[stylist] littleton tragedy blog/comment posts, was Donna's post of article

Sat Dec 18 22:31:36 UTC 2010

Donna et al,
I heard about this pretty early.  apparently 
there was concern about some things being posted 
by bloggers/commenters on  public news sites, I do not know which ones.

this is tragic news and I pray that the families 
of all three and all the people at CCB get lots of care and support.

apparently a few  people were posting offensive 
things about blind people.  by the time I got 
there and looked at the sites I could find, I 
didn't see very much.  I think that perhaps 
system admins had removed some, or I had not 
found what was  the worst, I don't know.

I used a yahoo news search and then looked at 
comments under the articles or TV news coverage.

this is one way that we as blind writers can make 
a difference.  blogging and simple comments 
online are very  immediate but also can have a 
very powerful impact.  we can challenge attitudes 
such as that blind people cannot know how to get 
out of the way of a car, or that our going about 
our lives with dignity is so remarkable.  those 
two were the only problems I found in looking at 
online comments on this sad tragedy in Littleton Colorado.
there was one reference to "those people" meaning 
blind people but "those people" may not be 
necessarily intended or taken as negative by itself.
jc

At 12:43 PM 12/18/2010, you wrote:
>The Denver Post
>Saturday, December 18, 2010
>Blind man killed when car slides on ice, hits 
>three people at Littleton bus stop
>By Howard Pankratz and Carlos Illescas The Denver Post
>Posted: 12/18/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
>Updated: 12/18/2010 06:30:20 AM MST
>1217/20101217__20101218_A01_CD18STRUCK~p1_200
>"He made you feel at home. If you had a problem, 
>he would lift you up." Kenny Flack, a classmate 
>of David Nanney's, left. Nanney was killed Friday.
>
>David Nanney planned to return to Baltimore 
>today — during a two-week break from classes at 
>the Colorado Center for the Blind — to spend the holidays with
>family and friends.
>
>But as he waited for a bus Friday morning with 
>two other visually impaired students to attend a 
>holiday party at the school, an out-of-control car hit all
>three on the sidewalk, killing Nanney, 47.
>
>Nanney died at Littleton Adventist Hospital. Two 
>women were being treated for injuries described 
>by police as "very serious." Their names were not released,
>but police said one is 18 years old and the 
>other 26. A school representative said they 
>suffered broken bones but were expected to recover.
>
>The accident occurred on the southeast
>
>1218/20101218__crash~p1_200
>Click on image to enlarge ( | )
>corner of West Mineral Avenue and South Utica 
>Drive. The 21-year-old female driver of the car 
>apparently slid on ice as she turned right onto Mineral Avenue
>from northbound Utica Drive and lost control of her vehicle.
>
>Littleton police spokesman Sean Dugan said the 
>ice was a contributing factor. But the driver, 
>who has not been named, will be charged after the investigation
>is completed, he said.
>
>"Our hearts really go out to the family members 
>of all three victims and to the person 
>responsible for the accident," Dugan said. "You've got a younger
>person who feels terrible about what she's done."
>
>Officials from the school said the students' 
>blindness had nothing to do with the accident.
>
>Julie Deden, executive director of the Colorado 
>Center for the Blind, said Nanney was a leader 
>to the 25 students at the school. Students typically attend
>for nine-month training in life skills, Braille and other areas.
>
>Just recently, Nanney helped organize a 
>Christmas giveaway to a family adopted by the 
>students for the holiday. Nanney arranged to secure the gifts and
>was at the family's home Thursday to deliver the goodies.
>
>"The gentleman was such a leader," Deden said of Nanney.
>
>Nanney's wife said her husband was an 
>accomplished carpenter and home-improvement 
>contractor in Baltimore. He made custom pieces, 
>and his only form of advertising
>was word of mouth.
>
>"He was a real artist," Ann Nanney said.
>
>Nanney started losing his eyesight about 10 
>years ago, his wife said. They later learned he 
>suffered from retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that damages the
>retina — leading to loss of vision — and gets worse over time.
>
>The Nanneys were married for 20 years and have a 
>19- year-old daughter who is in college.
>
>Ann said her husband was as happy at the CCB as he had ever been in his life.
>
>"He was a good person when he went to the 
>Colorado Center for the Blind, but this morning 
>when he got out of bed, he was a better person," Ann Nanney said
>Friday. "He grew so much there."
>
>Nanney was a musician. He played acoustic guitar 
>and recently performed with his roommate, Jay 
>Pellis, at the Mellow Mushroom in Centennial.
>
>Neighbors of the Pinnacle at Mountain Gate 
>apartment complex where he and the other 
>students lived enjoyed his music so much they didn't mind at all that
>Nanney played for hours on his balcony.
>
>"His voice was like an angel," said neighbor 
>Coraleen Ekstrom, who burst into tears when she 
>learned of his death. "Music was definitely one of his passions."
>
>Fellow CCB student Kenny Flack said Nanney was well liked by everyone.
>
>"He would joke and laugh and make you feel part 
>of the group," Flack said. "He made you feel at 
>home. If you had a problem, he would lift you up."
>
>Deden said she spoke with Ann Nanney on Friday 
>when she notified her of her husband's death and 
>the first thing Ann said was to make sure Nanney's organs
>were donated to others.
>
>The CCB canceled the holiday party and plans to 
>have a memorial for Nanney when students return in two weeks.
>
>"We are like a family," Deden said. "It is going to be difficult."
>
>Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or
>hpankratz at denverpost.com
>
>--
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>
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