[nagdu] Unequal Benefit

Tue Apr 26 15:01:48 UTC 2011

And those handicapped accessible rooms for those in wheelchairs are often 
bad news for someone who is blind.  With all of those rods and such at a 
lower level to accommodate someone in a wheelchair, it becomes the perfect 
height for a blind person to hit their head on. They see disability and 
automatically think handicapped accessible room, even though they know those 
rooms are specifically made wheelchair accessible. For some reason these 
people don't think one inch beyond that.  But most times wheelchair 
accessible and accessible to the visually impaired are mutually exclusive.

Sarah & Miguel

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion Gwizdala" <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 5:05 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Unequal Benefit

> Tami,
>    Sometimes, when we face discrimination, we are told, "We are only 
> trying to help!" However, the help that is offered is often based upon the 
> person's misconceptions of what sort of help is needed, not upon what is 
> actually necessary. In this case, Julie was afforded an unequal benefit, 
> since, out of all of the reservations that were made, she was singled out 
> and treated in a manner that was not consistent with everyone else. This 
> resulted in accommodations that may not have been what she wanted, such as 
> a first floor room, perhaps because it was believed she could not manage 
> stairs or the elevator, and may be even a "handicapped" room.
>    Whatever the reason for divulging the information about her disability 
> and the presence of her guide dog, Julie was treated differently than 
> others and the differential treatment was based upon her disability. No 
> matter how well-meaning it was, it is offensive for someone to assume that 
> they know better than us what sort of accommodations we want or need. 
> Julie may not care if she is on the first floor or not but that should be 
> her choice and not founded in the misconceptions that she "needs" such a 
> thing! JMHO!
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 6:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] hotels
>
>
>> Ya know...  I've heard the concept of discrimination by providing an 
>> unequal
>> benefit before a few times over the last several years.  I just know 
>> finally
>> got it.  /smile/
>>
>> You're right about the privacy violation, too, which I had totally 
>> missed.
>>
>> Also, and this is what I noticed right off, that sort of thing just 
>> totally
>> offensive and annoying.  I think I'm finally coming to some sort of
>> understanding of why it is always so inherently infuriating, whether I'm 
>> the
>> one on the receiving end or not.  Somehow, it actually means something
>> tangible...  Now maybe one of the days I will actually figure out what 
>> that
>> is.  Or better yet how to deal with it and maybe even communicate to 
>> others
>> how to deal with it.  Wouldn't that be a hoot?  /smile/
>>
>> For the past several years, I've been treated to a ringside view of that
>> charming modern invention called age discrimination.  None of this 
>> honoring
>> and respecting our elders like a bunch of primitive heathens, no sirree!
>> Ugh.  Even when the bigots are just skirting the law that supposedly is
>> there to keep them in check, they sure can be disruptive, can't they?  It 
>> is
>> ugly, ugly stuff, and it has a real effect on real people's lives. 
>> Availing
>> oneself of recourse under the law is not so easy as people who've never 
>> been
>> there think it is, and enforcement seems to be non-existent far too much 
>> of
>> the time.  We're all working on it, I know, and I am a newbie to the 
>> cause
>> in the arena of blindness, but...  Sheesh!
>>
>> Then again, slowly but surely, we *are* winning.  /smile/  Maybe we're 
>> not
>> the stupid children there after all.  /evil smirk/
>>
>> Tami Smith-Kinney
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Marion Gwizdala
>> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 2:40 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] hotels
>>
>> Julie,
>>    what is disturbing is the paradox of this person's assertions. If, as 
>> it
>>
>> was stated, they believe you to be very independent and "there is nothing 
>> to
>>
>> worry about", why are they worrying about it? It is my opinion that they 
>> are
>>
>> discriminating against you by providing you an unequal benefit. In 
>> addition,
>>
>> they seem to be violating your rights of privacy by divulging information
>> without your consent. If it were I, someone would have a talking to!
>>
>> Fraternally yours,
>> Marion
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Julie J" <julielj at neb.rr.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 4:17 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] hotels
>>
>>
>>>I just had to write a quick vent before I head out for that training I'm
>>>going to.
>>>
>>> I work for the county, but this training is being paid for through a 
>>> grant
>>
>>> from a regional prevention agency.  They are paying or reimbursing all
>>> expenses, which is how I am able to go.  Throughout the year I attend
>>> other events sponsored by this agency.  They all know me and of course
>>> Monty.
>>>
>>> Here's the rough spot.  They set up the hotel as a direct bill to their
>>> agency, which means that I didn't make my own reservation.  You know 
>>> where
>>
>>> this is going.  They told the hotel that I'm blind, have a guide dog, 
>>> but
>>> that I'm very independent and they don't need to worry about me.  AARGH!
>>> just AARGH!
>>>
>>> So I've been told that the hotel has no problem with the dog.  Yeah, I 
>>> was
>>
>>> real worried about that.  I have also been put on the first floor, which 
>>> I
>>
>>> don't care one way or another about.  But I am oh so relieved to know 
>>> that
>>
>>> the hotel is okay with me coming! *sarcastic smile*
>>>
>>> There's nothing to be done about it really.  I did try to explain to the
>>> lady who made the reservation for me that all of that extra info was
>>> unnecessary and that I'm pretty well  accustomed to speaking up for 
>>> myself
>>
>>> and my rights.
>>>
>>> I hope the next few days are not one long saga like this.
>>>
>>> Julie
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
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>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/blind411%40verizon.ne
>> t
>>
>>
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>
>
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