[nfbwatlk] FW: [Wcb-l] News story from Kansas City, MO

[Mike Freeman]

-----Original Message-----
From: Wcb-l [mailto:wcb-l-bounces at wcbinfo.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 1:24 PM
To: 'Sarah E'; 'Holly Kaczmarski'; 'debby phillips'
Cc: Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
Subject: Re: [Wcb-l] News story from Kansas City, MO

Sarah:

One of the reasons for organizations of the blind is to advance the notion
that different disabilities have differing needs and differing problems with
differing solutions. Hence, I view it as a false premise that how one
disability's problems should be treated must be *exactly* the same as the
way another disability's problems are treated. In fact, the cane is a
different sort of mobility aid than is a wheelchair. We seem to be making
the assumption that the child is immobile without the use of the cane. We
don't know that. We don't know what mobility goals are expressed in the
child's IEP or Section 504 Plan, both of which govern things. Remember, at
least during the school-day, a school or, in this instance, a school-bus, is
*not* a place of public accommodation in the same way as other public
accommodations are. Especially these days, different rules obtain for
schools and, hence, it is a matter for debate under what circumstances they
apply and to what extent. If the child was hitting someone with his cane, he
obviously wasn't using it as a valid mobility aid. And if he wasn't using
the tool properly, I maintain that our civil rights statutes do *not*
protect him.

This is different from an incident I recall in the early 1980's when the NFB
of California ran into a situation where a cop arrested a blind guy off the
streets because he had a folding cane in his back pocket that the cop
thought was a set of numchacks. Needless-to-say, the cop had egg on his face
when the facts of life were pointed out to him. I don't remember if the guy
sued but if he did, he would have won.

We probably will never know what the real circumstances surrounding the
Kansas incident were due to privacy concerns and unless the parents asked
ACB or NFB specifically for help, this is as it should be!

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: Wcb-l [mailto:wcb-l-bounces at wcbinfo.org] On Behalf Of Sarah E
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 12:31 PM
To: Holly Kaczmarski; debby phillips
Cc: Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
Subject: Re: [Wcb-l] News story from Kansas City, MO

Next, if little John Doe, runs over Jim Doe for teasing him about his 
wheelchair, and hurts Jimmy's little foot, he should have his chair taken? 
If Fred makes his hearing aide squeak accidentally, why, teach, let's take 
his ears away from him.  That's my problem, here.  Does any of the 
nay-sayers, see the logic flaw?  Equal Rights.  If it wouldn't work for one,

it won't work for all.  What saddens me, is I know someone's going to see 
this email, and agree that the chair or the hearing device should be taken.
It has taken me years to recover from humiliations just like this.  But, I 
will grieve for the human race, in peace.
Merry Christmas!
Sarah Edick-Howe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Holly Kaczmarski" <holly.b.kaczmarski at gmail.com>
To: "debby phillips" <semisweetdebby at gmail.com>
Cc: <Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 9:56 AM
Subject: Re: [Wcb-l] News story from Kansas City, MO


> Debby,
>
> I agree that society has become way too lenient for children who misbehave

> but I still do not think the cane should have been removed.
>
> There must have been another way.
>
> Does this child have other issues that caused him to misbehave? If so 
> those should be addressed and the parents should be aware of his 
> misbehavior and try to stop it if possible.
>
> Holly
>
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID
>
> Debby Phillips <semisweetdebby at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>No Holly, what we are saying is that if this kid hit someone on
>>purpose with his cane then the consequence should be no cane.
>>It's not forever, and I bet he would be far more careful about
>>NOT hitting people.  When there are no consequences, or the
>>consequences don't fit the action, then it sends a message that
>>way too many blind people have received throughout their lives,
>>and that is that they aren't expected to behave.  They can get
>>away with stuff because they're blind.  We need to have just as
>>high of expectations of blind kids as we do sighted kids.  But oh
>>wait! This is the permissive 21st century.     Debby
>


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----


> _______________________________________________
> Wcb-l mailing list
> Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
> http://wcbinfo.org/mailman/listinfo/wcb-l_wcbinfo.org
> 


_______________________________________________
Wcb-l mailing list
Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
http://wcbinfo.org/mailman/listinfo/wcb-l_wcbinfo.org


_______________________________________________
Wcb-l mailing list
Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
http://wcbinfo.org/mailman/listinfo/wcb-l_wcbinfo.org