[Sportsandrec] (no subject)

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hello,
While you don't want people to stereotype us, I think you are stereotyping 
wealthy people as stuck up.

Its true that you have to be wealthy to live in Mahanttan, but that's 
whether you're disabled or not.  I'll point out its wealthy people who have 
the money to give donations to nonprofits helping blind people.
I've met my fair share of stuck up wealthy people, but not all are like 
that.

Just because one fitness center in Manhattan
said they would not offer instruction to the blind, this doesn't mean they 
all are like that.
Additionally I question what you mean by
"specialized instruction for the Blind"
because blind people swim like every one else.  Yes we are taught different 
because we cannot see it, but the actions are the same.  So specialized 
instruction, there is nothing too special or different about swimming.

My suggestion is you go talk to the staff at the Y or other facilities that 
interest you.  Educate them on how they can teach you.  I'd recommend 
private lessons rather than a class so you can get the feedback you need 
from the instructor.  If you can't get private lessons, do the best you can 
in a class.  Remember any gym is a place of public accomodation.  They serve 
the public so should not discriminate against you.  I think any open minded 
facility should be able to help.

Good luck.

Sincerely,
Ashley

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William ODonnell" <william.odonnell1 at yahoo.com>
To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List" 
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 8:40 AM
Subject: [Sportsandrec] (no subject)


>
> One of the local fitness centers in that section of Manhattan informed 
> some of us that they do not offer specialized instruction for the Blind. 
> You are responsible for the learning of the material no matter how you 
> take in that information.  In theory, the idea of going to a small Y like 
> the 92ND street Y could work if in general, people in that area of 
> Manhattan were not so stuck up in there bubble of wealth while looking 
> down on those of us who are different.  I make such statement since most 
> people in that socioeconomic setting are so ignorant since everything 
> comes easy for them on a gold platter. I would like to see those same 
> people deal with someone outside their little bubble let alone someone who 
> is different from them by an automatic appearance.  This is especially 
> when one is automatically portrayed from an assumption that they are from 
> or a part of a different socio economic status not on one’s personal level 
> automatically by looks and
> stereotypes.  Each one of you know just as well as I do what those stereo 
> types are for the Blind and how they shape perceptions of and for us as a 
> whole.  The statistics show that those of us who are blind are assumed to 
> be in an impoverished state than those of us who are not.  Automatically, 
> people fear an increase in crime with a decrease in home values when 
> someone looks different and they do not hold the same status   as the rest 
> of the population.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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