[nfbwatlk] Fw: Proposal for a Seattle Commission onDisabilitiesIssues

Fri Nov 7 00:30:10 UTC 2008

Hello All, Boy is there alot of stuff to catch up with when your
computer is down. As far as this topic goes, I think Mike, Ben and Bob
have stated it well. I have been approached by this fellow regarding
several issues from the development of the commission to the sidewalk
restraunt issues. And yes, it was my post regarding the expansion of
sidewalk cafes on the listserv. I had asked people especially in
Seattle to submit their opinions as did I. In a nutshell, my opinion
was against the espansion of the sidewalk cafe's because it limited
pedestrian traffic. I submitted my comments and opinions as a private
citizen and not as a member and officer of the NFBW. I have served on
several committees that were to address the needs of the disabled
community and I can tell you that overall the observations from the
others are true. It is difficult to get a cross the point that the
blind just need a few things to deal with life independantly. Too many
times people wanted us to have a private escort, beeping this and
talking that to make it accessible. High tech gadgets (which are fun,
don't get me wrong, but the $$$'s!!) and the kind. I believe that this
person Chris does not understand that we are not thrilled about
joining commisions or coallitions. Why not? he asks. Because we have
our own strong voice I answer. All in all, I hope this commission does
not get off the ground. Money and time is already at a premium and
having to deal with more meetings will not do anyone any good. At some
point, you have to stop having meetings and start DOING something!
See ya all around soon! Kris

On Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 10:04 PM, Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
> Bob:
>
> You're right: in my experience, other disability groups haven't got a
> clue that pan-disability efforts almost always fail to adequately
> represent the interests of the blind. And as Ben says, many
> pan-disability advocates practically froth at the mouth when you argue
> the merit of their efforts.
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert Sellers" <robertsellers500 at comcast.net>
> To: "'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 5:11 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Fw: Proposal for a Seattle Commission
> onDisabilitiesIssues
>
>
>
> Mike, good point. These  'isolated' disabilities commissions always have
> the
> flavour of the 'separate but equal' stinch.   Are you aware if other
> disability groups understand the detriment of disability coalitions?  My
> gut
> feel is they probably don't.
>
> Bob Sellers
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
> Behalf Of Mike Freeman
> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 7:39 PM
> To: NFB of Washington Talk
> Subject: [nfbwatlk] Fw: Proposal for a Seattle Commission on
> DisabilitiesIssues
>
> Fellow Federationists:
>
> This guy seems to have a fixation that people with disabilities have it
> terrible in Seattle. I've received numerous posts and I believe someone
> put one of them on this list a while back.
>
> Frankly, I think the idea of a city disabilities commission to be
> absolutely wacko! If, as the guy says, disabilities are diverse, than no
> single commission dealing with multiple disabilities could address the
> needs of each disability properly. In fact, I think a commission like
> that would be downright harmful in that it would allow all and sundry to
> think they'd solved the problem and thus not have to pay attention to
> the real problems of the blind, the deaf, the developmentally-disabled
> and on and on ad nauseum.
>
> Were I a citizen of Seattle, I'd right opposing this nonsense.
>
> Read below.
>
> Mike Freeman
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Leman" <cleman at oo.net>
> To: "Neighbor" <cleman at oo.net>
> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 11:01 PM
> Subject: Proposal for a Seattle Commission on Disabilities Issues
>
>
> One outcome of the Oct. 28 Seattle Neighborhood Summit was a proposal
> for a City commission on disablities issues.  The present system is not
> working well, in which there is typically one disabled invidual on the
> Human Rights Commission and one on the Pedestrian Advisory Board.  The
> disabled community is extremely diverse, and would benefit from having
> the voice of a City commission. As reflected in the letters below, some
> individuals are advancing such a proposal to members of the City
> Council.  Whatever your views, please consider writing to the
> Councilmembers about this issue.   The issue is urgent right now because
> of the ongoing budget process.
>
> Seattle City Council: P.O. Box 34025, Seattle, WA 98124-4025
> sally.clark at seattle.gov 684-8802
> tim.burgess at seattle.gov 684-8806
> tom.rasmussen at seattle.gov 684-8808
> jean.godden at seattle.gov 684-8807
> richard.conlin at seattle.gov 684-8805
> jan.drago at seattle.gov 684-8801
> bruce.harrell at seattle.gov 684-8804
> nick.licata at seattle.gov 684-8803
> richard.mciver at seattle.gov 684-8800
>
> The above alert was prepared by Chris Leman, (206) 322-5463,
> cleman at oo.net, as an individual.   Please share this message with others
> who may wish to make a difference.
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Mary Beth Lum <mblum08 at gmail.com>
> Date: Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 1:44 PM
> Subject: Request for Disability Rights Commission
>
> Dear Councilmember Licata,
>
> My name is Mary Beth Lum.  I am a long time resident of Seattle and an
> active member in the Disability Community.  I am directing this letter
> to you in your role as the Chair of the Culture, Civil Rights, Health &
> Personnel Committee, as well as to the entire Council, to request that a
> Commission on Disability Rights be established under the Office of Civil
> Rights.
>
> The current commissions (Human Right Commission, Women's Commission and
> the Sexual Minorities Commission) were created as arms of the Office of
> Civil Rights to help them better serve minority populations and the
> unique issues they face.
>
> Because the Disability Community encompasses such a broad range of
> people, and the issues of this community are complex, it is not
> reasonable or sufficient to place the onus of addressing this spectrum
> on the shoulders of one person (i.e., a single representative on a city
> board, task force or commission).  This misses a large percentage of the
> population.  A commission would serve as a forum for hearing all voices
> of the Disability Community.
>
> Although legislation exists to address discrimination and the particular
> barriers, both physical and attitudinal, faced by people with
> disabilities, they continue to be marginalized and lack access to
> housing, transportation, employment and recreation, among other things.
> The establishment of a Disability Rights Commission would help support
> the OCR and the City Council to properly address these types of issues
> and to proactively respond to them.
>
> Not addressing the concerns of the Disability Community is actually a
> disservice to the city of Seattle and its citizens.  Incorporating
> People with Disabilities in the planning and creation of city projects
> and programs will enrich and enhance neighborhood diversity, and
> contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.  [HB 2794]
>
> I respectfully ask for your action to create this commission.
>
> Sincerely,
> Mary Beth Lum  2743 NE 140th St. Seattle, WA 98125  (206) 235-2706
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Julianfwheeler at aol.com
> Subject: Request for Establishment of Seattle Commission on Disabilities
> Issues
>
> Councilman Licata, Chair of the Civil Rights Committee,
>
> To follow up on the communication below, I hereby request that you and
> the Seattle City Council consider establishing a Seattle City Commission
> on Disabilities Issues for the reasons given below.
>
> Furthermore, I hereby request that you and the city council consider
> repositioning the budget and staff arrangement of the Seattle Office of
> Civil Rights (OCR) for the purpose of accommodating the new Commission
> as requested.
>
> Thank you for your time.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Julian Wheeler,
> Seattle Human Rights Commission
> (title provided for personal identification purposes only.)
>
> Copied Text From Previous Communication Follows:
>
> Dear Councilmember Licata, et al.,
>
> Please accept this letter as a request that the Seattle City Council
> consider establishing a commission on the subject of issues that concern
> the disabled in Seattle, e.g., a Seattle Commission on Disabilities
> Issues.
>
> I respectfully ask for your consideration for the following reasons:
>
> 1. The disability community is at once unique and widely defined. Such a
> commission as requested would be a visible venue that would serve to
> direct petitions for redress of grievances by the disability community
> and its supporters to the City. Also, it would provide a tool for
> ascertaining the extent of concerns that impact the disability
> community, and will give the City, and the office that will staff it,
> the ability to gain an advance sense of issues that arise at any given
> moment, including through the activities of its commissioners.
>
> 2. This would provide the disability community the opportunity to
> express its concerns in a forum where it will be heard as one community,
> wherein its concerns will be heard by a body of commissioners whose
> definition and majority will be composed by those whose affinities
> should favor pursuit of disabilities issues, discussions and solutions.
> Currently, addressing disabilities issues through different bodies with
> at least one representative of the disability community puts its input
> at risk of marginalization, given the possibility that disability
> community representatives can be out-voted on these bodies, i.e.,
> advisory boards, task forces, city commissions, etc.
>
> A commission as requested will give the disability community a chance to
> thereby speak with one coherent and united voice. It will further
> provide the disability community with an opportunity to resolve issues
> that are internal to the community, so as to build on what unites it and
> thereby strengthen its ability to ascertain emerging issues.
>
> 3. There are issues currently impacting the disability community
> disproportionately, where the shares of people with disabilities who are
> so impacted are greater than its share of the population in general,
> resulting in needs that are not being adequately met. These issues
> include, but are not limited to: employment, transit, homelessness, and
> police conduct.
>
> These issues are going either unmet, or are characterized by the broader
> community as being of lesser importance.  This can lead to, for
> instance, community projects not incorporating sufficient accessibility
> as to make them usable by many people with disabilities.  Ultimately,
> this may make it more difficult for people with disabilities to pursue
> employment, entertainment, housing, or other opportunities.
>
> Additionally, I further request that the city staff this requested
> commission with the Seattle Office of Civil Rights, which can further
> pursue its mission to promote social justice for everyone.
>
> Thank you for your consideration.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Julian Wheeler, Member,
> Seattle Human Rights Commission (for personal identification purposes
> only).
>
>
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