[stylist] disability law advice

Wed Nov 24 23:46:10 UTC 2010

I'm not interested in laws to make mandatory my interpersonal communications 
with other people.  I don' want people being legislated to communicate with 
me, treat me like a person when it is obvious I'm a person and not a panda 
or laws that dictate people have to be nice to me.  I want less government 
making demands on others onn my behalf.  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 6:25 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] disability law advice


>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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>>
>>
>>
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>
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