[nfb-talk] An idea, to discuss, at 2012 convention

Tue Sep 27 03:45:55 UTC 2011

Recently, someone asked about the provision in Washington state law which
gives some protection to blind parents facing action by state or local
government agencies attempting to take or keep their children from them due
to supposed abuse or neglect. Please go to <http://www.nfbw.org/laws.html>
and you'll find a direct link and short explanation of Washington state's
provision. It doesn't cover accusations by vindictive spouses trying to use
blindness as a wedge to inflict mental anguish on the blind spouse during
divorce proceedings -- I saw no way to adequately address this without
opening a can of worms. But it *does* force agencies seeking to take
children from blind parents to justify their actions on the basis of actual
evidence of real abuse or neglect rather than trying to justify their
actions on the basis that blindness in and of itself can be presumed to
result in abuse or neglect. To date, it has been effective and I know of one
case where the blind parent's lawyer was able to parlay it into a court's
stopping the worst aspects of a vindictive spouse's behavior. I suppose it
was on the basis that even if the reprobate tried to use blindness as a
whip, the state agency wouldn't have been able to act arbitrarily.

I haven't looked at Maryland's law but, as I say, the law in Washington
state is simple and seems to have worked.

Mike Freeman, President
NFB of Washington

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Marsha Drenth
Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011 11:01 AM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] An idea, to discuss, at 2012 convention

Lucy,

Wow, I can't believe that doctors office made that sort of decision for you.
Good thing you stood your ground. And the fact of the matter is that I find
office people so very uneducated about stuff like that. I have a similar
case in point, with my GP. The office people are the rudest people around.
But the doctors are great. With the office people they are surprised that I
can even walk in on my own, much less take care of myself. But the doctor is
completely opposite of that. If he doesn't know something about blindness,
he asks, not because he is being nosey, but because he truly wants to know,
he doesn't ask because he doesn't think I can't, but because he knows I can.
It also helps that my doctor attends the same church I do, and is friends
with I and my hubby. 

Now about the stories idea, I think that is a wonderful idea. I am going to
do some thinking on that subject. 

Keep up the good fight!
Marsha  

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Alex
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 12:50 AM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] An idea, to discuss, at 2012 convention

Good luck Marsha!  Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you as
well.  I think one thing we all could and probably should do is write up our
stories.  True we might be in different states, but they might be helpful
when beginning the process of talking with legislators.

I agree that in 2011 we should not be dealing with this issue.  I also was
floored last year when I tried to schedule an initial visit for a pregnancy
and was denied an appointment because I am blind.  I realize some on this
list are about to blast me for disclosing that I am blind to a receptionist
to schedule a visit to the obgyn, but I wanted to make sure I had a doctor
who had a clue about blindness and would realize that I am a capable human
being who is more than able to rear children without me having to educate
him.  It was the obgyn coordinator who would not schedule the visit because
she was not sure that I was responsible enough to come to my appointments,
thought I would need someone to come with me, could not conceive of how I
might navigate the building to get to the office or the examination room,
and wondered if I would need assistance getting undressed and dressed.
 I did not receive a return call and was not scheduled for an appointment
until someone else called and said he would be coming to the appointment
with me.  Needless to say the Parenting without sight booklet went with me
to my first visit and I insisted that everyone in the office read it.  My
doctor would now be one of my biggest advocates if someone were to try to
take my children away from me now.
 But, I stilll cannot believe we fight these battles of incredible
misconceptions.

Best of luck to all who are fighting these battles.  I receive strength from
and and grateful that we are marching together.

Lucy

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