[nfbwatlk] Target thinks blindness is a laughing matter:

Sat Jan 12 18:47:05 CST 2008

Hi,
I think it is an opportunity for some education to be done.  Even if the 
staff turnover is high, the education might help when that store employee 
moves on to another restaurant or other job where he/she might be met by 
another blind person.

It might be that this particular person is uneducable but there might be 
others who really would like to know what happened and want to help.

I was spoiled by Jim reading menus to me for almost thirteen years, and now, 
all of a sudden, I am in a place where sometimes people balk at reading an 
entire menu.  I think we need the same information sighted people need to 
choose what we want to eat, and if the menu isn't in braille, we need it 
read.
Thanks
Lauren
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Sellers" <robertsellers500 at comcast.net>
To: "'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2008 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Target thinks blindness is a laughing matter:

>
> I agree in not making a 'Federal' case out of it. But, I believe, it is a
> good opportunity  for the local chapter to contact the store and make an
> appointment with the manager to educate and inform  him/her, regarding
> treatment of blind customers. If the local NFBW chapter is not encouraged 
> to
> get involved in a situation like this, the questioned could be asked. What
> is the purpose of the local chapter or how serious must insensitive
> treatment become before it is acted upon? Even a letter to the editor to 
> the
> local newspaper may be beneficial.
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Mike Freeman
> Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 7:25 PM
> To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Target thinks blindness is a laughing matter:
>
> Fellow listers:
>
> I realize that Kay is mightily perturbed over this whole incident. Who
> can blame her? But let's get the emotion out of the discussion and look
> at this logically in light of NFB philosophy and in light of what might
> be effective. I realize that what I say next may not go down well with
> some of you. So be it; you elected me to lead and you have the power of
> the vote; my term is up this year. (grin)
>
> First, let's consider Lisa's suggestion that we go to the press
> concerning this incident. If Kay were sighted, would this incident have
> been worthy of press notice? I submit that the answer is a resounding
> NO! The press wouldn't give the time of day to someone who issued a
> press release saying they were laughed at or treated rudely at a store.
> The general response would be: if you don't like it, shop elsewhere!
> Then if this is true and given that we of NFB wish to be integrated into
> society on the basis of equality with the sighted and if we maintain
> that blindness is just another characteristic with which we must live
> and is nnot much more than a nuisance, do we *really* wish to be treated
> differentially with respect to blindness? I submit that the answer to
> this question, too, is a resounding NO. I further submit that
> complaining to the press about this would play on the sympathy card and
> in the end would accomplish a purpose quite contrary to that which we
> all want -- to be treated the same as everyone else. So I believe that
> trying to arrange a protest or get pres coverage of this incident is
> counterproductive at best.
>
> Now let's consider how effective a boycott might be. Yes, I know; we all
> grew up with knowledge of the glory days of civil rights when
> African-americans boycotted busses and other services. But in the
> instances where such boycotts were effective, African-americans were a
> majority of the customers of the entities being boycotted. That is not
> the situation here. Target has revenues of over $2 billion a year; any
> boycott we might arrange would be a drop -- not just in a bucket but in
> a thimble -- compared to this revenue. So it would be like spitting into
> the wind. It would be wasted effort. WE have enough discrimination
> problems so that we don't need to scatter our shots on ventures that are
> not likely to be effective.
>
> The one possible way I can see to protest Kay's treatment would be for
> her to file a complaint with the U.s. Department of Justice under Title
> III of the ADA alleging that she didn't receive reasonable
> accommodations in gaining access to the menu. But this is a long,
> drawn-out process and, I submit, not worth the bother.
>
> Am I saying that what happened to Kay was right? Of course not. Is it of
> sufficient gravity to make a Federal case out of? I don't think so.
> There's a lot in life that isn't right. But sometimes the best thing to
> do is to ignore it or, in this case, take one's business to a different
> store.
>
> The Serenity Prayer applies in spades!
>
> Now I'll put on my fire-resistant suit. <g>
>
> Mike Freeman, President
> NFB of Washington
>
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Owenblue2 at aol.com
>  To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>  Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 11:43 PM
>  Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Target thinks blindness is a laughing matter:
>
>
>  Ok; let's see how much they laugh if we boycott their stores and Pizza
> Hut
>  as well. I think you should go to the press. I am furious and mad as a
> hornet!
>  How dare they treat you this way!
>
>  Whatever you decide to do I support you all the way.
>
>  Lisa Owen
>
>
>
>  **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes
>  (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)
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>
>
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