[nfbwatlk] FW: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?

[Lauren Merryfield]

Hi,
I think those signs are totally unnecessary and I'd think the blind child 
would be embarrassed by them.
Thanks
Lauren

advice from my cats: "meow when you feel like it."
The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be
understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.
-- Ralph Nichols
Visit us at catliness.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)" <Bennett.Prows at HHS.GOV>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 1:37 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] FW: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?


> Hi Listers,
>
> I can't remember whether we have had any policy statements on the issue 
> raised by Steve Ice's query of me in the E-mail string below, but thought 
> I'd post it for any comments.
>
> Thanks.
>
> /s/
>
> Bennett
>
> From: Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)
> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 1:17 PM
> To: Ice, Steve (ACF)
> Subject: RE: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?
>
> Hi Steve,
>
> I don't know that we've adopted a formal resolution on a state or national 
> level, but the issue has come up many times on lists, etc. There is 
> unanimous opposition, and concern about these types of signs.  There have 
> been many instances when individuals, and I think even chapters have 
> fought and had them taken down. They really are disturbing. May I post 
> this to our NFB list?
>
> Thanks.'
>
> /s/
>
> Bennett Prows
>
> From: Ice, Steve (ACF)
> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 1:01 PM
> To: Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)
> Subject: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?
>
>
> Ben,
>
> In my neighborhood there are two very large, very prominent, yellow and 
> black cautionary road signs that say "Blind Child Area".
> The signs have been there for 10 to 20 years. I am sure the child is off 
> to college if not on social security by now.
>
> I feel these signs are demeaning and have the untended consequence of 
> spreading the belief that caution is warranted around blind people who 
> cannot otherwise develop orientation and mobility skills to be safe and 
> self sufficient.
>
> Researching the web, I discovered quite a few sign vendors pushing these, 
> a few state application forms in the Southeastern US and at least 2 'you 
> tube' videos made by adolescents who show blind people walking head first 
> into the 'blind child area' signs.
>
> What's next? "My husband has Alzheimer's" signs? "Warning: crack house on 
> this block" signs?
>
> I do not view these as an accommodation such as improved crosswalk 
> stripping or warning bumps on curb cuts because they are not in any way 
> instrumental or accommodating to the blind person's independence.
>
> In any case, I would like to know, before writing the county or state, if 
> NFB has a policy on these types of signs. I feel that a policy statement 
> from those who are blind would go a lot further than my personal opinion.
>
> Steve
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbwatlk mailing list
> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nfbwatlk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org/lauren1%40catliness.com
>