[Nfbk] FW: Recent "rope" incident

[pshepardson at windstream.net]

Melanie, 
Very well said. 
Thanks, 
Paul
(502)428-6833

---- Melanie Peskoe <mpeskoe at twc.com> 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
>