[NFB-DB] Request for Help From Our Legal Program

[Tracie Inman]

Hey Scott:
  If you could email me directly at Tracielinman at gmail.com I think I can
give you some very valuable information.  I will also connect you with
Sharon Caserta, Morgan & Morgan Disability Rights Unit.

Thank You,
Tracie inman

On Thu, Mar 4, 2021 at 11:16 AM John J. Boyer via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Hello,
>
> This is based on my experiences more than fifty years ago. It may not be
> helpful, but it is probably an interesting story.
>
> I made a loose-leaf binder that contained typed cards with different
> messages and Braille markings.
> I would walk to the bus stop and hold up a card asking someone to let me
> know when a certain bus arrived. I would board the bus and put a token in
> the receptacle or hand the driver a bill for more tokens.
> Then I would find a seat, probably with assistance from a fellow passenger
> who saw my white cane. Then I would held up another card asking someone to
> let me know when we reached a certain stop. Of course the cards stated that
> I wass deaf-blind.
> Seats were not always available, so i would hang onto a strap.
> At rush hour there was sometimes literally standing room only with maybe a
> dozen people clutching the same strap. Once the driver inadvertently went
> past my stop.
> Other passengers spoke up. He was rather upset, but I told him I could
> easily walk back a block.
>
> I used this method again to get around a University campus many years
> later.
>
> I think this is a perfectly good way to use public transportation.
> Expecting the driver to use some special device to communicate is
> inconsiderate.
> he is busy enough already.
>
> John
>
> On Wed, Mar 03, 2021 at 08:36:10PM +0000, Labarre, Scott via NFB-DB wrote:
> > Greetings Everyone!
> >
> > I am Scott LaBarre, General Counsel to the NFB.  I am sure that I know
> many of you and likewise.  I am writing to this list today for help.
> >
> > We are participating in an amicus brief, friend of the court, brief in a
> case being brought by Disability Rights Minnesota.  They are representing a
> deaf blind individual who has been denied hundreds of rides on buses
> operated by the Metropolitan Transit  Council because the drivers either
> don't pull up to the designated transit sign and/or make no effort to
> communicate with their client.  Additionally, even though it is MTC policy,
> many drivers do not pull up to the sign when there are multiple buses in a
> line at a particular stop.  This deaf blind individual has no way of
> telling that a second or third bus is in line unless it pulls up to the
> sign after the first bus has departed etc.
> >
> > Anyway and unfortunately, the lower court issued a very bad decision
> ruling that the MTC does not violate the ADA when they fail to communicate
> effectively with this individual.  Disability Rights is appealing this to
> the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
> >
> > We would like to offer our perspective, and this is where your help
> comes into the picture.  I would like to know your stories and find out
> what troubles you have had with transit entities not appropriately pulling
> up to designated stops and not identifying themselves to you.  It would
> probably be best if you wrote me off line.  My contact info is below.  I
> thank you in advance for your help!!
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Scott C. LaBarre
> > General Counsel, NFB
> >
> > 410 659-9314, Ext. 2424
> > slabarre at nfb.org<mailto:slabarre at nfb.org>
> >
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> >
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>
> --
> John J. Boyer
> Email: john.boyer at abilitiessoft.org
> website: http://www.abilitiessoft.org
> Status: Company dissolved but website and email addresses  live.
> Location: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
> Mission: developing assistive technology software and providing STEM
> services
>         that are available at no cost
>
>
>
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-- 
*Tracie Inman*
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