[nfb-talk] FW: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?

Sat Sep 1 03:07:28 UTC 2012

Hi Mike and Mike,

And what is the point of putting a sign up that declares to the world that
there's a blind person living in a certain house? Aren't we trying to be
more normal and equal with the sighted, and to not shine a spotlight on our
blindness? I understand the point about protecting ourselves from criminals,
but we have the capability of defending ourselves (at least to a point) just
like the sighted. So, I just don't think it's necessary to put a sign up in
your front yard which basically implies "alert, alert; blind person here!"
It's late, so I'm not sure if I'm making any sense, but I'm trying. <Grin!>

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Edwards
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 4:59 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?

Mike,

I know we're not more vulnerable, and so do you, but the average
junky/criminal may try to hit the blind dude's house before the sighted
guy's, because he believes it's an easier target.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 5:44 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?

> But wait a minute. Don't the messages below carry their own subliminal 
> messages -- that the blind really *are* more vulnerable than are the 
> sighted? I don't buy it, at least not in general.
>
> Mike
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On Behalf Of Mike Edwards
> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 5:35 PM
> To: ckrugman at sbcglobal.net; NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?
>
> Yeah,  you may as well put up a neon sign: Blind person living here, 
> please, rob me.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 3:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] FW: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?
>
>
>>I know that this has been discussed before on the NFB Blind law list
>>and I  think that the concensus was that this was a bad idea. In the
>>case that I  recall the issue was that signage was put up in a locality
>>indicating  where  a blind person lived. Not only would it be
>>considered discriminatory it  would also create a potential risk in
>>that the person living there could  become a potential victim. Drivers
>>in all neighborhoods need to be  cautious  where all children are
>>concerned blind or sighted.
>> Chuck
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)" <Bennett.Prows at HHS.GOV>
>> To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 1:37 PM
>> Subject: [nfb-talk] FW: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?
>>
>>
>>> Hi Listers,
>>>
>>> I can't remember whether we have had any policy statements on the
>>> issue raised by Steve Ice's query of me in the E-mail string below,
>>> but thought I'd post it for any comments.
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> /s/
>>>
>>> Bennett
>>>
>>> From: Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)
>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 1:17 PM
>>> To: Ice, Steve (ACF)
>>> Subject: RE: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?
>>>
>>> Hi Steve,
>>>
>>> I don't know that we've adopted a formal resolution on a state or
>>> national level, but the issue has come up many times on lists, etc.
>>> There is unanimous opposition, and concern about these types of
>>> signs.  There have been many instances when individuals, and I think
>>> even chapters have fought and had them taken down. They really are
>>> disturbing. May I post this to our NFB list?
>>>
>>> Thanks.'
>>>
>>> /s/
>>>
>>> Bennett Prows
>>>
>>> From: Ice, Steve (ACF)
>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 1:01 PM
>>> To: Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)
>>> Subject: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?
>>>
>>>
>>> Ben,
>>>
>>> In my neighborhood there are two very large, very prominent, yellow
>>> and black cautionary road signs that say "Blind Child Area".
>>> The signs have been there for 10 to 20 years. I am sure the child is
>>> off to college if not on social security by now.
>>>
>>> I feel these signs are demeaning and have the untended consequence of
>>> spreading the belief that caution is warranted around blind people
>>> who cannot otherwise develop orientation and mobility skills to be
>>> safe and self sufficient.
>>>
>>> Researching the web, I discovered quite a few sign vendors pushing
>>> these, a few state application forms in the Southeastern US and at
>>> least 2 'you tube' videos made by adolescents who show blind people
>>> walking head first into the 'blind child area' signs.
>>>
>>> What's next? "My husband has Alzheimer's" signs? "Warning: crack
>>> house on this block" signs?
>>>
>>> I do not view these as an accommodation such as improved crosswalk
>>> stripping or warning bumps on curb cuts because they are not in any
>>> way instrumental or accommodating to the blind person's independence.
>>>
>>> In any case, I would like to know, before writing the county or
>>> state, if NFB has a policy on these types of signs. I feel that a
>>> policy statement from those who are blind would go a lot further than my
> personal opinion.
>>>
>>> Steve
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> lobal.net
>>
>>
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>
>
>
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