letter from NABS may be justified.

Thoughts?
Jim

Homer Simpson's brain: "Use reverse psychology." 
 Homer: "Oh, that sounds too complicated." 
 Homer's brain: "Okay, don't use reverse psychology."
 Homer: "Okay, I will!"