[Access] a question to ponder...

[leslie gilbert]

I do not believe you are under ANY obligation to disclose a disability until you want to. Heck, I've been on a few first dates lately without mentioning the wheelchair first! > Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:40:01 -0700> From: lucindap at comcast.net> To: algaelady at gmail.com; access at uueugene.org> CC: richardloescher at msn.com> Subject: Re: [Access] a question to ponder...> > 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> >> >> >> > _______________________________________________> > Access mailing list> > Access at uueugene.org> > http://www.uueugene.org> > http://www.uueugene.org/mailman/listinfo/access> >> > > > _______________________________________________> Access mailing list> Access at uueugene.org> http://www.uueugene.org> http://www.uueugene.org/mailman/listinfo/access
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