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

Wed Aug 29 02:48:29 UTC 2012

it was supposed to say danger blind children.
On Aug 28, 2012, at 7:07 PM, "Kaye Kipp" <kkipp123 at gmail.com> wrote:

> What the ... Were they saying the blind children were dangerous?
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Leslie Fitzpatrick" <lfitz50 at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 6:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] FW: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?
> 
> 
>> this reminds me of when I was going to the Oklahoma school for the blind. They built a new sidewalk from our school to what we called the corner where there were a number of stores that we liked to go to and when they first built the sidewalk they put up a sign that said "dangerous blind children" Maybe they were right Les Fitzpatrick
>> On Aug 28, 2012, at 4:51 PM, "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Ben:
>>> 
>>> You are correct. I am unaware of any official NFB policy regarding these
>>> "BLIND CHILD" signs. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that were a
>>> resolution to come before the national convention opposing such signs, it
>>> would be passed unanimously.
>>> 
>>> As you say, there have been many local protests of these signs including, I
>>> believe, one involving Kris Kolcock here in Washington. Invariably, the NFB
>>> members confronted with such signs are angry at the stereotyping and the
>>> implication that somehow blind people (from childhood on up to adulthood)
>>> are unsafer than are sighted persons. It's the old saw that the sighted bear
>>> responsibility beyond the norm for the safety/welfare of the blind. Isn't it
>>> funny that we don't see DEAF CHILD signs, even in neighborhoods with
>>> railroad tracks?
>>> 
>>> Mike Freeman
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)
>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 1:38 PM
>>> To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
>>> Cc: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>> 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
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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