Your Thoughts and Feedback Are Appreciated!

Well another quarter has come and gone!  I have enjoyed getting to know all of you and hearing your opinions in class!  I wish all of you blessings and success in the future, and hope that you stay in touch.

So for our last blog post, I would like to get your thoughts and feedback on the class.  "What did you like or dislike about the class?  What could I do to make it better?"  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, March 22, 2017.  After that, the blog will be down until class resumes next quarter. I wish all of you a happy and safe Spring break!!

Differently Abled

This week, we are fortunate to have a guest blogger – Tim Vermande!  I would like to publicly thank him for his work and for being willing to share his experiences.  Once, when I was in high school, I was chosen to participate in a social experiment in which I was “blind” for a day.  I noticed immediately how many times my teachers asked if we could all “see” the examples on the board.  In between periods, it felt noisy, rushed and frankly a little scary as I tried to navigate my way through crowds of students trying to get to their next class.  It made me realize how much I take for granted, and it made me angry at how often others are denied rights or experiences simply because of ignorance and greed.  Which is why I’m so grateful to Tim, and happy that all of you will begin to think about these issues.  So without further ado….

Recently, CBS reported on perceived problem of “drive-by” ADA lawsuits. You can view this report at http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-americans-with-disabilities-act-lawsuits-anderson-cooper/.

One thing that struck me in viewing this report is that was very “ableist.” This is a term that isn’t familiar to a lot of people. Ableism refers to a view, which may be subconscious, that “normal” is a standard for how the world works, and those outside of normal have “special needs.” If you’ve been in my World Civilization class, you may remember that when we cover the 1960’s, I talk about the interest in defining “normal” through testing (IQ tests, standardized tests in school, and the like) and a branch of pseudo-science known as eugenics. It also includes standards today of “perfect” bodies in the media, as well as expectations that lead to the “make-up tax” that hits women in many professions as they strive to meet an appearance standard.

While I enjoy this section, especially the responses such as “being normal is boring,” it’s a challenge to live in a world where plans and decisions are made without considering their impact on persons who live with one or more disabilities. It may be the exception that someone might set out to exclude people, but unconscious ableism causes well-intentioned people to make decisions that do cause exclusion.

My immediate response to reports such as this is to suggest that reporters and others should try a day in a wheelchair. One of the people in the CBS report who was interviewed was upset about repeated lawsuits over his parking. He complained that the space was within a few inches of the specification. When you’re getting into or out of a van, a few inches make quite a difference. Likewise, when a restroom door is an inch too narrow, you can’t get in. That’s a form of discrimination.

How would you feel if you couldn’t get into the restroom? Or into a place to eat? The ADA has been the law for 25+ years. Maybe, to think about my quiz question on the effects of laws, you could tell the police that the speed limit hasn’t been the law for long enough to follow it. How well do you think that would that work? There are lots of times where I’ve mentioned something that’s wrong about a place, and months later, it’s still wrong. How many warnings are you likely to get before a ticket? This is why lawsuits arise.

As my friend Lawrence Carter-Long states, “There is nothing special about a need other people get to take for granted. Denying someone something that other people get by default is discrimination. That's also what we should call it.”

To go further into today’s world, charter schools received public funding through vouchers. This is about to become more widespread. But charter schools don’t have to follow the ADA and other requirements for educating students with disabilities—even mobility-only impairments. How do you feel about this? As an alternative, can you share a time where you have experienced or witnessed discrimination?

Standing Rock - Part 2

You remember several months ago seeing your Facebook newsfeed filled with people who were “checking-in” at Standing Rock.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with what has been happening, people were “checking-in” to show support for the large-scale protest that has been protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).  The pipeline will transport 470,000 – 570,000 barrels of crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois, traveling through South Dakota and Iowa along the way.

 

Supporters, including President Trump, say the pipeline will not only transport large amounts of oil, but it will do so much more efficiently and safer than transport by tricks or trains.  Trump has cleared the way for the pipeline to be built, which was halted under President Obama. It underscores the new administration’s intent to spur infrastructure development and support the fossil fuel industry.

 

Opponents of the pipeline, which include environmental activists and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, say a spill would contaminate the Tribe’s main source of drinking water which is located downstream.  Their fears are not unfounded, as the original route for the pipeline was rejected because it passed by Bismarck, the North Dakota capitol, and government officials feared a spill could contaminate their drinking water.  Additionally, the pipeline crosses through areas of cultural importance including sacred burial grounds and spiritual places of the Sioux Tribe, some of which have already been destroyed by the construction. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested, pepper sprayed, hit with rubber bullets, and attacked by police dogs.

 

This week, we will discuss the concept of “eminent domain,” in which the government can take your property, if they pay you for it and use for the public good.  So my question to you this week is, “Do you think pipeline is a good idea?  Do protesters have a right to interfere with the pipeline project?  Does the Sioux Tribe have a right to maintain their sacred lands?”  You must answer all questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, March 8th, 2017.

P.S.  March 8^th is also International Women’s Day –and the theme this year is “Be Bold For Change.”  I encourage you to help forge a better world - a more inclusive, gender equal world!