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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>This is the letter that Maria sent to KSB staff
regarding the rope incident.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>June
27, 2013</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>To:
KSB Summer Enrichment Staff,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>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. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>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.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>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.
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>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.
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face=Calibri>Respectfully, </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Maria
Jones</FONT></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>