An Eye For An Eye

[bobak1]

Hello everyone, I'm brand new here so please forgive me in advance if I make any missteps. But I have a question concerning the ADA and what it applies to.

Assume the following. I have a conversation in person with a public school receptionist at the school. The subject of the conversation concerns whether or not the school is going to provide any more information to me a concerned parent about why law enforcement had been called to my childs school. I am informed that nothing happened and it was just a drill, conveniently leaving out the part as to why law enforcement was called in the first place. I ask if this is the schools official position and am informed it is. I accept the info and leave.

That afternoon the school principal calls me at my home and informs me that because of my "demeanor" and "the look on" my "face" the receptionists are now "scared" and "intimidated" of me. He further tells me that they could tell when I approached that I was going to be difficult. He also states that they alleged I was "curt" with them, that I "glared" at them , that I "leaned over the counter" and that I was "agitated" and threatens to take some type of action if I they come to him again.

Some time goes by(5 months). Another verbal tete a tete occurs, this time at school with the principal. I then receive a letter from the principal stating I must personally check in with him each time I visit the school.

I believe that instituing this policy of having to check in with the principal is discrimination against me because of the look my face has. I have explained to everyone that will listen that I only have one eye. That having a prosthetic eye causes my face to have this look. That I have been officially classified as handicapped by the state I live in. I have even taken this to the superintendent of the school district. All to no avail. The superintendent has refused to require the principal to rescind this visitation policy towards me.

My question is does this fall even remotely under the ADA. I understand it was originally meant for the employment arena. But, it has been stretched to include other areas now as well.

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. And any info would be appreciated.

 

[Hot Topic]

Have you considered that maybe you're going around expecting people to respond in a certain way to your eye? Could it be that when you entered the school, you were thinking, "I'm not going to let them treat me with disrespect," and they took your body language not as decisive but as aggressive?

More than one receptionist was obviously involved, and somehow they both got the same impression of you and how you handled yourself. It's possible but not likely that they decided to make up a story about the encounter with you.

I can't see where anything illegal has been done to you. Did you expect that you would be able to walk in any time you pleased to see your child? The school has to know who's in the building and why for your child's protection. The receptionists have the right to tell the principal that they would rather you deal with him if they find you intimidating.

 

[justalayman]

first, I know several people with a glass eye. It does not cause any of them to look gruff or aggressive. That is a group of facial gestures caused by musculature flexations and tensions.

In other words, the eye does not make you look evil, you make you look evil.

A glass eye does not cause you to be curt.
A glass eye does not cause you to lean over a counter.
A glass eye does not cause you to appear agitated.

Those are all actions you express in your mannerisms and verbal communications.


So, since you apparently came across as a jerk to the folks at the school, they have the right to institute the policy they have and there is nothing illegal about it.

Feel lucky they did not call the police and let them deal with this. It sounds like you may have been one step away from talking to the men in blue downtown.

Oh, and the acknowledged disability has nothing to do with how you look. It is because you only have vision in one eye. Quit milking this and learn to control yourself.

 

[Dougthegreat]

Quit milking this and learn to control yourself.

Bravo!

And stop using the ADA as an excuse.

 

[HomeGuru]

Hello everyone, I'm brand new here so please forgive me in advance if I make any missteps. But I have a question concerning the ADA and what it applies to.

Assume the following. I have a conversation in person with a public school receptionist at the school. The subject of the conversation concerns whether or not the school is going to provide any more information to me a concerned parent about why law enforcement had been called to my childs school. I am informed that nothing happened and it was just a drill, conveniently leaving out the part as to why law enforcement was called in the first place. I ask if this is the schools official position and am informed it is. I accept the info and leave.

That afternoon the school principal calls me at my home and informs me that because of my "demeanor" and "the look on" my "face" the receptionists are now "scared" and "intimidated" of me. He further tells me that they could tell when I approached that I was going to be difficult. He also states that they alleged I was "curt" with them, that I "glared" at them , that I "leaned over the counter" and that I was "agitated" and threatens to take some type of action if I they come to him again.

Some time goes by(5 months). Another verbal tete a tete occurs, this time at school with the principal. I then receive a letter from the principal stating I must personally check in with him each time I visit the school.

I believe that instituing this policy of having to check in with the principal is discrimination against me because of the look my face has. I have explained to everyone that will listen that I only have one eye. That having a prosthetic eye causes my face to have this look. That I have been officially classified as handicapped by the state I live in. I have even taken this to the superintendent of the school district. All to no avail. The superintendent has refused to require the principal to rescind this visitation policy towards me.

My question is does this fall even remotely under the ADA. I understand it was originally meant for the employment arena. But, it has been stretched to include other areas now as well.

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. And any info would be appreciated.

**A: not even remotely.