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From: Ann.Parsons@f204.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Parsons)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: NCF Disabled Contest
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Date: 30 Oct 90 04:16:41 GMT
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Index Number: 11371

Hi James,

>"I can see your point. Actually 50,000 is not all that much and 
>"won't allow any of the things you suggest. 

Well, that's my point, don't ya see, if they'd apply the funds to making 
better programs......

>"As I said I can see your point. However, I don't thinkwe should 
>"come down so hard on them. It was an idea in which I honest 
>"believe their hearts were in the right place. It's just too bad if 
>"they did not take time to check on how disabled people ourselves 
>"viewed the concept as a group. 

Well, you see that is again what I meant in the previous message when I talked 
about misdirection and misinformation. Having "good intentions" is no excuse 
for perseverating a mistake. As an educator you know that one of the things 
they watch for in dealing with emotionally disturbed children is 
perseveration. Well, this kind of assinine behavior on the part of an 
organization who or maybe it's which should know better leads me to question 
their collective emotional stability. This is not the first of this kind of 
mistake and will probably not be the last.

>"For my part, as a contest buff, I 
>"saw no problem with it. For your part, I think you see it as an 
>"affront to disabled people's dignity and a gross misdirections of 
>"a substantial amount of funds. Now, we stand a rather opposite 
>"ends in our overall view onthis ( as does Vixen who sides with 
>"you), but we are not the majority of the disabled. Still, the 
>"views of the disabled might have been consulted before the contest 
>"began. It would prove interesting to see what the result would 
>"have been.  

Thanks, glad you see our point, James.

>"I respect your views and Vixen's as well ( how can you not?). But 
>"I insist that the sponsors meant not a bit of harm to us whenthey 
>"came up with this idea. There will always be people who either 
>"like or dislike an idea for a variety of reasons. I guess the 
>"thing to do then would be for disagreeing persons to send NCF a 
>"note on their views and in additionnot bother to enter the contest.

Right, be happy to do so. What's there address again?

>"I myself, would not mind 50,000. I could certainly use it to 
>"attend the Ph.D. program of my choice so I can realize my goal of 
>"becoming a superintendent of a deaf school and helping to make 
>"real changes that benefit deaf kids educationally. I'd like 
>"nothing more than to work with a faculty and staff at forming a 
>"model program that addresses thereal needs of the deaf without all 
>"that oral/aural focused bagagge that has not progressed deaf 
>"education at all inthe last 200 years.  

How interesting that you want to be a superintendant. What would you like to 
see done with the communication methods of deaf kids? I live in the same town 
with the Rochester School for the Deaf. I understand that they are orally 
based in their views. Speaking as an outsider, I would think that learning as 
many means of communication possible would be the way to go with each kid. 
But, of course you would want to make each kid's program different because 
each kid is different. I think one should consider the kid's wants too, if 
he/she is able to make them known. Maybe there's a deaf kid out there weho 
only wants to learn sign. There may be another who wants to learn only 
speech/oral/aural communication. I dunnow. What do you think?

>"Ok, Ann. Your turn. But after this, I am going to talk to you 
>"about morepleasant things. I enjoy your electronic company too 
>"much to spedn more thime on this contest subject anymore. :-)

How right you are. Take care, see you on-line.

Ann P.

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