[Nfbk] FW: Recent "rope" incident

[cindy smith]

He sure said nothing about his stance on the matter, typical political nonspeak.

Cindy
On Jun 27, 2013, at 11:25 AM, Melanie Peskoe wrote:

> 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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