[nfbwatlk] Fw: compared to a six year old, grimmus

[marty]

Pardon me,
   But are these officious brass heads not aware of the basic function of a 
cane? Not to mention the simple fact that some over helpful person, who is 
working on their karma, will grab him by the elbow to keep him from stepping 
on a coil of rope or  from the plane elevator that brings the planes up on 
deck , before he falls? You know its kinda funny, these people are the same 
ones who sent me a letter that stated that I would be an asset to the fleet 
with my building skills. I laughed till my ribs hurt, and said, that it was 
a good thing that I had been issued a water dog. grin. What's up with these 
people? M.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 5:54 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Fw: compared to a six year old, grimmus


> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Becky Frankeberger" <b.butterfly at comcast.net>
> To: "Mike_Freeman >" <"Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 9:42 AM
> Subject: compared to a six year old, grimmus
>
>
> Mike, did you see this article, growl.
>
> Becky
>
>>From The Boston Herald:
> http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=186407&chkEm=0
>
> Group: Navy shortsighted on tours
> By
> Jessica Fargen
> Boston Herald Health & Medical Reporter
> Monday, March 5, 2007 - Updated: 01:34 AM EST
>
> A national rights group for the blind is vowing action after a
> vision-impaired South Boston man was denied a visit on the historic USS
> John
> F. Kennedy yesterday after Navy officers told him it was too perilous
> for
> the blind.
>
>    "When it happens, it's a very traumatic experience to be denied the
> right to participate in something," said Mika Pyyhkala, 34, who unlike
> 30,000 other people, did not get a chance to walk the deck of the USS
> JFK
> yesterday.
>    Marc Maurer, an attorney and president of the National Federation of
> the
> Blind in Baltimore, said the Navy's denial violates the federal
> Americans
> with Disabilities Act as well as a state law providing for equal access.
>    "I was outraged by it and I still am. Blind people are not prepared
> to
> stand for it. He has the support of thousands of blind people around the
> United States," Maurer said last night, adding that he planned to meet
> with
> staff today to craft a response.
>    Navy Lt. Paul Brawley said people in wheelchairs and motorized
> scooters
> were allowed access this weekend, but not the blind.
>    The aircraft carrier's open hatches and narrow doorways aren't safe
> for
> a blind person and there weren't enough crew members to personally
> escort
> Pyyhkala, said Brawley.
>    "It's a matter of safety," he said.
>     "This is a ship of war. It is not a federal building. It is not a
> public building."
>    He said children under 6 were denied entry as well. Pyyhkala was the
> only blind person who attempted to board the ship this weekend, Brawley
> said.
>    Brawley said 30,000 people visited the ship yesterday - that's 3,500
> visitors an hour - and there were only 800 crewmembers to manage the
> crowds.
> Another 21,000 people toured it Saturday. The ship will be
> decommissioned
> March 23.
>    David Ticchi, president of the Cambridge chapter of the National
> Federation of the Blind, said yesterday was Pyyhkala's last chance to
> visit
> the great war ship and that's a shame.
>    "The boat's pulling out today, unfortunately," he said.
>    "He takes the time to go there. He's a citizen, a taxpayer and he's
> interested in it and denied an opportunity purely on the basis of his
> vision. It's discriminatory."
>
> --
> BlindNews mailing list
>
>
>
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