Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!olivea!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460.0!Mika.Pyyhkala
From: Mika.Pyyhkala@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Mika Pyyhkala)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Amusement Park Discrimination
Message-ID: <15556@handicap.news>
Date: 13 May 91 21:05:17 GMT
Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com
Reply-To: Mika.Pyyhkala@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/460.0 - VI/BUG, Holbrook MA
Lines: 53
Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org

Index Number: 15556

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I wanted to bring to the attention of the echo readers
a story which appeared in the March, 1991 issue of the Braille Monitor.
The story concerned Valley Faire, which is an amusement park
located near the twin cities in Minnisota.
The park has an overtly discrminatory policy against
blind customers, a policy that is the most discrimininatory
out of any amusement park policy I have ever run into, or read about.
The policy states that a blind person must ride nearly all the rides
with a "responsbile adult."  A responsible adult is defined
in the park's documentation as anyone over a certain height
limit, approximately 4 feet.
However, in practice it means anyone who is over this heigh
limit, and sighted.
In addition, the parks employees treat blind customers in a patronizing
manner.      This includes talking to children of blind adults, about
the
capabilities of the adult, without asking the adult anything.
Furthermore, several members of NFB went to the park on at least
{one occasion to try to challenge the rule, and
while the park let them ride the rides they wanted, they were subjected
to
delays lasting for hours, and unnecessary explanations of rides, which
they did not request.
On one occasion, the members of NFB were accompanied by an
NPR reporter, who made several tape recordings of the incidents that
took place.  In general, the public was supportive of the position of
the blind persons, and against the parks management's prejudicial,
backwards, and blatantly discriminatory policy of not letting blind
people ride the rides without a sighted companion.
I recently called Valley Fair, and was told that the practices were
bassed
on safety, and wer researched by biomedical engeneers,
rehabilitation therapists, and blind consumers.  However, the park has
not provided any verifiable evidence to back its arbitray, illegal
actions.
I encourage all readers of the echo to read the Monitor article, and do
do some investigating on your own as I did.
Also, I encourage you to write to the park, and let them know about how
you feel about their policies.  Finally, letters sent to the ACLU, civil
rights groups, and the media would probably help change this policy.
Several NFB members have filed discrimination lawsuits against the park,
and these are still pending.
When I called the park, I was advised that one such inquirty to the
Minnisota Human Rights Commission, was decided on the parks
behalf.  However, the park advised me that lawsuits were still pending.

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460.0!Mika.Pyyhkala
Internet: Mika.Pyyhkala@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org