[Nfbk] FW: Recent "rope" incident

[Todd]

Wow! This is absolutely absurd! Keep us informed, Melanie.

 

Best,

 

Todd

 

From: Nfbk [mailto:nfbk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Melanie Peskoe
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 11:25 AM
To: NFB of Kentucky Internet Mailing List
Subject: [Nfbk] FW: Recent "rope" incident

 

I just received the message below from Mr. Roberts at KSB in response to my
email (below his response). I was then copied on an email from him to the
director of the summer enrichment program. I'm hopeful that this issue will
be addressed an not swept under the rug. 

 

From: Roberts, John - KSB [mailto:john.roberts at ksb.kyschools.us] 
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 11:20 AM
To: Melanie Peskoe
Cc: Godbey, Claudia
Subject: RE: Recent "rope" incident 

 

Ms. Peskoe,

 

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us about this issue.  I can assure
you that the issue will be handled with immediacy and resolution.  

 

John C. Roberts

Director of Instruction

Kentucky School for the Blind

1867 Frankfort Avenue

Louisville, KY   40206

 

502-897-1583  , ext. 240

FAX:  502-897-2850  

 

Kentucky School for the Blind is the statewide educational resource center
on blindness

  _____  

From: Melanie Peskoe [mpeskoe at twc.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 11:13 AM
To: Roberts, John - KSB; Pawlowski, Mary; Connie.Yocum at ksb.kyschools.us;
Sochia, Kyle
Cc: cathy1949 at gmail.com
Subject: Recent "rope" incident 

Dear Mr. Roberts, et al;

 

As both a parent of a visually impaired child at the KSB Summer Enrichment
Program and as President of the National Federation of the Blind of Greater
Louisville, I'm writing to express concern over how the high school children
at the summer enrichment camp were humiliated and degraded by being forced
to hold onto a rope to corral them in a group like a herd of cattle in front
of the community during a recent field trip and punished when they refused
to comply. I'm also very  concerned about the ideas and attitudes of the KSB
staff regarding blindness, independence, and appropriate methods of assuring
that all kids are accounted for on field trips. 

 

Obviously, the idea and practice of using a rope to keep blind kids together
in a group as a means to ensure no one gets lost or left behind is a blatant
disregard for their dignity. No one, regardless of level of ability or
sight, should be treated this way. Not only does it humiliate the people who
are being forced to do this, but it gives the community who witnesses such
treatment the misleading idea that this is how blind people should be
"handled". It reinforces ancient ideas that we are unable to travel
independently and need to be "taken care of." This is absolutely absurd and
irresponsible  and sets blind people back decades in our fight for equal
treatment and fairness. I understand that some of the staff who were present
when this happened have been employed by the Kentucky School for the Blind
for many years and have been advocates for blind children. What am I
supposed to think about how they view blindness and those who are blind? Do
they believe this is acceptable treatment of blind children? Do they not
think there are more appropriate ways of handling the situation? These are
the staff who are teaching our children how to live in the world as blind
people. I don't want my child to be taught that it is ever  okay to be led
around by a rope! 

 

There are many ways this situation could have been handled differently. If
there were concerns about the kids' ability to travel independently as a
group they could have been paired up with each other or in small groups with
a staff member. The staff could have taken time before even leaving the
school to talk with the kids about how to travel safely and independently as
a group. If there were still concerns the school could have taken fewer
students or more staff. The bottom line is that there are much better ways
to handle this situation.

 

Any way you look at it - regardless of any external factors - there is
never, ever cause to use a rope as a means of keeping blind people together.
I am extremely displeased and find this practice completely unacceptable. I
sincerely hope that you and those of your staff who chose to use this method
will consider my thoughts and the regard of all blind and visually impaired
Kentuckians. Together we can change misguided ideas and attitudes about
blindness, but only by having an open mind and willingness to deconstruct
stereotypes and misconceptions. 

 

Respectfully,

 

Melanie Peskoe, President

National Federation of the Blind of Greater Louisville

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