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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I want to second Nickie’s statement about writing to KSB to express concern over how the high school children at the summer enrichment camp were humiliated and degraded, as well as concern 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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>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 human rights. 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 witness such treatment the 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 just wrong and sets us back decades in our fight for equal treatment and fairness. 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. Is this what they really think? 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 a blind person. I don’t want my child to be taught that it is ever okay to be led around by a rope! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>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 corralled in a group like a herd of cattle. I am extremely displeased and have expressed my concerns and anger over this situation to both John Roberts, the KSB Director of Instruction, and the staff that I know of who were present when this incident occurred - Connie Yocum, Mary Pawlowski, and Kyle Sochia. Like Nickie did previously, I urge all Federationists in Kentucky to take a few minutes to draft an email to these employees of the Kentucky School for the Blind and let them know this is unacceptable. Here are their email addresses for your convenience. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:John.Roberts@ksb.kyschools.us">John.Roberts@ksb.kyschools.us</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:Mary.Pawlowski@ksb.kyschools.us">Mary.Pawlowski@ksb.kyschools.us</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:Connie.Yocum@ksb.kyschools.us">Connie.Yocum@ksb.kyschools.us</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:Kyle.Sochia@ksb.kyschools.us">Kyle.Sochia@ksb.kyschools.us</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Respectfully,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Melanie Peskoe, President NFB of Greater Louisville<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Nfbk [mailto:nfbk-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Nickie Pearl<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 27, 2013 9:05 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Kentucky Internet Mailing List<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbk] Situation at KSB<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Hello!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> This Tuesday during Summer Enrichment at KSB there was a situation that happened that I would like to share with everyone. The back story is that on Monday the Middle school kids went out on a field trip & one of the kids got lost/separated from the group. On Tuesday when the High School kids were going to swim, when departing the bus they instructed the kids to hold on to a rope so no one get lost/separated. Yes, you heard that correctly, they were instructed to hold onto a rope. One young man refused to hold the rope & ultimately the kids were put back on the bus and returned to KSB without swimming. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>There was a veteran staff member & a new staff member present & as I understand, it was the new staff member who cam up with this rope idea.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> The actions of these staff members are inexcusable, disrespectful & down right degrading! Parents send their kids to KSB to learn independence, life skills, O&M & confidence, not to be lead around like animals or criminals! This action was a slap in the face to all those kids, other staff members, alumni & all blind persons of this community.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> We need to spread the word about this situation, call or write KSB & express our disgust & disappointment in the actions of these staff members. Let them know that using a rope is unacceptable & that the members of the National Federation of the Blind will not tolerate this sort of degrading behavior. Also, we need to make sure to applaud the actions of the young man who refused the rope!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Nickie<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></body></html>