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

Thu Mar 4 18:04:09 UTC 2021

Hello 

I don’t know if this will help but I live in Tampa Florida. And I am also deaf blind. When I get on the bus and I’m not sure where I’m going I tell the driver where I want to go and also tell him I’m deaf blind. And I said to the front of the bus and the driver will let me off. But if somebody else getting on the bus with me in here where I need to go and the driver will pass to start they would just speak up and I tell the driver it’s OK. Me and my Guide dog back a block. Since I can’t write with a pen and pencil anymore because I lost the remaining vision. And I told the driver in a no.

I don’t know if it’ll help but I live in Tampa Florida I am deaf blind

Always 
Ineko Gary 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 4, 2021, at 11:47 AM, Tracie Inman via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> 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>
>> > 
>> > Disclaimer
>> > 
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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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