[nabs-l] Lines

[Julie McGinnity]

Hi everyone,

I remember getting those special bracelets that let me cut in line at
6 Flags here in St. Louis.  I didn't know better as a kid, but as I
got older, I've wondered about the logic of such things.  we are
physically capable of standing in line.  Well, there are those who are
blind and have other disabilities that may prevent them from doing so.
 I just didn't get it.

Now I use a guide dog.  I don't think I've ever chosen to take her to
an amusement park.  If I had to bring her to an amusement park, I
suppose it would be better for her to cut in line.  I don't think I
would ever bring her outside in the heat like that for a long period
of time.  If I went to an amusement park all year round, like it seems
Sarah does, it would be a different story though.  Then I don't see
why my dog would have a problem waiting in line.  I'm not sure though.
 Haven't tried it.  Lol

Also the Disney parks have a place where people can keep their dogs
while they're riding rides.  I don't know much about it, but it's an
option.

On 4/1/13, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
> Thank you Kirt for making such a great point. When I was growing up my
> parents and friends often pressured me to use my blindness so that we
> could cut lines and sometimes my parents even required it without
> giving me a choice about it. I used to try and justify our behavior
> but in  the end when I did this I always felt a deep sense of shame
> and anger, but I could never figure out why. Since then I have learned
> about self-perception theory in psychology classes and I think I
> understand why it bothers me (and many of us) so much. Basically,
> self-perception theory posits that we draw conclusions about ourselves
> by observing our own behavior. I think whenever I used my blindness as
> a reason to get a guest pass and skip the line, it made me start to
> see myself as a handicapped or crippled person, which was very
> upsetting. For some people who have trouble standing for long periods
> of time, or who have guide dogs who get uncomfortable standing out in
> the sun, cutting in line seems legitimate. But if we can physically
> handle the lines, accepting the special passes doesn't do us any real
> favors. I insist on standing in line with everyone else because I want
> to see myself (and my fellow blind friends) as strong, healthy, normal
> people. I feel I have little to gain by skipping the lines, and much
> to lose in terms of self-esteem and self-respect. I think every time
> we take an accommodation, we need to think about what we are gaining
> from that accommodation vs. what we are potentially losing in terms of
> normalcy. If an accommodation like a piece of technology is  truly
> necessary, it will give enough benefit that it's worth the self-esteem
> hit. But if an accommodation isn't really needed, I think we have more
> to lose than we have to gain by accepting it. For this same reason I
> also do not write off blindness as a reason to claim a tax deduction.
> I am proud to be (barely) earning enough income to be required to pay
> taxes and paying taxes just like anyone else in my income bracket
> makes me feel good about myself and where I belong in the world.
> There's also the argument that if we want to be allowed the same
> rights sighted people get, we need to be willing to saddle the extra
> responsibilities. If we want to be allowed to ride amusement park
> rides without discrimination, we need to be willing to wait in line.
> It sends a mixed message to skip the line and then insist on equal
> treatment by the ride operators, just like it sends a mixed message to
> request unnecessary extra time on tests and then ask for a professor's
> letter of recommendation.
> Again, though I'm not a dog user, I think having a guide dog is a
> legitimate reason to not wait in lines.
> Arielle
>
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-- 
Julie McG
National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16