Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!yale.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!90!Gary.Petraccaro From: Gary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Petraccaro) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: Pathfinder Tiles Message-ID: <16269@handicap.news> Date: 20 Jun 91 20:03:58 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com Reply-To: Gary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.org Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/90 - Post Road Inn, Greensburg PA Lines: 51 Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org Index Number: 16269 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] -> In a message to Jeff Salzberg <05-30-91 16:36> David Andrews wrote: -> -> DA> If Path Finder Tiles were put along all transit platforms, -> DA> for everybody, as a -> DA> matter of course, I wouldn't be opposed to them. However, -> DA> when they are put in -> DA> specific areas, to protect blind persons, then I can't -> DA> support them. Their main -> DA> danger is that they add to and perpetuate the notion that -> DA> blind persons are less -> DA> able and need all kinds of special accomodations. You are -> DA> not a person that has -> DA> bad attitudes about blind persons and blindness, so I -> DA> suspect that you would -> DA> tend to downplay this argument. I for one do believe it -> DA> though. -> DA> When I was younger I was trying for a job in broadcasting. -> DA> There was a Program -> DA> Director at a radio station that wanted to hire me, but -> DA> when the station owner -> DA> found out that I was blind he wouldn't allow me in the -> DA> building for the -> DA> interview. He said I was dangerous and his insurance would -> DA> go up. That same -> DA> year someone refused to rent me an apartment for the same -> DA> reason. I am sure -> DA> that many others on this Echo can relate similar stories. -> DA> I see an inconsistency, here, David. As I understand it, one of the objections to the Blink in BlinkTalk has to do with it's non-direct approach to dealing with the issue of blindness, and yet, I sense that much the same can be said with reference to tiles. Then, too, if it's the special nature of the strips that bothers you, how about the special nature of every adaptive device we use, be it talking computers, braille, Long canes, or whatever. Aren't you really saying that those devices with work best are the ones which we can hide more sucessfully? Bear in mind, please, that I personally couldn't care less about the tiles' issue, but, talking books are damned visible, braille is both known about and bulky (hence visible). It isn't exactly that those strips are technological advances, it's just that the handicapped got backburnered and now the law's forcing these issues to the fore. If you really don't want to threaten the sighted, kill the ADA and change the social climate. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!90!Gary.Petraccaro Internet: Gary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.org