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<p class="MsoNormal">Daniel and all,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have had many conversations with O&M instructors, as well as students, as you can imagine, on this issue. I understand their reasoning for having the student call ahead. Their lessons are very time sensitive, and they are trying to teach
them to be polite by scheduling a time to come into the store. However, unfortunately, I do not think it is very helpful. Even when a person is told they can get help at the time they plan on arriving at the store, the person telling them that doesn’t seem
to pass the information along to anyone. When they arrive at the store, no one is aware. My thinking on having the student contact corporate in this situation, is so they will be aware of store policy, and then maybe they can then get the store to work with
them. This just adds to the learning opportunity for the student. The ADA doesn’t exactly say a business is required to assist someone in shopping. But, more that the business does not want to deny a person goods and services, based on disability. As Ben
said, try and be flexible. But, also, be diplomatic. Go in if you can, and speak with store management about how you can work together to make things work for the both of you. This isn’t about getting someone in trouble for possibly passing along wrong information,
but to come to an understanding as to how you can get the help you need, in a way that is most convenient for both the shopper, and the business.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Ben Blagg via NFBMO<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 22, 2022 9:51 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> NFB of Missouri Mailing List <nfbmo@nfbnet.org><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Ben Blagg <cbblagg@gmail.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFBMO] Is shopping assisstant a courtesy or legal requirement?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think we need to be flexible. I’ve never thought of a shopping assistant as an ADA compliance issue. Having a shopping assistant is nice and in most cases places will accommodate. But we have to remember with the covid and now the
inflation stores are short staffed. With a little diplomacy and if you are a regular customer of the store, most managers will make some accommodation. If you go in making demands there will be more harm done than nothing accomplished. Even if it is an
ADA compliance issue, nothing will be done, because there are many more things to be considered. Besides being short staffed, management has to worry about shoplifting and theft. If kindness and diplomacy doesn’t work, go somewhere else. In most cases something
can be worked out. I’m not sure I’m right, but that is the way I see it. Have a good evening.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sent from <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986__;!!NQI0uig!m_Tm0ca726jeVlk8UKKd6_zBYV8oCPhj1DTAoYyDOnFU52s4oC0yj6jS7FDW3Li6c2MSeapWI9PAeE5lbZbm88M$">
Mail</a> for Windows<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From: </b><a href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">Daniel Garcia via NFBMO</a><br>
<b>Sent: </b>Thursday, September 22, 2022 7:21 PM<br>
<b>To: </b><a href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">NFB of Missouri Mailing List</a><br>
<b>Cc: </b><a href="mailto:dangarcia3@hotmail.com">Daniel Garcia</a><br>
<b>Subject: </b>Re: [NFBMO] Is shopping assisstant a courtesy or legal requirement?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for your response to this. I also posted this to the chapter president’s mailing list and there is a similar consensus that it is not a courtesy and that we have to be flexible if there are real staff shortages.<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The O&M instructor said that the next day she showed up with another student to the same store and he was given help.<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think that the moral of the story is not to call ahead although that would be helpful for the blind patron and the store. Other chapter members have reported similar experiences; when they call ahead they are told there is no help available.
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Regards,<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Daniel <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Daniel Garcia, President, Kansas City Chapter<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of the Blind of Missouri<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:dangarcia3@hotmail.com">dangarcia3@hotmail.com</a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(816) 621-0902<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.nfb.org__;!!NQI0uig!m_Tm0ca726jeVlk8UKKd6_zBYV8oCPhj1DTAoYyDOnFU52s4oC0yj6jS7FDW3Li6c2MSeapWI9PAeE5loHWLYZc$">www.nfb.org</a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.nfbmo.org__;!!NQI0uig!m_Tm0ca726jeVlk8UKKd6_zBYV8oCPhj1DTAoYyDOnFU52s4oC0yj6jS7FDW3Li6c2MSeapWI9PAeE5lTq-4Ubs$">www.nfbmo.org</a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Live the life you want.<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> NFBMO <<a href="mailto:nfbmo-bounces@nfbnet.org">nfbmo-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Coccovizzo,Linda A via NFBMO<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 22, 2022 3:43 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> NFB of Missouri Mailing List <<a href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">nfbmo@nfbnet.org</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Coccovizzo,Linda A <<a href="mailto:Linda.Coccovizzo@mcckc.edu">Linda.Coccovizzo@mcckc.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFBMO] Is shopping assisstant a courtesy or legal requirement?<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I would recommend that the student and/or instructor reach out to Price Chopper headquarters, and find out exactly what their policy is, and take it from there. I have been doing a little bit of reading on
the ADA.gov website,. It seems that a business cannot deny goods and services based on someone’s disability, as long as they offer those goods and services to any customer. The only exception is in the case where the safety of the business as well as customers
could be hindered.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.ada.gov/reachingout/intro1.htm__;!!NQI0uig!m_Tm0ca726jeVlk8UKKd6_zBYV8oCPhj1DTAoYyDOnFU52s4oC0yj6jS7FDW3Li6c2MSeapWI9PAeE5ljhMElmA$">https://www.ada.gov/reachingout/intro1.htm</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> NFBMO <<a href="mailto:nfbmo-bounces@nfbnet.org">nfbmo-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>David Andrews via NFBMO<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 22, 2022 7:30 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> NFB of Missouri Mailing List <<a href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">nfbmo@nfbnet.org</a>>; NFB of Missouri Mailing List <<a href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">nfbmo@nfbnet.org</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> David Andrews <<a href="mailto:dandrews920@comcast.net">dandrews920@comcast.net</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFBMO] Is shopping assisstant a courtesy or legal requirement?<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It is required by the ADA. It is not a courtesy. They may regard it as such, and we will need to be flexible because of real shortages, but
their staffing problems don't get them off the hook.<br>
<br>
Dave<br>
<br>
At 08:28 PM 9/21/2022, Julie Dawson via NFBMO wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I always thought it fell under public accommodation with a touch of courtesy.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">----- Original Message -----
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">From:
<a href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">Daniel Garcia via NFBMO</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">To:
<a href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org)">NFB of Missouri Mailing List (nfbmo@nfbnet.org)</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Cc:
<a href="mailto:dangarcia3@hotmail.com">Daniel Garcia</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2022 7:45 PM<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Subject: [NFBMO] Is shopping assisstant a courtesy or legal requirement?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Hello, Friends:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">One of my chapter members who is an O&M instructor sent me the following message today:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">?I am wondering if you could help me with a problem. One of my students called Price Chopper yesterday to schedule shopping assistance. They said they could no longer perform that service due
to staffing issues. Is that not a reasonable accommodation anymore? If it is how do I alert the store about compliance? ?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Is having a shopper provided by the store considered a courtesy or does it fall under the framework of public accommodation?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">If it is viewed merely as a courtesy, I am afraid that other stores will use the same excuse whether or not they have adequate staffing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Daniel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Daniel Garcia, President, Kansas City Chapter<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">National Federation of the Blind of Missouri<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:dangarcia3@hotmail.com">dangarcia3@hotmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(816) 621-0902<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.nfb.org/__;!!NQI0uig!mxAO8Vbm-wTYFLwAo6qbSQGhLiirG-kRfwWxaNvGw_mDGwGIvaRy8JAiHGV7s152KBJ-21IRi_B9YfiBvFWP7Eo$">www.nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.nfbmo.org/__;!!NQI0uig!mxAO8Vbm-wTYFLwAo6qbSQGhLiirG-kRfwWxaNvGw_mDGwGIvaRy8JAiHGV7s152KBJ-21IRi_B9YfiBO4UDggQ$">www.nfbmo.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Live the life you want.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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