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From: Stu.Turk@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Stu Turk)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: For the great clueless public out there ... a list!
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Date: 25 Apr 91 21:29:35 GMT
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Index Number: 15250

 MG>  From: mgflax@phoenix.princeton.edu (Marshall G. Flax)
 MG>  Organization: Princeton University

 MG>  like to propose a project that this group, as a whole, could
 MG>  attempt: a
 MG>  list of "do's" and "don't"'s with handicapped persons.  Simple
 MG>  things,
 MG>  like "offering is polite but insisting is rude" or "when my dog
 MG>  is in
 MG>  harness, pay no attention to him" or "please don't speak while
 MG>  eating if
 MG>  I am lip-reading".

 MG>          I'd be quite willing to receive people's suggestions and
 MG>  compile
 MG>  it into a short (1-2 page) digest.  I'm not expecting

   I suspect its going to be a much larger file once we get rolling on this.
Suggest you make it available as a plain ASCII text file and get it to Bill
McGarry, moderator of the Handicapped.news.  That way those of us on the
FidoNet side of this conference can request it.
   I'd like to point out though that some things people do to help one
type/class of handicapped persons may create some problems for others.  For
example, many people hold a door open for those in wheelchairs or using
crutches and for some reason assume they should hold the door for blind people
also.  I am deaf and partly blind with a narrow field of vision.  When a door
is unexpectedly held open, I assume someone is coming out and get out of the
way and also try to locate the edge of the door.  I'm sure some people are
telling me they are holding the door for me but since I can't hear them, all I
can do is back off and wait for them to go away so I can get the door handle in
my filed of vision.  I suspect other blind people have trouble with this also
because a door may be a "landmark" telling the person where s/he is.  Walking
through a open door without realizing its open means depending on secondary
landmarks to get your bearings.  Another serious problem is people who grab a
blind person crossing the street.  People who need help will ask for it.  Those
that don't ask generally don't need/want help.  I can see the traffic light
(once I locate it) but can't see cars turning in front of me.  I generally wait
for the green light then check for turning cars, then turn back and find an
"aim point" across the street.  By this time someone grab my arm, throwing me
off my aim point and I have to shake them off (and so far this year I've
managed to keep my New Years resolution to not stickk my white cane in anyones
ear when they try to help me...)    I guess the Do/Don't would be: If you're
not asked for help, don't assume its needed.

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