[nagdu] Using a cane at Helen Keller

[Tracy Carcione]

Good for you, Marilyn!  The NYAGDU heard some complaints about the Helen
Keller agency in the '80's, but no one would bring a formal complaint, so
there wasn't much we could do. Frustrating.
Tracy

> Hi Everyone,
> Back in the 80's when I attended the Helen Keller School for the Blind in
> Hempstead , NY I was told I can't use my dog in the building that she had
> to be put in a kennel there, no canes allowed in the building and every
> blind person walks on the right and hugs the wall.
> I went there for computer classes. Needless to say that didn't go over
> very well with me. When I spoke to the person in charge Ed Romano he said
> if you don't abide by our rules you can't attend this school. I commuted 5
> and half hours a day to spend 31/2 in a class room. I took 4 trains ,
> walked 11 blocks and took two buses and a taxi sometimes in one day. I
> called up GDF and told the head trainer what I was told.  My dog stressed
> out in this big metal dark box (prison). The O&M teacher would come to get
> me out of the class as my dog was whining and got a bloody nose as she
> kept hitting it on the metal .  GDF was ready to get involved when a
> friend gave me the phone number of CBVH in Albany and spoke to the head
> man. He was surprised I got his private number. He told me the next
> morning he would call down state NY and things would be changed
> immediately. The people at Helen Keller didn't tell the students that the
> rules were changed a year before and guide dogs can accompany
>  you from class to class and you can use canes inside the building.
> Needless to say when I walked in the following morning I was not very
> well liked by some of the staff. Then I complained it cost me $19 dollars
> a day to commute there and asked if I could get reimbursed when I arrived
> in the morning. Back than that was a lot of money to lay out. I told the
> woman  that I know Helen Keller has petty cash and can give me back my
> money as they use to reimburse you for traveling every two weeks. They
> were shocked to see a blind person knew about petty cash. I told them I
> worked with book keeper on accounts payable and receivable.  I was called
> in the office and the social worker and some staff called me a Suffolk
> County Trouble maker. I told them that's not a bad thing to be called
> because I stood up for my rights while the other blind people were afraid
> but I got the policy that was changed the year before enforced.
> Marilyn and Anna
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