[blindkid] ADA Question Re: Music camp? Another alternative!

Arielle Silverman arielle71 at gmail.com
Wed Mar 12 02:24:37 UTC 2014


Hi Carol,

Thanks for the clarifications about ADA covering the camp. Going
slightly off-topic here, but does ADA mandate Braille signs in school
buildings? If so, why do the vast majority of school buildings I've
frequented lack Braille signs?
Arielle

On 3/11/14, Carol Castellano <carol_castellano at verizon.net> wrote:
> That is absolutely right.  At first parents fight for their child,
> but they also must be training the child to stand up for him or
> herself.  Self-advocacy is a critical skill and knowing our rights
> and responsibilities is a part of it.  When parents speak about
> blindness, laws, and civil rights our kids are listening and
> learning.  We are teaching them the vocabulary and modeling attitudes
> that they can then use to advocate for themselves.
>
> 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 07:27 PM 3/11/2014, you wrote:
>>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;
>> >> > the all-new Eric Calhoun Magazine; to subscribe, send a message to
>> >> > eric at pmpmail.com, with the subject line, "The Eric Calhoun
>> >> > Magazine.";
>> >> > talking Dodger Baseball, let's talk Dodgers!:
>> >> > lets-talk-dodgers-subscribe at emissives.com, or go to
>> >> > www.emissives.com,
>> >> > and
>> >> > click on Directory of Lists; my general-interest group,
>> >> > erics_chat_session-subscribe at emissives.com, or go to
>> >> > www.emissives.com
>> >> > and
>> >> > click on Directory of Lists, and on Facebook at eric at pmpmail.com.
>> >> > The
>> >> > Eric
>> >> > Calhoun Magazine is free of charge in your email!  You are the star
>> >> > of
>> >> > the
>> >> > show!  All we ask is that when you submit a Special Notice, that it
>> >> > is
>> >> > free
>> >> > and legal.  You may also submit articles, Pen Pals, and tidbits.  In
>> >> > 2014:
>> >> > Try to be good to each other!
>> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> > blindkid mailing list
>> >> > blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> >> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>> >> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> >> > for
>> >> > blindkid:
>> >> >
>> >>
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/albert%40myblindspot.o
>> >> > rg
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > -----
>> >> > No virus found in this message.
>> >> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> >> > Version: 2013.0.3462 / Virus Database: 3722/7168 - Release Date:
>> >> > 03/08/14
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> > blindkid mailing list
>> >> > blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> >> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>> >> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> >> for blindkid:
>> >> >
>> >>
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/crystal_schu%40hotmail.com
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>_______________________________________________
>> >>blindkid mailing list
>> >>blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> >>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>> >>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> >>for blindkid:
>> >>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/carol.joyce.
>> castellano%40gmail.com
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > blindkid mailing list
>> > blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> > blindkid:
>> >
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/marianne%40denningweb.com
>> >
>>
>>
>>--
>>Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>>Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>>(513) 607-6053
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>blindkid mailing list
>>blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>for blindkid:
>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/carol.joyce.castellano%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindkid:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/arielle71%40gmail.com
>




More information about the BlindKid mailing list