[blindkid] question re shopping assistance

Carol Castellano blindchildren at verizon.net
Thu Dec 10 15:22:04 UTC 2009


Yes, it would certainly be helpful if the stores understood their 
responsibility.

At 08:54 AM 12/10/2009, you wrote:
>well there seems to be a need for clarification in any regard.  I would
>think it is only proper, from a civility  perspective, and as I have heard
>on a number of occasions on other chats,  so as to avoid a law suit, that
>assistance would have been given, or at least negotiated in a way that did
>not slam the door on this young man's face.  What are we to do with
>legislation which is in place that requires signage  in braille where there
>is none?  How is a blind person, independently supposed to assimilate and
>participate fully without the same accommodations as others?  What of
>reading signs or being alerted to sales and prices? Departments and location
>of products? I would think that there would be a reason for solidarity and
>teamwork in inviting stores as large and as established as Sears to see our
>patronage as meaningful and not as an undue burdon  or as reasonable
>accommodations.  If we were able to get target to the table for the purposes
>of our internet shopping needs, what of our needs when we actually walk into
>a store live and in person? Not every blind person has the knowledge nor
>equipment to shop on line and are left to going to and from stores. I find
>this argument disheartening  and feel it is no different from what Dr. King
>fought to change when African Americans were denied access based upon their
>race and creed.  If we are to embrace our blindness as a characteristic then
>we must insist not being considered an undue burdon or a reasonable
>accommodation.  So much has changed yet so much more needs to change. Peace.
>
>Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>CEO/Founder
>My Blind Spot, Inc.
>90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>New York, New York  10004
>www.myblindspot.org
>PH: 917-553-0347
>Fax: 212-858-5759
>"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
>doing it."
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Carol Castellano
>Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 6:16 PM
>To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
>Subject: Re: [blindkid] question re shopping assistance
>
>I think most of the time it's ignorance of the law requires rather
>than willfully ignoring it.  Part of the reason the law is written in
>generalities ("reasonable accommodation," "undue burden," etc.) is
>that each situation will be different and it would be impossible to
>cover every single eventuality.  Also, when laws are written very
>expressly, many times the letter is followed, but not the spirit,
>still leaving things wanting.
>
>At a legal seminar I attended, it was explained that ideally, a
>dialogue takes place between the party in need of accommodation and
>the party under the obligation to provide it.  But again, how many
>people--disabled or provider--even know that?
>
>Last, but not least, if things were prescribed in the law, then blind
>people would end up being forced to accept accommodations that had
>nothing at all to do with them, as providers would be saying, "this
>is what you get; this is what the law says," etc.
>
>Carol
>
>At 04:30 PM 12/9/2009, you wrote:
> >Sounds like we have some work to do in clarifying the letter of the law.
> >Accessibility  would most certainly need to include being able to traverse
> >the store as well as be able to read sales signs and such.  Perhaps in
> >addition to a kind and thoughtful request, there could be a strong
>assertion
> >that a blind persons reasonable access would include much more costly
> >resolutions which could most certainly be avoided by proper customer
> >service.  Again, I would also ask stores if they have personal shoppers.
> >This is something I was introduced to by sighted individuals who have been
> >using them for years.  Interesting how laws are written in ways that the
>law
> >can be ignored. Very frustrating indeed.
> >
> >Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> >CEO/Founder
> >My Blind Spot, Inc.
> >90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> >New York, New York  10004
> >www.myblindspot.org
> >PH: 917-553-0347
> >Fax: 212-858-5759
> >"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> >doing it."
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> >Behalf Of Carol Castellano
> >Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 4:14 PM
> >To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
> >Subject: Re: [blindkid] question re shopping assistance
> >
> >The ADA is the law that ensures access to public accommodations by
> >people with disabilities and Sears is indeed a public
> >accommodation.  The law does not require any particular accommodation
> >to be provided; in fact, the wording in the law about accommodations
> >is very general.  So stores can choose the way they want to provide access.
> >
> >It gets tricky because for most of the public, "access" means a
> >wheelchair can get through, and many in the public, including store
> >personnel, do not realize what other sorts of access might be called
> >for.  Perhaps calling the store in advance and finding a mutually
> >agreeable time for shopping assistance would be a workable solution.
> >
> >Carol
> >
> >At 08:58 AM 12/9/2009, you wrote:
> > >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
> > >
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> >
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