[Blindtlk] speaking of transit
Graves, Diane
dgraves at icrc.IN.gov
Tue May 13 09:05:10 CDT 2008
Good Morning,
Well, let me step out on a limb here, and practice my trade. (smile)
Many of you know that I work for the Civil Rights Commission as a
mediator.
First of all, let me point out that we, as people, are all different.
We are all one federation family, but we are also all individuals with
varying beliefs, priorities, skill levels, comfort levels, and life
circumstances.
Just let me reiterate what most have said to offer a little perspective.
Those who are opposed to the half fair exception, have stated that they
think it should be economically based. In other words, Ray, they are
saying that, if your finances are such that you don't have the means to
pay full fair, you should be compensated. Mind you, I am just restating
their position.
Now, having said that, my view is that there is a tendency among human
beings in general, be they blind or sighted, to take advantage of the
"breaks" they are given, financial or otherwise.
How many people do you know, both blind and sighted that take advantage
of half price options for their kids, when going to a movie, or a
community activity. That child, depending on the age and maturity
level, is occupying a seat in the movie theater, watching the movie and
eating junk food, just as another adult would be. But the half price
option is offered, so most people take it. I don't know any parents who
wouldn't'
How many sighted people do you know that would refuse, if their employer
offered to pay for their gas to get to work? There may be some, but I
bet there are far more that would take full advantage of the offer.
This will seem like a contradiction of what I said last week in response
to Dewey's statement about his state VR services not offering a bus
pass to get to work. My state doesn't offer this, and I don't believe
that they necessarily should, but if they did, would I take it? I don't
honestly know.
What about those of us who continue to receive disability, even though
we do have a job. That option would not be open to a sighted person, no
matter how poorly the job paid or what their individual skill levels
were. If we ever get linked back up with the seniors, an issue we
address every year in Washington, the change will enable us to hold down
a pretty darn good job, and still be eligible to receive our disability.
Though, I do hold down a good job and am not, myself, eligible for
disability, I pretty much live from paycheck to paycheck, so admittedly,
I do take advantage of financial breaks that come my way. And, as
Jaybee said, if it is a break that is legally mine, I feel that I have
just as much right to expect good service as anyone else.
How many of us claim the blindness exemption on our tax returns? I
mussay that I do.
Now, there are other things, non financial things, that I have a very
strong position on. My family members have been on my back for years to
get a "handicapped parking" sticker, just because I am eligible. I have
staunchly refused to do this, and will continue to do so as long as
blindness is my only disability. There is no reason for me to have one
of these. I can walk just fine. Besides, if the actual truth be known,
they want the sticker for their convenience, not mine, though they
wouldn't admit this.
Another thing I will never again do, as long as blindness is my only
disability, is be forced into a wheelchair at an airport. I thought I
had no choice before my federation days, but I will not be humiliated
like that again.
Once again, I am aware that there are many blind people, and I'd bet we
even have some in the federation, who do not share these views.
With regard to the Para transit issue, I think we have to consider the
fact that we are all at varying levels of skill, mobility wise. I do
know blind people who could go anywhere in this city, and indeed,
probably the country with only minimal directions. I think that's
great.
As for myself, if something is not on a pretty clear cut bus line,
without pretty explicit directions, I am not confident enough to venture
into new territory like that that might be far off the beaten path, and
might involve some unknown safety hazards. So, although I don't use Para
transit regularly, I do use it when I need to and don't have good
knowledge of a particular area.
At an airport, or something like that, it isn't a major issue for me,
because I know that there are information desks and employees available
from whom to solicit directions, when you take a public bus into the
unknown, there may or may not be.
Again, this comfort issue, isn't necessarily blindness related at all.
I know sighted people who don't like to drive at night, or who will not
drive on the interstate, and get very nervous when they don't know where
they're going. In fact, I have a daughter, fully sighted, fully capable,
who does not drive at all. She never learned, and has no desire too.
This is something that is hard for me to fathom, but that's where she
is.
One of the main elements of the federation philosophy is that we are
people first, people, just like any other, who just happen to be blind.
Well, to me, this means that we are no different from the sighted in
that we have varying skill and comfort levels, and we take financial
breaks when they come our way, just as our sighted peers would.
And there you have my two cents.
Diane Graves
Civil Rights Specialist
Indiana Civil Rights Commission
Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
317-232-2647
"IT is service that measures success."
George Washington Carver
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-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces+dgraves=icrc.in.gov at nfbnet.org
[mailto:blindtlk-bounces+dgraves=icrc.in.gov at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Ray Foret jr
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 5:34 AM
To: Marion & Martin; NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] speaking of transit
Okay okay. Time for me to weigh in here. Look y'all, it's like this.
IF I
wanted to be strictly true to NFB philosophy and always think I had
something to prove, I'd never ever accept or use half fare. But, I've
got
news for you purists out there. Real life sometimes requires you to
make
other choices. Let me be very blunt about this. As true as the NFB
philosophy is, there are times when it doesn't take real life in to
account.
I will use half fare; but, only in situations where I MUST get to town
on
the bus and I don't have enough cash on hand to pay full fare. Now, The
NFB
purists will accuse me of not being rue to the NFB philosophy because I
used
half fare even once; but, I say in all frankness that such a purist has
not
lived enough real life to know what he's talking about. How do I know,
simple. I used to be what I would call a purist myself. Now, let me
put
this question. IF you had to go to town, and the regular fare was a
dollar;
but, you only had fifty cents, what would you do? Keep in mind that you
have no one upon whom you can call for help, and, you MUST get in to
town on
some official business; jury duty for example. Which way will you go?
Will
you say,
"Well, NFB philosophy says I'm only half a person if I use half
fare;
and so, I don't care how urgent my business is. I'll just stay home
because
I only have half fare.". Then, in that case, yes, your believe in the
NFB
philosophy would win out, and you'd feel philosophically vindicated;
but,
try telling that to the judge when he hauls you in to court to explain
why
you did not appear for duty. What worth your precious philosophy then?
No. Real life must take control here. Real independence is not
defined
by how strictly you adhere to the NFB philosophy; rather, it's having
the
tools you need to get done what you have to do to get it done. So, I
say
this. Avoid using half fare as much as possible; but, if your
circumstances
dictate that you do otherwise, do otherwise.
The NFB philosophy is not the end all and be all of every tiny
little
detail of how to live one's life. It was never meant to be; rather, it
should serve as a general guide for the blindness aspects of how to live
a
normal life. I used to think otherwise. I used to believe that if you
didn't do everything the NFB dictated for you to do twenty/four/seven,
you
were a trator to the NFB cause and not worthy of what ever help the NFB
might see fit to offer you. I had not lived enough of actual real life
to
know better at the time.
Now, am I suggesting that the NFB philosophy is now no good and that
we
should abandon it? No, indeed not. We should use it as much as
possible to
live the best normal lives as possible and in a positive way to help
other
people.
As for the paratransit services, this is what I believe. If a blind
person lives within walking distance of a regular city bus stop, then,
that
blind person should not use paratransit at all; excepting on those
occasions
where getting to a destination is necessary, (going to church for
example),
and there is no bus running on the weekends and no other mode of
transportation is available. IF, however, the blind person is faced
with
other physical inconveniences, (being confined to a wheelchair), then,
of
course, that blind person needs to make the logical choice and use
paratransit. If the able bodied blind person lives too far from the bus
stop to walk there, then, under those circumstances also paratransit may
be
used. Also, if the cab companies don't do regular contract type
arrangements, (taking one to and from work for a reduced fee) for
example,
then, in such a case also paratransit may be used. Well, that's it from
me
about that subject.
Take care.
Sincerely,
The Constantly BAREFOOTED Ray
Phone:
985-360-3375
e-mail:
rforetjratcomcastdotnet
Skype Name:
barefootedray
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] speaking of transit
Dewey,
First of all, I think it is telling that you wrote, "I can see doing
it
for seniors and vets". To follow through on your logic, are there not
seniors and vets who have excellent incomes? Why would you give it to
them?
On our public transportation system, the regular fare for a single
ride
is $1.50 or $.75 for a reduced fare. An All-day pass is $3.25 and the
reduced fare is $1.60. In order to qualify for the reduced fare, one
must
provide proof that they are disabled, senior, or a student, register
with
the authority, and show the pass whenever paying the reduced fare. I,
for
one, do not accept the reduced fare. I have two reasons for this.
Firstly, I
do not wish to register and divulge personal information. Secondly, I
feel
that, if I pay my full fare, I have the full right to complain when
services
are not adequate.
Fraternally,
Marion Gwizdala
----- Original Message -----
From: "dewey bradley" <dewey.bradley at att.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 10:57 PM
Subject: [Blindtlk] speaking of transit
> What do you folks think about the fact that we ride for half the
price,
> and in Illinois we ride for free?
> I know blind people who make over 50, and still will pay half the
fair,
> the people who make these laws think that all blind people are pore I
> guess.
> I've gone to my law makers about getting It set to where you have to
prove
> you're low income to get the reduced fair cards, but no one will even
talk
> to me about It.
> maybe If those of us that make good money would pay the full fair,
maybe
> we would have better services.
> I don't make much money right now, but I used to make almost 16 bucks
an
> hour, I should have been made to pay the full fair.
> So what do you think about that?
> I can see doing It for seniors and vets
> _______________________________________________
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