[blindlaw] BART Incident, Talking with Reporters

Wed Nov 1 13:04:41 CST 2006

I am quite a good writer.  I will not abide the level of disrespect shown to 
me.  I will not involve the press unless I cannot re-educate the people 
involved and make sure such an incident will not happen again.  The press is 
not my first choice for the reasons you cite.  In speaking with Paul 
Becker,, supervisor for BART station attendants,, he informs me that the 
BART has had complying with the ADA in the past and seems eager to make sure 
of this compliance.  I am not "out for  blood" here as has been suggested; 
rather I am out to make sure no such disrespect is ever visited upon me 
again.  I do not represent anyone but myself in this matter; I feel no 
allegiance to a larger community or block of people. ----- Original 
Message ----- 
From: "Ford, Tim (DHS-OLS)" <TFord at dhs.ca.gov>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 10:46 AM
Subject: [blindlaw] BART Incident, Talking with Reporters

> Please be careful and consider the possible adverse outcomes if you
> involve the press.  As many of us on this list know, you have no control
> over what comes out in the final article.  As demonstrated by the
> healthy exchange of thoughts on that BART issue, we are dealing with
> some fairly important issues, and ones for which a good understanding
> will involve a sophisticated bit of writing.  While you may succeed at
> getting an article that provides a good discussion, I think it is much
> more likely that the article will pick some part of the scenario, and
> you will end up with something that is more damaging than helpful.
> Remember, it was the BART detectible warning strips controversy that
> resulted in an editorial in the San Jose Mercury that concluded a group
> of blind folks that opposed the detectible warnings were out in left
> field.  The title if I remember correctly, "Pride Goeth Before Fall"
> tells you everything you need to know about that article.  The press is
> a great weapon in the right circumstance, but it is certainly a two
> edged sword.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Mark BurningHawk
> Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 9:04 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Safeway installs tactile keypad for blind
> shoppers
>
>
> I often shop at a Safeway here in Oakland; I will be curious to see if
> indeed it is installed and relieved if it is installed.  BTW:  Since I"m
> now
> registered to vote in CA, how do I go about doing so completely
> independently of sighted assistance?  Any information is welcome.
>
> PS:  For those of you following my BART incident, investigations of both
> the
> agent and the police woman involved are under way.  Guiding Eyes for the
>
> Blind has written substantiating my position and that my dog performed
> as
> expected and I have been contacted by several reporters wishing to run
> some
> form of my story in various papers.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ford, Tim (DHS-OLS)" <TFord at dhs.ca.gov>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 8:10 AM
> Subject: [blindlaw] Safeway installs tactile keypad for blind shoppers
>
>
>
>
> From: Lainey Feingold [mailto:lfeingold1 at earthlink.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 6:00 PM
> To: lfeingold1 at earthlink.net
> Subject: Safeway installs tactile keypad for blind shoppers
> The press release below is the result of an agreement between Safeway,
> the American Council of the Blind, the California Council of the Blind,
> and the American Foundation for the Blind.  The agreement was reached
> through  Structured Negotiations, a legal advocacy method that
> emphasizes collaboration and avoids litigation. The Safeway tactile
> point of sale agreement is the twenty fourth legal agreement reached on
> accessible technology between the blind community and the private sector
> through the Structured Negotiations process.  Questions or comments can
> be sent to us at mailto:lfeingold at earthlink.net
>  or
> mailto:ldardarian at gdblegal.net
> .  Lainey and Linda
> October 31, 2006 12:00 PM Eastern Time
> Safeway Installs New Equipment to Protect Financial Privacy of Shoppers
> With Visual Impairments Blind Community Leaders Applaud Safeway's
> Commitment PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a move praised by
> state and national blind organizations, Safeway (NYSE:SWY) today
> announced that it has begun installing equipment to protect the privacy
> and security of Safeway shoppers with visual impairments. The new
> devices plug into existing point of sale payment machines and have
> tactile keys arranged like a standard telephone keypad. They will allow
> Safeway shoppers who have difficulty reading information on a
> touchscreen to privately and independently enter their PIN, telephone
> number, and other confidential information. Safeway operates stores
> across the country under the banners Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls,
> Tom Thumb, Genuardi's, Dominick's, Pak'n Save Foods and Carrs stores.
> Every Safeway store in California has already been equipped with several
> of the devices, and they will be installed across the country over the
> next 12 months. Today's announcement is the result of collaboration
> between Safeway and major blindness organizations including the American
> Foundation for the Blind, American Council of the Blind and the
> California Council of the Blind. "ACB and CCB are membership
> organizations with thousands of members across the country and in
> California who will benefit from Safeway's commitment," said Jeff Thom,
> President of the CCB. Carl Augusto, President and CEO of the AFB, also
> praised Safeway's announcement: "Today's announcement by Safeway
> demonstrates the Company's commitment to the privacy and convenience of
> its blind and visually impaired customers." "Safeway has a long history
> of supporting our communities and people with disabilities. This
> decision is one way we can help customers who are blind or visually
> impaired experience a better shopping experience in every Safeway store
> throughout the country," said Larree Renda, Safeway Executive Vice
> President Chief Strategist and Administrative Officer. According to the
> website of the American Foundation for the Blind, there are
> approximately 10 million blind and visually impaired people in the
> United States. About Safeway Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 50 company and
> one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on
> sales. The company operates 1,767 stores in the United States and Canada
> and had annual sales of $38.4 billion in 2005. The company's common
> stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.
> About the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the California Council
> of the Blind
> (CCB)
> The American Council of the Blind is a national consumer-based advocacy
> organization working on behalf of blind and visually impaired Americans
> throughout the country, with members organized through seventy state and
> special interest affiliates. The California Council of the Blind is the
> California affiliate of the ACB, and is a statewide membership
> organization, with 40 local chapters and statewide special interest
> associations. The ACB and CCB are dedicated to improving the quality of
> life, equality of opportunity and independence of all people who have
> visual impairments. Their members and affiliated organizations have a
> long history of commitment to the advancement of policies and programs
> which will enhance independence for people who are blind and visually
> impaired. More information about the ACB and CCB can be found by
> visiting www.acb.org  and http://www.ccbnet.org/ . About the American
> Foundation for the Blind The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is
> a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision
> loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology;
> elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who
> serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy
> living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families
> with relevant and timely resources. AFB is also proud to house the Helen
> Keller Archives and honor the over forty years that Helen Keller worked
> tirelessly with AFB. For more information visit us online. Contacts
> Safeway Inc. Brian Dowling, 925-467-3787 Teena Massingill, 925-467-3810
> or AFB, ACB, CCB Lainey Feingold, 510-548-5062 lfeingold at earthlink.net
> Linda Dardarian, 510-763-9800 ldardarian at gdblegal.com Lainey Feingold
> Law Office of Elaine B. Feingold 1524 Scenic Avenue Berkeley, CA 94708
> (510) 548-5062
> mailto:lfeingold1 at earthlink.net
>
> __._,_.___
>
>
>
>
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