[blindkid] art class: Danger! (insert irony here)

[Joy Orton]

Dear Penny,
Ouch! It does hurt our hearts as parents when someone makes such a
broad statement, denying access for our children!

One response would be to write a letter to the park director,
outlining the facts of your interaction with the artist-in-residence.
(If you are still emotional, try letting the letter sit for a couple
of days before you send it.) Put it on paper, not email, if you can,
and hand-write the address on the envelope. Possibly it would be more
likely to be read. Notice I said outlining the facts. Facts are, I
said this, she said that, I felt this. More facts you can include are
"the law says this."

You might want to take it as just a note to the park director, telling
him or her that you KNOW that it is not park policy to discriminate
against people with disabilities, and so you just KNOW that the artist
in residence was not aware or informed of the policy. This is an
opportunity for the director to train his staff about dealing with all
kinds of people, eh?

It sounds like the person you talked to didn't even know how to sign
up for the class or whether it was full or empty, so try to realize
that she was just as uninformed about the appropriate audience for the
class. Art class is dangerous? Really? Also try to keep your sense of
humor. I know, easier said than done.

Good job on not making it an issue on a day that was supposed to be
about your son.

Hope this helps.

Joy


Penny wrote:
I really don't feel this artist was projecting official national park policy
but she is still an employee of the park so she should have just not said
anything.   ...

I feel I should say something.  I just don't know what is a proper response
and what is me over reacting.