[Nfbf-l] Blind referee costume outrages visually impaired

[Alan Dicey]

Dear Friends,
I thought some would be interested in the below article.
With Best Regards,
Alan
Miami, Florida

Blind referee costume outrages visually impaired
MICHAEL MUI, QMI Agency
Toronto Sun, October 25, 2012
A Canadian society for the blind is outraged by a U.S. company for selling 
Halloween costumes locally that allow people to dress up as a "blind 
referee," in reference to bad sports officiating.

Carolyn Gunn, president of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians' 
Nanaimo, B.C., chapter, said she found the costume at the Spirit Halloween 
costume shop recently and confronted the manager.
"It came with sunglasses, a foldable-collapsible tapping stick and a referee 
shirt. I couldn't believe it. I was completely devastated," she said 
Wednesday.
"What kind of message is that relaying to kids? Or adults? There's enough of 
a barrier going on for people with disabilities, this is just a mockery of 
the whole thing."

Speaking as legal counsel for the New Jersey-based company's head office, 
Kevin Mahoney told QMI Agency the company did not intend to discriminate 
against the visually impaired.
"It was not our intention to mock anyone who may be suffering from blindness 
or being impaired with that regard," he said.
"The referee costume and the accessories are just to play upon the common 
theme or joke regarding blind referees. That's a theme that's certainly 
widespread, you'll see other costumes sold on the Internet."

Gunn, however, said she's more concerned by how some may wear the costume 
and use the cane on Halloween, presenting a danger that drivers could get 
confused and disregard yielding to actual people with blindness.

According to a section of B.C.'s Guide Animal Act, "A person who is not a 
blind person according to accepted medical standards must not carry or use a 
white cane."
A "white cane" is defined under the act as a cane or walking stick with at 
least the upper-two-thirds coloured white.

Mahoney said the company hasn't made any decision yet to pull the product 
from shelves, but said they will investigate.
"We'll certainly evaluate the issue."

 http://www.torontosun.com/2012/10/25/blind-ref-costume-outrages-visually-impaired- - - - - - - -