[stylist] disability law advice
Judith Bron
jbron at optonline.net
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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