[Nfbk] Letter from a Concerned Parent

[Melanie Peskoe]

Maria,

This letter is very well written. Please let us know about your response
when you get one. If anyone else would like to share the letters they've
written to the school it would be great and maybe help others who are unsure
what to say or how to say it. 

 

 

From: Nfbk [mailto:nfbk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kenneth Jones
Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2013 12:39 AM
To: nfb of Kentucky Internet Mailing List
Subject: [Nfbk] Letter from a Concerned Parent

 

This is the letter that Maria sent to KSB staff regarding the rope incident.

 

June 27, 2013

To: KSB Summer Enrichment Staff,

            My name is Maria Jones. I am the parent of a high school student
attending this year's Summer Enrichment Program. I am also the President of
the Kentucky Parents of Blind Children, KPBC., an affiliate of the National
Organization of Parents of Blind Children, NOPBC and chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind, NFB. 

            I am writing to express my concerns about what I have learned to
occur at the program this year. It has been brought to my attention that
students have been led around with the use a rope, both on campus and off. I
would like to understand why this was chosen as a mode of mobility for
students this year, especially high schoolers. My own visually impaired
children have attended the program for years and have never had to
experience such a way of traveling from place to place. I know that it has
been suggested that several of the students have multiple disabilities and
that this made it easier/faster to get them to where they needed to be. I
have taught children with multiple disabilities for years and have never
found it necessary to make use of a rope for mobility. I also know that this
was branded as a team building activity for the high school students and
that photos were being taken of the students at the Mary T. Aquatic Center
pool when they arrived there. However, I don't understand why the students
who were to participate in this activity weren't made aware of this.

            As a parent of three visually impaired children and an advocate
for blind children, I am appalled that any children would be treated with
such a lack of dignity and respect. For decades, our organization has fought
to change what it means to be blind. I feel that this kind of behavior sets
our efforts back to a time when blind people were not considered capable,
competent individuals and it sends a message to our children that they're
not equal, independent citizens. 

            The Summer Enrichment Program is a valuable and worthwhile
program for blind students across the state during the summer to reinforce
physical and social skills. As I mentioned before, two of my children have
attended this program for years and I'd like for my youngest child to have
the opportunity to attend as well. I'd also like to be able to share with
other parents of blind children what a quality summer program for their
children looks like. I'm sure that with some collaborative efforts, we can
all be assured that this will continue to be a quality program for blind
children for years to come. 

Respectfully, 

Maria Jones

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