BLOWING THE WHISTLE on the SZBA

[Zenkon]

Title 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits commercial organizations such as schools from discriminating against individuals with disabilities, and requires organizations to make "reasonable accomodations". SZBA is based in Calif. I "think" a case could be made that they are subject to the act. At least, it might be worth having a lawyer look into it. Often, just the threat of such a lawsuit is enough to generate change.

Gassho

Zenkon

[Jundo]

Title 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits commercial organizations such as schools from discriminating against individuals with disabilities, and requires organizations to make "reasonable accomodations". SZBA is based in Calif. I "think" a case could be made that they are subject to the act. At least, it might be worth having a lawyer look into it. Often, just the threat of such a lawsuit is enough to generate change.

Gassho

Zenkon

It is not a legal matter, just Dharma and ethics and a compassionate heart.

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Jishin]

BLOWING THE WHISTLE on the SZBA

Title 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits commercial organizations such as schools from discriminating against individuals with disabilities, and requires organizations to make "reasonable accomodations". SZBA is based in Calif. I "think" a case could be made that they are subject to the act. At least, it might be worth having a lawyer look into it. Often, just the threat of such a lawsuit is enough to generate change.

Gassho

Zenkon

This is a difficult issue. If priests could be thought of as doctors, then the practice of medicine has a model in place to ensure only qualified professionals practce their trade.

In the case of medicine, there is a long world wide tradition where students compete fiercely for a few covered spots to become a doctor. Those that are lucky get accepted to medical school after many years of study and continue their training and may eventually become general doctors and then further specialize. After becoming doctors and finishing several years of specialization, doctors begin their trade independent of supervision from other doctors.

When doctors have finished all of their academic training, they are monitored by a medical board constituted by other doctors and members of the general public appointed by the government whose function is then to protect the public by ensuring that doctors are capable of continuing their duties as physicians. For example, a doctor who develops a hand tremor may no longer operate or one that develops mental illness or an addictve disorder may no longer work due to their disability.

This is as it should be. A job has to be done regardless of ability or disability. No reasonable accomodations can be made for a doctor in the operating room who can not utilize the operating instruments safely. Reasonable accommodations can not be made to any doctor who is unable to practice medicine safely due to mental disability.

Other professions such as law, accounting, engineering, nursing, professional sports, etc. all have standards that must be met by it's practitioners.

Because I am not a priest or have intimate knowledge of the education system of priests, I don't know what the appropriate standards should be in educating priests but I can easily understand why changing the system would be difficult given all the complexity involved in determining who is ultimately fit to do the job.

My 2 cents,

Gassho, Jishin, ST, LAH

[Jundo]

Other professions such as law, accounting, engineering, nursing, professional sports, etc. all have standards that must be met by it's practitioners.

Because I am not a priest or have intimate knwledge of the education system of priests, I don't know what the appropriate standards should be in educating priests but I can easily understand why changing the system would be difficult given all the complexity involved in determining who is ultimately fit to do the job.

My 2 cents,

Gassho, Jishin, ST, LAH

Hi Jishin,

Yes, I thought about this, but it is a little different. A visually impaired or quadraplegic surgeon is one thing, but there are many things that a disabled Zen priest can do well and beneficial to others despite and often (because of their window on human suffering) because of their disability. This includes priests who need special paths of training. There is no reason that an excellent priest cannot be trained even if unable to perform certain skills, for there are many priestly skills.

Furthermore, I have even known visually impaired and paraplegic doctors, and they can often find a good place ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE7FZxaPl-k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X71TP7hitlo

Gassho, J

STLah

[Gareth]

I haven’t been added to the group yet...though I haven’t been declined either. I guess it can take a few days sometimes.

Gassho,
Gareth
Sat today