05-12-2005, 01:07 PM
I guess they have the right to open a day care, but anyone who leaves their children there probably should be investigated as well for child endangerment. I have nothing against blind people, but children are too precious to take chances with.
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Judge grants blind couple right to open a day care in Colorado
By Jon Sarche
Hutchinsons' attorney; The Associated Press
DENVER — A judge has cleared the way for a blind couple to open a day-care center in Colorado, saying the state's refusal to issue them a license violated the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Christine Hutchinson said she and her husband, Thomas, will move ahead with plans to open a facility, although they are worried they will be hounded by inspectors looking for problems.
If they stopped now, she said, "We felt it would be an injustice to the kids we fought so hard to care for."
Administrative-law Judge Matthew Norwood last week overturned a state decision denying the Hutchinsons a day-care license.
They would apparently be the first blind couple to operate a day care in Colorado, one of only a few states where courts have allowed blind people to run day cares, the couple's attorney, Scott LaBarre, said yesterday.
"It's yet another victory in a long string of victories for blind and disabled people, demonstrating to the public as well as our government that you can't discriminate solely on the basis of blindness," said LaBarre, who is also blind.
Liz McDonough, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services, said the state has not decided whether to appeal.
The couple, who live in Grand Junction, worked at Thomas Hutchinson's sisters' day-care center until it closed down two years ago, then applied for a license to operate their own.
Both hold bachelor's degrees in child and family studies and have taken first-aid courses. Before applying for a license, they also bought safety devices to help them run a day care. Thomas Hutchinson has been blind from birth; Christine Hutchinson can perceive light.
Human Services denied them a license last year after Christine Hutchinson's doctor suggested her blindness could "adversely affect" children.
In his ruling, Norwood said the state could not deny the license based only on the couple's blindness, especially when the Hutchinsons have shown competence in caring for children.
He said the license would include restrictions the Hutchinsons would impose on themselves, including no children under 3, no more than four children at a time and no overnight stays.
<a href='http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002271724_blind12.html' target='_blank'>Judge grants blind couple right to open a day care in Colorado</a>
_________________________________________________
Judge grants blind couple right to open a day care in Colorado
By Jon Sarche
Hutchinsons' attorney; The Associated Press
DENVER — A judge has cleared the way for a blind couple to open a day-care center in Colorado, saying the state's refusal to issue them a license violated the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Christine Hutchinson said she and her husband, Thomas, will move ahead with plans to open a facility, although they are worried they will be hounded by inspectors looking for problems.
If they stopped now, she said, "We felt it would be an injustice to the kids we fought so hard to care for."
Administrative-law Judge Matthew Norwood last week overturned a state decision denying the Hutchinsons a day-care license.
They would apparently be the first blind couple to operate a day care in Colorado, one of only a few states where courts have allowed blind people to run day cares, the couple's attorney, Scott LaBarre, said yesterday.
"It's yet another victory in a long string of victories for blind and disabled people, demonstrating to the public as well as our government that you can't discriminate solely on the basis of blindness," said LaBarre, who is also blind.
Liz McDonough, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services, said the state has not decided whether to appeal.
The couple, who live in Grand Junction, worked at Thomas Hutchinson's sisters' day-care center until it closed down two years ago, then applied for a license to operate their own.
Both hold bachelor's degrees in child and family studies and have taken first-aid courses. Before applying for a license, they also bought safety devices to help them run a day care. Thomas Hutchinson has been blind from birth; Christine Hutchinson can perceive light.
Human Services denied them a license last year after Christine Hutchinson's doctor suggested her blindness could "adversely affect" children.
In his ruling, Norwood said the state could not deny the license based only on the couple's blindness, especially when the Hutchinsons have shown competence in caring for children.
He said the license would include restrictions the Hutchinsons would impose on themselves, including no children under 3, no more than four children at a time and no overnight stays.
<a href='http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002271724_blind12.html' target='_blank'>Judge grants blind couple right to open a day care in Colorado</a>