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From: Mika.Pyyhkala@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Mika Pyyhkala)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Hot Topic
Message-ID: <16152@handicap.news>
Date: 18 Jun 91 16:15:37 GMT
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Index Number: 16152

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Phil,
You are correct that to be blind, and independent costs lots and lots
of money.  For example, equipment such as adaptive computers,
reading machines, and much more!
However, to say that blind people should not
have to pay income tax, or that we should receive special
discounts on things with transportation, I believe, is
the wrong way to address the fact that it is expensive
to be blind.
For instance, if Malcolm Forbes, Bill Gates, or Donald Trump
became blind, should they be exempted from income tax?
Also, I believe that if we take discounts on transportation
systems, we send a message to the general public around us.
If the average Joe sees a blind person getting on a subway
for free, he will at least subtully reenforce
the notion that blind people should be treated differently.
This atitude can manefest itself into otther problems.
The answer to the expenses of blindness is not
tax rebats, and transportation discounts, it's encreased funding
assistance for the things we need, i.e. braille,
adaptive computer equipment, etc.
This will help us, while not conveying negative messages to
the public.
When the public sees that blind people are exempted from tax,
do you think they get the feeling that
blind peeople should be treated equally, and
share in the responsibility of a society?
They may not even realize that it is more
expensive to be blind, and just think the tax break
is there to take care of us.
Keep up the discussion,
Mika

... sign.lis

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