[Access] a question to ponder...

[Cindy Pitcairn]

Jeanne-Marie,

I have hosted quite a few UU groups in my home over the past 12 years 
and it never occurred to me that I should let people know I am in a 
wheelchair.
At the first meeting I explain that I need people to reposition 
furniture before leaving and that I serve only tea because that is 
easiest for me to set up.  I think the situation is analogous in most 
ways to your own, at least as far as hoisting goes.

I do disclose that I have cats as some people are allergic to them (as 
you well know :-) ). You might want to let people know you have a dog as 
some people may have real fear of large dogs (though how anyone could 
think Waldo less than benign, I don't know). If people feel threatened  
by wheelchairs or blindness, then an exposure to us may be truly 
educational, and if it isn't, the one upset can always leave the group 
or switch to another one.

 From a practical point of view, you are probably fairly well known to 
most of the church by now because you have been a Worship Associate, 
which is yet another reason disclosure of your blindness is not needed.

Our UU principles state that we respect the dignity and worth of all 
persons and believe in the interconnectedness of all beings. Thus I 
cannot see that your blindness should interfere in any way with UUs 
finding out what a wonderful person you are. Also "we stand on the side 
of love."  So be it.

Cindy

PS I hope you are healing rapidly.


jeannemarie moore wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> This is a direct accessibility question and I'd like feedback from the
> group... please reply to all so Dick Loescher can be included because, as of
> yet, I think he's not a member of the group...Dick if you'd like to join so
> you can be part of such discussions, please feel free...
>
> I'm gathering thoughts...
>
> if I am willing to be a host for UUs, is it part of advance "full
> disclosure" that they learn in advance that I am blind?  I have not done
> this in my therapy practice or in my membership with Servas...
>
> I find myself feeling uncomfortable with this suggestion... and also want to
> be respectful that it might catch someone by surprise...and "going with it"
> is supposed to be part of it all, isn't it?
>
> I guess if someone finds out in advance and opts out, that's up to them...
> and I find myself asking:
> so do people need to disclose they are gay? Afro-American, use a walker...
> in advance of hosting strangers?
>
> I can understand someone who is deaf because of a potential barrier... I'd
> want to know that because I'm blind, but... if there are no generic
> communication difficulties except for someone else's potentially incorrect
> assumptions, ... what do y'all think?
>
> Thanks so much.
>
> Jeanne-Marie
>
>
>
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