[stylist] disability law advice

Wed Nov 24 23:49:19 UTC 2010

JC, today is a slow mail day because Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  I know we 
have an alternate list, but on most days my inbox is inundated with a 
zillion other communications.  Me, like others, don't want to sign up for 
another list.  Anita's topic is useful to us as writers.  We are all trying 
our communications skills and expressing ourselves in ways we don't always 
have to.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James H. "Jim" Canaday M.A. N6YR" <n6yr at sunflower.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 6:35 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] disability law advice


> Anita,
> I'll write you offlist, as some list members may get upset about this 
> topic on the stylist.  also, we have a second writers division list, 
> "writers chat" that is set up for such topics as this, our being writers 
> but discussing nonwriting relevant things.
>
> I have been a Public Transit Advisory Commissioner for a couple of years 
> and have an idea or two about this.
> jc
> Lawrence, KS
>
> At 03:01 PM 11/24/2010, you wrote:
>>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 agains
>>t 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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