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 -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!130!10!Henry.Kasten Internet: Henry.Kasten@f10.n130.z1.fidonet.org
David.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 -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!David.Andrews Internet: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Grant.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! -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!381!9.0!Grant.Downey Internet: Grant.Downey@p0.f9.n381.z1.fidonet.org