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

[Mary Ellen]

Interesting question, Debbie.  I think it depends on the person and the
circumstances.  If the circumstances call for evacuation and there isn't any
public transportation available, then there should be a number for anyone
who doesn't have private transportation to phone.  This doesn't have
anything directly to do with disability, it has to do with lack of a vehicle
or a driver.  Nine years ago when we had a fire storm here that destroyed
244 homes, the local taxi company was offering free rides to anyone needing
to evacuate.  There was no big deal made about disability; you just phoned a
cab if you were being evacuated and they came and got you.

I do strongly believe that television stations should provide an audio
version of those warnings and banners that crawl across the bottom of the
screen in weather or other emergencies.  I gather the new telecommunications
act requires them to do so.  That's something NFB has been advocating for
years.

As far as being listed on some emergency office as a person with a
disability, personally I'd say "no, thank you."  As long as it were
voluntary, I wouldn't object to others choosing to be listed.  I'd be
furious, though, if I got on such a list because someone noticed me and
thought I should be listed.  The problem with such lists is that they start
out voluntary and end up anything but.  Just try getting on a plane without
somebody noting that you're blind in your flight record.  Even when you ask
them not to mention it, they do so anyway!

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of debby phillips
Sent: August 28, 2012 5:50 PM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Cc: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] FW: NFB stand on Blind Child Area signs?

Wow, I don't know how I survived childhood without one of those signs.
(Sarcastic look.  I personally would have been so ticked off if my parents
had put one of those up in front of our house!  
The neighborhood knew I was blind anyway, so why put a sign out there?  Good
grief!  That's horrible.

That brings up another issue I'd be interested in people's input about.
After Hurricane Katrina there was an effort by some people in the first
responders or emergency services area to have people with disabilities
self-identify, so they could be more quickly assisted if a natural or other
kind of disaster should 
take place.  What say you all?  Good or bad?    Peace,    Debby

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