[blindkid] Music camp? Another alternative!

Tue Mar 11 23:27:37 UTC 2014

Carol, this is great information for parents and students.  Those of
us who are blind adults advocate for ourselves regularly because of
discrimination and I believe it is a critical skill students need to
learn.  Parents are very important advocates for their children but as
your sons anddaughters grow up they need to participate in and
eventually take over advocacy.  The Americans With Disabilities Act is
a very important law that covers us in and out of public schools.
Please learn all you can about this law and help your children
understand it.

On 3/11/14, Carol Castellano <carol_castellano at verizon.net> wrote:
> Summer camps are places of public accommodation that fall under the
> ADA (except religious camps).  They are not allowed to discriminate
> on the basis of disability.  It is against the law.  A person who is
> "otherwise capable," meaning who meets the other qualifications of
> the camp, such as age or grade or musical interest, cannot be kept
> out solely on the basis of his or her disability.
>
> Often when an entity such as a school or camp is discriminating,
> those in charge do not realize it.  They might think that they are
> only being practical or ensuring safety.  But the law is crystal
> clear and the camp administration needs to learn that.  I have used
> the phrase, "I'm sure you don't mean to be out of compliance with
> federal law..."  I sometimes mention that the family doesn't WANT to
> file a complaint with the Office on Civil Rights, but if they have
> to, they will...
>
> Ideally, when a disabled person seeks entrance to this kind of place
> of public accommodation, a conversation is supposed to take place in
> which the camp and the parent/disabled person discuss the
> accommodations or modifications that could be made.
>
> There are 3 instances in which the disabled person may be
> rejected:  1) if acceptance would cause "undue hardship," defined as
> "significant difficulty or expense;" 2) pose a direct threat to the
> health or safety of others; or 3) alter the fundamental nature of the
> program.
>
>  From a government website http://www.ada.gov/t3hilght.htm :
>
> "Safety requirements may be imposed only if they are necessary for
> the safe operation of a place of public accommodation. They must be
> based on actual risks and not on mere speculation, stereotypes, or
> generalizations about individuals with disabilities."
>
> "A public accommodation must make reasonable modifications in its
> policies, practices, and procedures in order to accommodate
> individuals with disabilities."
>
> "A public accommodation must provide auxiliary aids and services when
> they are necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals
> with hearing, vision, or speech impairments.
>
> "Auxiliary aids" include such services or devices as qualified
> interpreters, assistive listening headsets, television captioning and
> decoders, telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TDD's),
> videotext displays, readers, taped texts, brailled materials, and
> large print materials."
>
> "The auxiliary aid requirement is flexible. For example, a brailled
> menu is not required, if waiters are instructed to read the menu to
> blind customers."
>
> Other informative websites:
>
> http://www.pacer.org/publications/adaqa/summer.asp
>
> http://www.acacamps.org/publicpolicy/ada-revisions
>
> Hope this information helps, and GO GET 'EM, Crystal!!!
>
> Carol
>
> Carol Castellano
> Parents of Blind Children-NJ
> Director of Programs
> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> 973-377-0976
> carol_castellano at verizon.net
> www.blindchildren.org
> www.nfb.org/parents-and-teachers
> At 01:32 PM 3/9/2014, you wrote:
>>I just don't think it is right that they are advertising this camp
>>at his public school and then depending on the type of disability,
>>pick and choose who can attend. Why this camp? Because his Band
>>teacher is teaching at it and many of his classmates will be
>>attending. Everyone is talking about it. The teachers made it a
>>topic at his IEP meeting, so public school is indeed involved in my
>>opinion. How can public school allow advertisement of a private camp
>>that would discriminate against students with disabilities?
>>
>>What are the camps concerns? That he won't be able to navigate the
>>camp, that he won't be able to participate in the recreational
>>activities, and that the camp cannot meet his needs. In my opinion,
>>they are afraid of blindness in general and have little
>>understanding of what it means to be blind. I feel the camp would
>>love for me to go away, that would make it easy for them. I
>>understand that in order to get into the "club" I need to make them
>>feel comfortable and play by their rules. Most importantly, Ben will
>>be paving the way for another blind student in the years to come. As
>>someone once said, it is he opportunity to be equal, and the right
>>to be different. That's what were looking for.
>>
>>Crystal
>>
>>
>> > To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> > Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2014 12:35:21 -0400
>> > Subject: Re: [blindkid] Music camp?  Another alternative!
>> >
>> > Eric,
>> >
>> > Or should we go head strong into that camp and change perspectives and
>> > understandings? Thinking being an activist  for change is a great thing
>> > for
>> > this young man to champion.
>> >
>> > If he is clear about what he is up against, and he is clear that there
>> > are
>> > supports in place to at least let him take that chance, pushing the
>> > issue
>> > may be worth it in the end.
>> >
>> > Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> > Founder and CEO
>> > My Blind Spot, Inc.
>> > 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>> > New York, New York  10004
>> > www.myblindspot.org
>> > PH: 917-553-0347
>> >
>> > "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who
>> > is
>> > doing it."
>> >
>> > Like Us on Facebook  LinkedIn  Twitter
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eric
>> > Calhoun
>> > Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2014 11:30 PM
>> > To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> > Subject: [blindkid] Music camp? Another alternative!
>> >
>> > Crystal, Eric, someone who knows Braille Music.  Four words for this
>> > Music
>> > Camp: Get, out, of, here!  They don't want Ben to be independent, don't
>> > want him there without a chaperone?  Could we back away from this camp
>> > altogether?
>> >
>> > Eric
>> > ..
>> >
>> > ..
>> >
>> > Sighted and blind people, Eric from Los Angeles.  Here's where you can
>> > find me: The all-new Stairs to Heaven Christian Line, 712-432-4808, Room
>> > 9;
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>> >
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053