Browntggrr Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 http://yourerie.com/content/fulltext/?cid=8423 I watched the story on this last night, and I'm still on the hedge as to which way to go. What this article does not mention is that Paul Nelson (owner of Waldameer) mentions new guidelines for the amusement industry and that in past years, this condition was not a problem, but that it is an issue now. He also mentions if a ride would get stuck in the air, that a blind person being rescued poses a bigger risk to themselves and to the rescuers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 Well, I can tell you that this should not be such an issue. I used to do Volunteer work for Stepping Stones Center. (Yes, WooferBear is a good guy. - Just don't tell anyone.) Anyway, we'd take people from Stepping Stones to Kings Island once a year. The higher functioning individuals and certainly the ones that were simply blind had few ride restrictions. Never a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XGatorHead 8904 Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 Boo to Waldameer. I can can kind of see their point about seeing the ride helps brace yourself, but I'm sure that there are people who ride with their eyes closed as well. Not to mention the are many coasters around the world that are indoors in the dark, or with tunnel features on them. Being blind should not exclude someone from being able to ride. I'm reminded of my one and only trip to KY Kingdom (before it became 6 Flags). I went with one of my very good friends, who is a high-functioning quadriplegic. He has good motor control in his arms, can walk short distances as long as he holds on to something, and is able to drive without the use of hand controls in the car (ie, his car is the same as yours and mine). The only reason he is labelled a quad instead of a paraplegic is he cannot open his hands. He plays quad rugby (as featured on the show Friday Night Lights and the movie Murderball). We went to ride Chang, and there was no wheelchair access to the ride. My friend has had no problem riding anything ever, including King Cobra. We asked the ride op in the station how our friend in a wheelchair could get up. The ride op told us "If he's in a wheelchair he shouldn't be riding anything." We questioned him, "Did you really just say he shouldn't be riding ANYTHING?" He said, "That's right". This was just one of numerous reasons during our visit that made us vow never to return, and so far none of us have. I can see Waldemeer getting heat from advocacy groups, and from the sound of it from this article, it's rightly deserved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Nemo Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 Boo to Waldameer. I can can kind of see their point about seeing the ride helps brace yourself, but I'm sure that there are people who ride with their eyes closed as well. Well, according to the artical I read the park made this choice after the builders (Gravity Group) made it clear to what rules they apply to their coasters. I can from their standpoint understand 100% the reasons GG made these choices. Anyone having been on Voyage at Holiday World would understand what they mean by sharp turns and being able to brace ourself. I always brace myself before going into the double helix on The Beast. I would not really say 'Boo to Waldameer' as all they did is do what they feel is best for the safty of their guests. I do however feel they could have told the blind guest in a more respectable way. Do guests ride with their eyes closed... yes, but they still have that opportunity to open their eyes and brace them self. Not to mention the are many coasters around the world that are indoors in the dark, or with tunnel features on them. Being blind should not exclude someone from being able to ride. That is true, and kind of in some ways contradicts what is being talked about in this topic. I'm sure most of us have been on The Beast at night, boy can it get dark. It really depends on the park chain and the coaster builders. This is my opinion but I feel that as long as someone who is blind has an attendant riding along next to them, they should be able to ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted May 19, 2008 Author Share Posted May 19, 2008 TV interview: http://yourerie.com/media_player.php?media_id=8851 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 Oh, my. I trust Waldameer has a good attorney representing them. They are probably going to need one. The public relations damage has already begun. As ye sow, so shall ye reap.... Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TombraiderTy Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 As many have pointed out, many guests close their eyes on roller coasters for the excitement, which is equal to being blind practically (and if you disagree, please keep it to yourself so this doesn't turn into some debate about a different topic). I just had this flash of an idea that we should get as many people as possible to ride Ravine Flyer II with blindfolds on to rally against not allowing blind people on and to prove it's perfectly safe for a blind person to ride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kwindshawne Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Amazing-I thought we were well past that type of thinking. It's a well known fact that a person with a sensory deficit excels in other sensory perceptions. I imagine he can tell if someone is standing next to him or not even if no sound is made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted May 20, 2008 Author Share Posted May 20, 2008 This is probably not the popular choice, but after thinking about this for awhile, I would have to go with the owner of the park. I think it is really a difficult decision to not allow a person on a ride. But not allowing a blind person on the coaster due to manufactorer's specifications is just like CP not allowing a larger person on some of their Intamin rides. There have been fatalities in the last couple years dealing with disabilities. And only after the fatality occured, it was mentioned why the victim was actually allowed to ride. And the park was sued. It appears that parks are now adopting the attitude that if the rider cannot get on the ride and secure themselves without assistance, they cannot ride. It really is sad, but the parks have to protect themselves too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 This is probably not the popular choice, but after thinking about this for awhile, I would have to go with the owner of the park. I think it is really a difficult decision to not allow a person on a ride. But not allowing a blind person on the coaster due to manufactorer's specifications is just like CP not allowing a larger person on some of their Intamin rides. There have been fatalities in the last couple years dealing with disabilities. And only after the fatality occured, it was mentioned why the victim was actually allowed to ride. And the park was sued. It appears that parks are now adopting the attitude that if the rider cannot get on the ride and secure themselves without assistance, they cannot ride. It really is sad, but the parks have to protect themselves too. Where as someone that is overweight is not necessarily a protected class of people; somone that is blind is. I'm with Interp on this one in that I hope the park has a good attorney on retainer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 Apparently there is more to this story. Now I heard this through the grapevine, so take it for what it's worth, but those that I have talked to were present when it happened. The teenager was allowed to ride the coaster, but when the coaster returned to the station he refused to get out of the train, even with assistance of the ride ops. He had no other friends with him to help him. It was causing quite a scene, so the ride ops just allowed him to stay on the ride for two more cycles until Paul Nelson came to the ride. Which is when the comments were made that he was blind. Now here is the kicker: the teen did not wait in line to ride due to his disability. He came up the exit ramp and immediately went on the ride with ride ops assistance. When Mr. Nelson arrived to the scene and asked the teen to exit the ride, that is when the teen asked why he could not ride the coaster and Mr. Nelson made the comment that he was blind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tycoonrebel7188 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Ok now hearing your part about the grapevine Browntggrr, turns the tables a little for me. If that turns out to be true that the kid was being stubborn and would not get out of the train he deserved a little bit of a reprecusion. However, I feel that Mr. Nelson overstepped the boundaries when he said the kid wasn't going to ride any ride because he was blind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 However, I feel that Mr. Nelson overstepped the boundaries when he said the kid wasn't going to ride any ride because he was blind. I can see why you would feel that way. I initially thought the same. I can also see a decision being made to not allow him to go on other rides, not because he was blind, but because he broke park rules by not exiting the ride when he was supposed to. Waldameer is not a traditional gated park. It is open to the public. You need to purchase tickets or a Ride-A-Rama wristband to enjoy the rides. This teen had tickets for his first ride on the coaster, but not for any additional trips on the coaster or any other rides. He did recieve 2 additional rides at no cost. It seems to me that his disability of being blind was not an issue, until he made it an issue. Sure, Waldameer could have handled it differently, but we only saw what WJET-TV wanted us to see after they edited the material. Mr. Nelson could have said many things during the interview that we never saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 I also find it intresting that no other media outlet picked up this story. RFII is HUGE news for the Erie area (you have to remember, Erie is not that big). Why would only one TV station out of 4, and the Erie Daily Times not investigate this story? Or is it perhaps that they did investigate it, and found nothing to report except a disgruntled park patron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Ravine Flyer II Available To Blind: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...EWS02/807270360 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigellinus Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 ^^WOW!...didn't see that coming!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cormaster Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 After reading the facts I can see both sides of the story. To me it seems like the kid was "taking advantage of his disability" and looking for favors. The park management got frustrated and used his disability as an excuse so he'd get off. Both sides were wrong. The manager should of told him just because he's blind he doesn't get extra rides, and he would have to go purchase a ticket and get in line once again. He shouldn't stubbornly just stay on the ride 3 times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Waldameer, Blind Federation Work Out Issue: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...0326/-1/OPINION Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Blind Man Denied Ride on Ferris Wheel The ignorance some folk display just amazes me some times. Ride operators said the rules apply to everyone and that Thurmond could have ridden with his son if his wife or another adult had gone along to make sure the little boy could not get out. Ahhhhhh, don't ya just love the smell of lawsuit in the morning...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 They "effectively indicated...." What kind of person other than a professional plaintiff uses that kind of language when denied access to what we may as well call an "amusement device?" Yep, there's a lawsuit coming. And there would have been one had the two ridden and the young son had evacuated the ride whilst it was in motion. Sometimes, parks and fairs can't win no matter what they do. Or so it seems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 They "effectively indicated...." What kind of person other than a professional plaintiff uses that kind of language when denied access to what we may as well call an "amusement device?" Yep, there's a lawsuit coming. And there would have been one had the two ridden and the young son had evacuated the ride whilst it was in motion. Sometimes, parks and fairs can't win no matter what they do. Or so it seems. Just because the father is blind does not mean that he does not have control of his child. I've seen plenty sighted people that have little/no control over their children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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