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"My name is Tyrone Gathings. I have a vision disability. I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, RP. I was diagnosed with this back in 1979. When I first got here to Coyote Ridge, it was a challenge for me. I used to go in the other units, because I would get lost, you know? I would go inside other people's cells, because I would get lost. It took me nine months just to see an eye doctor here. I went to Kennewick to see a specialist last month. He was amazed. He even said himself, he said, "Man, they should have had you here to see me a long time ago." I told him, I said, "That's their policy. That's their procedure." He ordered me all kinds of special glasses for the light and magnifiers to help me, and still, I haven't been provided with any of this.

 

This is a very big place. There's over 2,000 inmates here, so there's a lot of movement. You know, and if they don't see your equipment, you'll have a problem in getting around. A lady here, when I first got here, her name was Ms. Hernandez. She made some phone calls for me, like she called the Talking Book Library, because I told her I'd been a member of the Talking Book Library for over twenty years. She made some phone calls. Some equipment arrived here for me back in July of last year, and it remained in the mailroom here for all that time up until just recent.

 

Right now, they got me going to Walla Walla Community College, and I really haven't accomplished anything. I would've liked to extend my education. Like I said, I require visual aids in order to keep up with the rest of the class. I haven't been afforded any of that. Sometimes you're just put off in the corner to sit to the side, and it's kind of frustrating after a while. The way it is now, I'm just basically going back out there with no skills.

 

You want to see a cell? There's my cell right here."

 

Correctional officer: Light switch is to the right.

 

Tyrone: Yeah. There's my cell. I kind of stay to myself. I spend a lot of my time in my cell, because it's really hard, especially for somebody with a vision disability.

 

Narrator: The AVID Prison Project, Amplifying Voices of Inmates with Disabilities is a collaboration between The Arizona Center for Disability Law, Disability Law Colorado, The Advocacy Center of Louisiana, Disability Rights New York, Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities of South Carolina, Disability Rights Texas, Disability Rights Washington and The National Disability Rights Network. This video was produced by Rooted in Rights.

 

[End of Transcript]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The AVID Prison Project is a collaboration between The Arizona Center for Disability Law, Disability Law Colorado, The Advocacy Center of Louisiana, Disability Rights New York, Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities of South Carolina, Disability Rights Texas, Disability Rights Washington and The National Disability Rights Network.