[blindkid] question re shopping assistance

[Melissa Green]

    I have had lots of luck getting assistance in stores in the mall.
I must say that I haven't dealt with sears customer service desk.  However, 
I have gotten assistance from the department sales people.

Sincerely,
Melissa Green
Without Christ I am nothing,  Without me Christ is still God.  It's because
of Christ I am able to stand!!!
Live journal topaz5674
Blog: http://readergirl5674.blogspot.com
Facebook: melissa green northern colorado
twitter: melissa5674
msn: graduate1531 at msn.com
Skype: lissa5674

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 8:21 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] question re shopping assistance


> Hello Susan,
>
>    They're correct. Any assistance given to disabled shoppers is done at
> the store's disgression. There are no laws that require them to provide
> assistance to disabled shoppers though many of them provide such service
> as
> a courtesy. This is especially true of grocery stores. The O&M should urge
> him to explore the store on his own to learn where the various departments
> are. He can then receive assistance from personnel in particular
> departments
> such as the appliances area in Sears. This same service is provided to all
> customers. Again there is no state or federal law that requires stores of
> any kind to provide one-on-one shopping assistance to blind and disabled
> customers.
>
>    You as parents along with the O&M instructor should encourage him to
> negotiate stores and shopping malls independently to reduce his need for
> shopping assistance. When I began shopping on my own I took it on myself
> to
> learn the lay-out of various department stores and supermarkets to learn
> where departments and items are located. In the case of grocery stores
> Mary
> and I shop at supermarkets that provide assistance to disabled customers
> or
> we bring someone with us to help us find what we need. In some cases we
> like
> to shop online. It is far better to help him develop a variety of
> alternative techniques and strategies for shopping rather than teaching
> him
> to expect stores to provide him with store-wide shopping assistance
> something they are not obligated to do but often provide this service for
> the publicity they receive and the good will from the communities they
> serve. Here's hoping these suggestions answer your questions and help your
> son become more independent. All the best.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "SUSAN POLANSKY" <sepolansky at verizon.net>
> To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 7:58 AM
> Subject: [blindkid] question re shopping assistance
>
>
> This week my son's O&M lesson was at the mall where he was going to do his
> Christmas shopping. He has his list and his money and off he went with his
> O&M teacher. In each store he was to ask for assistance to look for the
> desired item. This went well in until they got to Sears. He went to
> customer
> service and requested someone to assist him to shop and was told that they
> did not have anyone to do that. When I asked what the O&M teacher said
> about
> that he stated he was told that there was nothing they could do about it
> as
> there is no law that says the store has to provide him with assistance.
> Now
> I am 99% sure that this is not correct. Can someone cite the law to me?
> Thanks.
>
> Susan
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindkid:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/pdonahue1%40sbcglobal.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindkid:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/graduate56%40juno.com
>

____________________________________________________________
Emergency Loan
Need cash? Click to get an emergency loan, bad credit ok
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=zkQhQwUiQdTCk6K1GI3BVQAAJ1CiJJfKdJEYzfkzgB1nTvZYAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADeAAAAAA=