Deborah Kendrick asked me to distribute the message below.  I am doing so
in its entirety

Kelly


From: "deborah kendrick" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 5:30 AM
Subject: This business of audio described funerals


Dear Kelly,
It is troubling to me that you are distributing your own point of view on
this issue, while resisting the distribution of my response to you a few
weeks ago.  It is encouraging to see that you have deemed it appropriate
to
include the comments of another person in this distribution, but it seems
to
me that you are changing what has been a generous service you have
provided
(the distribution of news copy relevant to disability issues) into your
own,
one-way opportunity to pelt readers with your personal point of view.

In the hope that you will distribute my comments this time to all who
have
received yours, let me reiterate my remarks regarding the column I wrote
and
the experience of audio description at the funeral of JoAnn Fischer.

First of all, Elmer and JoAnn Fischer have both been instrumental is
disseminating information about and promoting the use of audio
description
throughout Ohio and elsewhere.  Therefore, to describe the funeral
service
of JoAnn was, in large part, as much a gesture of homage and celebration
of
one woman's life as it was a service to her blind and visually impaired
friends in attendance.

Secondly, Kelly, as we discussed previously, you had a mistaken notion of
what takes place at a religious funeral service.  Your first opposition
was
based in a misunderstanding that such services display bodies, perform
embalming, cremation, and other scientific functions at the funeral
service.
As I explained to you, this is completely in error.   Perhaps if you had
reliable audio description yourself at a funeral service, you would
understand that there are no such macabre rituals performed in a
religious
service. The coffin is brought to the front of the church and again
carried
out of the church.  The body is not seen; no scientific issues are
addressed
in a place of worship.  Instead, the description focuses on the movement
and
placement of clergy and other speakers,  the identification and
description
of flowers, and any religious rituals (lighting of candles, placement of
sacred objects, etc.) which might be included.

Finally, regarding your comments that people should take their own audio
describer, I must express my personal distress.  This sort of thinking
among
any oppressed group is troubling to me.  It says, in effect:  "I (and a
few
lucky others who are smarter than the rest of you) have arranged my life
in
such a way that I have all the assistance I need.  Fend for your inferior
selves."

Kelly, I know this is not what you *mean* to say.  It is, however, the
effect of its delivery.  Many blind people do not have spouses,
significant
others, parents, or other full-time attendants to take them wherever they
need to go and describe visual elements of the environment that are out
of
reach.  Many, in fact, attend events alone.

Let me put it another way:  What if Martin Luther King had said:  "I have
a
car.  I don't need to ride the bus.  Let the rest of you work out your
own
transportation needs like I did."

Again, Kelly, many benefit from and appreciate you distribution of news
and
other information regarding disability rights.  In keeping with that
generosity, I hope you will distribute this message to allow another
perspective to reach the eyes, ears, and fingers of those you serve.  It
was
my column, after all, (which ran in the Cincinnati ENQUIRER, not
INQUIRER)
which triggered this discussion.  I wrote the column because I,
personally,
find audio description in any venue to be an element of access, a tool
for
leveling the  proverbial playing field.  And I wrote it as tribute to a
friend.

In peace and gratitude,
Deborah Kendrick


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