[blindlaw] The homeless blind.

[Michael Fry]

I have no information to directly answer this question, however, I'm
compelled to give you my thoughts on the subject because I think it
will help you.

It's doubtful that there are appreciable amounts of totally blind
homeless people, though there are likely a few, since sustaining a
homeless life style and being blind is nearly unimaginable because
blindness is such a debilitating disability that utilizing the
resources of society are necessary for survival.  If there are
significant numbers of blind homeless people, I'd be surprised and the
U.S. would not be the country I thought it was, my observations
suggest no correlation between disfiguring or catastrophic disability
and homelessness in wealthier countries.  Where as in poor countries,
like China, nearly all the homeless and beggars were disfigured,
maimed, or suffered a seriously noticeable disability.  The inhumanity
of having a significant population of blind homeless people would be
shockingly surreal.

On the other hand it would not surprise me in the least if a
significant number of homeless people are visually impaired, falling
on that spectrum of impairment ranging from 20/300 acuity to 20/60
visual acuity.  This population is underserved by society.  They are
unable to obtain any cushy government jobs such as for example
firefighter, police officer, paramedic, or severe in any branch of the
armed forces.  Moreover, they suffer academically because their
disability is not properly accommodated.  Further, it is a symptom of
our sick uneducated society that these are the contemporary
unfortunate souls.  Rather, than being poor peasants united by
circumstance, poor government, drought, weak physical countenance as
with other unfortunates in history this lot has nothing in common
except they lost the genetic lottery.  They are weaker than the
weakest functioning members of society.  Cultural values have changed
a lot in the last fifty years, and now it seems that people with this
type of disability find themselves on the low end of the societal
totem pole.

I doubt you'll find any usefully statistics on the subject.
Regardless, I sincerely hope that you can help them.

Mike



On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 1:15 AM, David R. Stayer
<davidandloristayer at verizon.net> wrote:
> I have been asked to circulate the following:
> Please reply to the e-mail address below as he is not subscribed to all the
> lists to which this is being posted.
>
> David Andrews
>
>
> From: "David R. Stayer" <davidandloristayer at verizon.net>
> Shalom.  I am chair of the Social Services Committee on our newly formed
> Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped Executive Board in New
> York.  Our committee is trying to ascertain whether states track the
> homeless blind and visually impaired.  Anyy data you could furnish would
> help us in recommending to the Commission for the Blind.  I cannot find any
> data for New York and wonder how other states handle this population.
> Each day is a precious gift.
> David R. Stayer, LCSW
> davidandloristayer at verizon.net
>
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