[Blindtlk] traveling

Mon Sep 18 15:30:45 CDT 2006

IMO while everything that has been said here is valid, I believe that we 
must be a bit cautious. We may not know the whole story here. Rather 
than immediately pushing for Jen to go to one of our centers or having a 
knock-down-drag-out with her parents, it seems to me far more preferable 
to put her in touch with local NFB members in her area who will be in a 
better position to judge what needs to be done and who can encourage her 
and also show her parents by example that blind folks can be 
independent.

For instance, Jen says she is a client of a DD agency. Why? Is she a c 
client of the New York Commission for the Blind? If not, why not?

Mike Freeman, President
  NFB of Washington

On Mon, 18 Sep 2006, Alan Wheeler wrote:

> I hate to say it, but Peter has a valid point.  What he describes is a
> frighteningly real possibility.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "Bonnie Ainsworth" <cedarwoman1965 at neb.rr.com>; "NFBnet Blind Talk
> Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 2:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] traveling
>
>
>> Hello Jenn, Bonnie and listers,
>>
>>    There's possibly a more sinister reason for her parents wanting to keep
>> her under their thumb besides her blindness. If Jen's parents receive
>> Social
>> Security benefits for providing her a place to live they know that if she
>> moves out they'll lose that income. All I have to say about that blarney
>> is
>> tough! It's unfair, and is an illegal form of exploitation of the worst
>> kind!When my dad retired I became eligible for SSDI Benefits. In addition
>> mom and dad also received a monthly check when I lived at home.
>> Fortunately
>> mom realized that while the income helped out with expenses it wasn't in
>> her
>> best interest to control my life by keeping  me at home and under her
>> thumb
>> and strongly encouraged me to move out in to a place of my own and gladly
>> excepted the consequences of doing so I.E. the loss of those Dependent's
>> Benefits. By the time I finally moved out for good dad had passed away so
>> he
>> was not able to stop her from doing this. I know other blind individuals
>> who
>> were manipulated and controlled by their parents the same way and suspect
>> that the loss of Social Security Dependents Benefits in addition to their
>> fears about blindness being a motivating factor for their behavior.
>>
>>    Jenn I don't know all the particulars of your situation, but wanted to
>> throw that out as another possible reason for your parent's treating you
>> that way. But if you're of age you have every right to up and leave
>> whenever
>> you want, and no one can stop you from going. Sometimes situations like
>> this
>> can only be remedied with a little tough love. Mary and I have had to deal
>> with similar treatment of us particularly by her parents, but they know we
>> don't hesitate to call them out whenever we feel they've over-stepped
>> their
>> bounds and have meddled in matters which are really none of their
>> business.
>> Know also that you have a federation family that stands ready to help you
>> in
>> whatever way we can to ensure that your future will be filled with
>> promise,
>> and free of your parents over-protection, and control of your life for
>> their
>> benefit. Yours in federationism.
>>
>> Peter Donahue
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Bonnie Ainsworth" <cedarwoman1965 at neb.rr.com>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 1:12 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] traveling
>>
>>
>> Jen,
>>
>> How old are you?  Once you're over eighteen, you're legally an adult and
>> they can't try to stop you from living your life.  Sounds like they're
>> afraid to let you out of the house because of your blindness?
>>
>> Bonnie Ainsworth
>> Lincoln, NE USA
>>
>> Access denied ... nah nah na nah nah !
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <jaber37837 at cox.net>
>> To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; <community at nfbri.com>
>> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 12:52 PM
>> Subject: [Blindtlk] traveling
>>
>>
>> Hi
>>
>> I have a question or perhaps many questions...maybe even issues.
>>
>> Here's the situation:
>>
>> I would like to take a trip to New York; around the Syracuse area. I could
>> sneak out of the house, take the Ride bus to the airport and fly there,
>> but
>> then I would get my parents all upset, and they would never trust me
>> again.
>> Plus, once I got there I could take a cab to the hotel, but then what? The
>> only way I can go anywhere is if I go with a friend...I mean that's the
>> only
>> way I could go without causing an up-roar, but I don't have any friends
>> who
>> I can travel with, and even if I did, that's a really lousy reason to
>> invite
>> them to come along.
>>
>> Is there any way I can get out of my parents' control over me? Is there
>> any
>> way to do it legally without causing hurt feelings etc? I can't talk to
>> them. They don't want to hear it. I've tried.
>>
>> I just feel like I have to do something different, and I can't do
>> anything;
>> not as long as I'm here.
>>
>> Jen
>>
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>>
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>
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