[stylist] disability law advice

Wed Nov 24 23:25:04 UTC 2010

I think legislation is important simply because it provides permission for 
blind people to have the freedom they should have.  Rosa Parks needed 
legislation so she did not have to sit in the back of the bus.  We need 
legislation so we can communicate to others, such as sighted people who 
might want to move, that moving is not necessary because we are capable. 
More importantly, legislation can control the policy the bus company 
creates, which will control how drivers respond to blind passengers.  Even 
if drivers do have negative views about blindness, a policy requiring them 
to conduct communication about blindness in a particular way will mean that 
a more positive message about the capabilities of the blind can be 
communicated to others, including passengers.  Today, the lady in front 
thought she needed to move because it was dangerous for blind people to move 
toward the back of the bus, even though I did walk back there.  She thought 
this because the driver insisted it was federal law and because he insisted 
it was dangerous.  And, I agree with you that we need to communicate that 
blind people are people first.  Thanks for the response and also thanks for 
any other thoughts you have on the matter in advance.  Anita

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 4:33 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] disability law advice

> Anita, This situation and others like it over the years have only told me 
> that everyone, regardless of job, have to learn that the blind are people 
> too.  We don't want to be treated differently, just as human beings.  I 
> don't think there is a law anywhere that says the blind have to sit in the 
> first seat behind the driver.  Some people just don't want to sit there, 
> including blind passengers.  I don't think the blind need more useless 
> legislation from the government to guarantee them treatment like normal 
> human beings.  The only way people are going to start looking at the blind 
> as "normal" people is if we make it known that we are people first, just 
> like anyone else.  No government, no laws, no penalties for not obeying a 
> legislative edict.  Judith
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Anita Adkins" <aadkins7 at verizon.net>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 4:01 PM
> Subject: [stylist] disability law advice
>
>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> I am hoping it is okay for me to ask this on this particular list.  It is 
>> a writing list, and I prefer to write down my more serious thoughts at 
>> times.  I didn't know which list would be appropriate for it, and so 
>> please forgive me if this is not the appropriate way to ask about this.
>>
>> Today, I took the bus to and from another town in my area.  On the way 
>> home, I caught the Grene line.  Using my cane, I identified an individual 
>> in seat 1 behind the driver.  My other favorite choice is the first seat 
>> on the left, but this was also taken.  After this, I just remain on this 
>> side and check each seat until an empty one presents itself.  In this 
>> case, it was the very next seat, and so I sat down and buckled up.  As I 
>> was doing this, the bus driver proceeded to tell the lady who was sitting 
>> behind him that it was the law that she move and allow a blind person to 
>> have that seat.  Stubborn me immediately spoke up and said that was 
>> discriminating against the blind.  It is also probably discriminating 
>> against this lady who had every right to sit where she was sitting. 
>> Having a sighted person move so a blind person could sit in the front 
>> seat is also offensive to the blind because it suggests they are 
>> helpless, which is not true.  I tried to tell the driver how this was
>> discrimination, but he kept speaking about how it was the law and how it 
>> would be so dangerous if a blind person was moving back on the bus, and 
>> he had to slam on his brakes.  I let him have the last word because 
>> having the last word isn't always my goal.  Now, my sollution to this 
>> situation is to first identify is such a law does exist.  I think he said 
>> it was a federal law, but he may have said public law.  I googled a 
>> touch, but one of my weaknesses is dealing with laws and all that, and so 
>> I could not find anything.  The rest of my sollution is for us blind to 
>> purposefully choose to sit farther back on the bus if the seats in front 
>> are taken.  By farther back, I mean in the first available seat we happen 
>> to come to. Also, I believe that training for bus drivers about blindness 
>> and somehow building their confidence in the blind is in order.  I am not 
>> angry with this particular driver because I realize he holds negative 
>> views of blindness as a result of the lesson taught to him
>> by society.  He was not purposefully discriminating against me, and he 
>> certainly wasn't intending to offend me and other blind people.  However, 
>> I feel he and other bus drivers need enlightened to our capabilities.  My 
>> question for you is:
>> What should be done about this?
>> One answer is nothing.
>> Another answer is just to move back and take up a different seat, 
>> refusing to sit in front even if the person does move.  In addition, one 
>> would simply say thank you to the person.
>> Another sollution would be to train bus drivers about blindness.
>> Another answer might to do what I just said, but to include blindness 
>> training shades to develop confidence.
>> IIn my opinion, the real answer, whether it be dealing with school 
>> teachers who will be likely to work with blind children, or public 
>> employees who will deal with blind customers, is to train them so that 
>> they develop confidence in the blind.  However, I am afraid this real 
>> sollution is impossible due to finances and for other reasons.  I think 
>> we are changing what it means to be blind over time, and I am hoepful 
>> that this attitude of blind people being helpless will decline and 
>> disappear in the future.
>> Finally, the final sollution might be to make sure there is not a federal 
>> or public law stating that sighted passengers must move for a blind 
>> passenger.  And, if there is, then this law needs to be eliminated.  How 
>> do we do this?  I am extremely inexperienced in this area.  Please share 
>> your thoughts and/or expertise on any of this.  Maybe, I am overreacting 
>> to this situation, and I need to know that as well.  Also, there may be 
>> other sollutions that I have not thought of, which is why it is wonderful 
>> to have others to listen to my concerns.  Thanks.  Happy Thanksgiving to 
>> all.  Anita
>> Remember, Jesus Loves You.
>> Anita Adkins
>> 81 E. Mechanic ST
>> APT 207
>> Frostburg, MD 21532
>> p: 301-689-5212
>> c: 301-876-8669
>> aadkins7 at verizon.net
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