Henry.Kasten@f10.n130.z1.fidonet.org (Henry Kasten) (10/02/90)
Index Number: 10742
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Howdy Gang,
October 1 through 3 the Federal Building in Downtown Fort Worth
will be sponsoring Barrier Town. Barrier Town is a place where
able bodied people can pretend for a few minutes that they are
disabled. There will be a Post Office where the person will have
to obtain and fill out some forms as well as get a stamp and mail a
letter. Thepe rson operating the Post Office can't speak or hear.
IN the Boutique, clothes will be difficult to reach and prices
difficult to read. Our Restaurant will have tables very close
together, illegible menu's and of course rude servers. The Grocery
Store should be loads of fun when chocolate milk and white milk
look the same, Boxes are out of reach or just to heavy to lift and
labels hard to decipher. We will have some narrow doors, a ramp
and a model car to use for getting in and out of a wheel chair.
Several local Organizations will be handing out information about
themselves. Hopefully people will be able to leave with a general
understanding of the difficulties people with disabilities face
every moment of their lives. With this information, I hope they
will realize that if we can do that and come away smiling, surely
we could go to work and face down those difficulties with the
greatest of ease. Wishful thinking , but we will see. If you
would like to help out, or just see what is going on, opening
ceremonies will be at 12:00 noon on Monday, and continue until 2:00
then on Tuesday and Wednesday the town will be open from 11:00 to
2:00. See you there, Henry
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Internet: Henry.Kasten@f10.n130.z1.fidonet.orgDavid.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews) (10/03/90)
Index Number: 10849
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
HK> October 1 through 3 the Federal Building in Downtown Fort Worth
HK> will be sponsoring Ba
HK> rrier Town. Barrier Town is a place where able bodied people
HK> can pretend for a few m
HK> inutes that they are disabled. There will be a Post Office
HK> where the person will hav
HK> e to obtain and fill out some forms as well as get a stamp and
HK> mail a letter. The pe
HK> rson operating the Post Office can't speak or hear. IN the
HK> Boutique, clothes will be
HK> difficult to reach and prices difficult to read. Our
HK> Restaurant will have tables ve
HK> ry close together, illegible menu's and of course rude servers.
HK> The Grocery Store sh
HK> ould be loads of fun when chocolate milk and white milk look
HK> the same, Boxes are out
HK> of reach or just to heavy to lift and labels hard to decipher.
HK> We will have some nar
HK> row doors, a ramp and a model car to use for getting in and out
HK> of a wheel chair.
This is a somewhat unusual approach to disability simulation and
certainly is not as bad as many I have seen. However, I believe
that there are some inherent risks for blind people in these type
things. This is especially true in those simulations where the
person is blind folded. This is because the person is effectively
blind, but does not have any of the skills or training needed to
deal with day to day situations. Without cane or dog travel,
braille, a tape recorder, closed-circuit TV, talking computer,
etc., he/she is only going to become frustrated at what is
happening. His/her fear of blindness will be increased because
he/she will not be able to see how we do what we do. So, instead
of educationg people, we may only be increasing their fears. When
a sighted person shuts his eyes, he can't imagine how he would do
most things. Most simulations do nothing towards changing those
attitudes and in fact may increase fears.
Your Barrier Town seems to take a somewhat different approach. It
may or may not increase fears, depending on how things are
specifically handled. On the other hand, you may also be
trivializing our situation. Who knows???
I hope that participants have the opportunity to see compatent
disabled people dealing with a variety of day to day situations, so
that they can see that it can be done by the average person.
Not everyone will agree with my views. Some will say that I am
making a mountain out of a mole hill. So be it!
David Andrews
... Your Sound Alternative
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Internet: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.orgGrant.Downey@p0.f9.n381.z1.fidonet.org (Grant Downey) (10/03/90)
Index Number: 10859
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
That is an absolutely great idea. Somehow those who are the most
ignorant and uncaring should have to go through something like that.
Sounds like it will be a real eye opener. Best ofluck and keep up the
good work!
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Internet: Grant.Downey@p0.f9.n381.z1.fidonet.org