The Des Moines chapter of the National Federation of the Blind is sponsoring a rally today at a post office in the downtown area of the city. Group treasurer, Peggy Chong, says the office is one that is slated to close.
Chong says the closing will impact members of the National Federation of the Blind as well as others who use the location, and they are hoping to keep it open indefinitely. Chong says the blind have the same issues with the closing as do sighted people.
She says as blind people they are affected “a little more intensely” as they can’t just turn a car around and head the other direction to a new post office. Chong says if blind person takes the bus, they may be forced to make more transfers and walk a greater distance.
Chong says the postal service has said everyone could use an alternative location, but she says that again can add more issues for the blind. Chong says the alternate post office is four blocks from the bus line and she has found in the winter that people don’t always shovel their walks and that adds to the difficulty, especially if it is icy, or there are snowdrifts.
Chong says they hope the concerns of the blind will be considered along with all the others who don’t want to see the post office closed. She says this rally is just a start in their efforts to keep the location from being closed.