[Blind-international-students] introducing myself andcomments on your discussion

Tue Aug 10 00:43:31 UTC 2010

Hi, G.,

Trust me when I say that I am the most politically incorrect person 
EVER and living in Berkeley, California that can get you in a little trouble.
I do see your point about the use of "the blind" being more natural.
I find myself feeling really uncomfortable when people avoid that 
dreaded B-word, and as I said, living in Berkeley, people are 
constantly tripping over themselves to avoid calling things like they 
are. So my common law husband, Robin and I will correct people who 
come up with everything but "blind, because Robin, having had his 
corneas explode due to undiagnosed glaucoma pressure and my having 
lost my ocular organs to RB, there's nothing impaired about any 
seeing going on here, and it's  actually offensive (to an extent that 
we can be offended) when people accuse us of being "vision impaired." 
Gimme a break. we should be so lucky.
the 'dehumanization' thingie.

>NFB stands for National Federation Of The Blind, AFB stands for American
>Foundation For The Blind, ACB stands for American Council Of The Blind.
>When Marc Maurer addresses the Federations, he refers to all of us as "the
>blind", because he knows that we need no politically correct crutches to
>salvage our self esteem.  While not particularly fond of blindness as a
>condition, I am very proud of being part of the blind, while for reasons
>that are purely grammatical, I consider myself a "blind man".
>
>
>I should like to point out that it is not dehumanizing to use Americans,
>Canadians, Italians, African Americans, Chinese  as nouns... Hence it is not
>dehumanizing.
>
>On the other hand, there seem to be some subtle usage differences, which
>make the term 'blind' more similar to French and English.  Hence,
>
>Americans, 3 Americans, and an American are OK... but
>
>English, 3 English, an English...
>
>is not... we need to say:
>
>The English, 3 English men, an English woman...
>
>same for french and seemingly for 'blind.  hence:
>
>blind, 3 blind, a blind... is grammatically poor form and semantically
>vague.  But...
>
>the blind, 3 blind women, a blind man... appears to work perfectly.
>
>Having said that, publications like AFB's AccessWorld enforces the 'people
>first' language... hence horrid circumlocutions such "access technology for
>persons that are blind"... I know this because my articles are routinely
>edited for political correctness.
>
>Even worse than 'people first' language are all the attempts to erase the
>term blind from public usage... hence "the specially sighted"... or should I
>say "Persons who are specially sighted".
>
>Best,
>
>G.
>
>
>
>Guido D. Corona
>Email: guidoc at austin.rr.com
>Home office: (512) 996-9187
>Mobile: (512) 466-1322
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blind-international-students-bounces at nfbnet.org
>[mailto:blind-international-students-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Carly
>Mihalakis
>Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 11:53 AM
>To: Blind International Students Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [Blind-international-students] introducing myself andcomments
>on your discussion
>
>Hi, List,
>
>I thought the Federation calls for everybody being the SAME, so why
>need we specify the limitations of blind people as a reason to make
>things accessible to us? How about thinking of it in terms of
>accessibility to everyone? It seems if technology were accessible to
>everyone, it may be inclusive enough to in compass blind folks
>anyway? . Further, call this semantic but referring to us as the
>"blind" seems a little dehumanizing, doncha think? Perhaps blind
>people is more comfortable? 04 AM 8/9/2010, you wrote:
> >Dear Dan and list,
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >You may be interested to read the issue below that was brought
> >before congress by the NFB in february 2010.  It is also attached.
> >
> >
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Bruce
> >
> >
> >
> >A TECHNOLOGY BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE BLIND
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Purpose:  To mandate that consumer electronics, home appliances,
> >kiosks, and electronic office technology provide user interfaces
> >that are accessible through nonvisual means.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Background:  In recent years rapid advances in microchip and digital
> >technology have led to increasingly complex user interfaces for
> >everyday products such as consumer electronics, home appliances,
> >kiosks, and electronic office technology.  Many new devices in these
> >categories require interaction with visual displays, on-screen
> >menus, touch screens, and other user interfaces that are
> >inaccessible to individuals who are blind or have low
> >vision.  Settings on the stove, dishwasher, or home entertainment
> >system are no longer controlled by knobs, switches, and buttons that
> >can be readily identified and whose settings can be easily
> >discerned.  Inaccessibility of these devices is a major barrier to a
> >blind person's independence and productivity.  If a blind person
> >cannot operate the interfaces of basic office equipment such as
> >copiers and fax machines, this is a potential threat to that
> >person's opportunity to join the workforce or to maintain an existing job.
> >
> >
> >
> >Many popular nonvisual mechanisms are available for manufacturers to
> >create interfaces accessible to everyone.  For example,
> >text-to-speech technology is inexpensive and more ubiquitous than it
> >has ever been-it is used in everything from automated telephone
> >systems to the weather forecasting service broadcast by the National
> >Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Indeed, a few manufacturers
> >have incorporated this technology into their products to create
> >talking menus or to articulate what is on the display screen, but
> >many manufacturers have continued to design interfaces that do not
> >include any nonvisual means of use, rendering the devices
> >inaccessible to blind people.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Need for Legislation:  Currently no enforceable mandates exist for
> >manufacturers of consumer electronics, home appliances, kiosks, and
> >electronic office technology to make their products accessible to
> >all consumers.  There are also no accessibility standards to provide
> >guidance to manufacturers on how to avoid creating barriers to
> >access by the blind.
> >
> >
> >
> >Congress should therefore enact a Technology Bill of Rights for the
> >Blind which:
> >
> >  a.. establishes that manufacturers must create accessible user
> > interfaces for their products,
> >  b.. provides a means for enforcement, and
> >  c.. establishes standards that will provide meaningful benchmarks
> > that manufacturers can use to make their products accessible.
> >
> >
> >This legislation does not mandate a single, one-size-fits-all
> >solution for all consumer technology, home appliances, kiosks, or
> >electronic office technology.  Rather it mandates regulations
> >setting meaningful accessibility standards that allow manufacturers
> >to select from a menu of potential solutions or create new
> >ones.  This will not only give manufacturers the freedom and
> >flexibility they desire, but will also encourage innovations that
> >make consumer technology more usable for everyone.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Proposed Legislation:  Congress should enact a Technology Bill of
> >Rights for the Blind that:
> >
> >
> >
> >  a.. Mandates that all consumer electronics, home appliances,
> > kiosks, and electronic office technology be designed so that blind
> > people are able to access the same functions as sighted people by
> > nonvisual means and with substantially equivalent ease of use.
> >
> >
> >  a.. Creates a commission to establish standards for nonvisual
> > accessibility of electronic devices intended for use in the home or
> > office. Such a commission should represent all stakeholders, including:
> >-          organizations of the blind;
> >
> >-          manufacturers of consumer electronics, home appliances,
> >kiosks, and electronic office technology, or associations
> >representing such manufacturers; and
> >
> >-          experts on universal design, electronic engineering, and
> >related fields.
> >
> >
> >
> >  a.. Endows the Department of Justice with the authority to enforce
> > the regulations promulgated by the commission established by this
>legislation.
> >
> >
> >  a.. Authorizes the commission to reexamine and rewrite standards
> > periodically as consumer electronic technology continues to evolve.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Requested Action:  Please support blind Americans and cosponsor a
> >Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind to ensure that blind people
> >can fully participate in all aspects of American society.  Increased
> >access leads to increased independence, increased employment, and
> >increased tax revenue.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Contact Information:
> >
> >Lauren McLarney
> >
> >Government Programs Specialist
> >
> >NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
> >
> >Phone:  (410) 659-9314, extension 2207
> >
> >Email:  lmclarney at nfb.org
> >
> >----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
> >To: "'Blind International Students Mailing List'"
> ><blind-international-students at nfbnet.org>
> >Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 6:40 AM
> >Subject: Re: [Blind-international-students] introducing myself
> >andcomments on your discussion
> >
> >
> >>And, on the subject of accessibility issues for which there is no
> >>work-around, what abut the plethora of new house-hold appliances which
>have
> >>read-outs and no
> >>Feasible work-around?
> >>In the apartment where I used to live, there were washers and driers on
>the
> >>first floor.
> >>Totally flat buttons, and you were obliged to use a card to start the
> >>machine. You could not tell when you were close to running out of money on
> >>your card. To recharge the card, you needed to use a machine that was
> >>totally inaccessible.
> >>I'm sure everyone has come across similar appliances in the last few
>years.
> >>Is there anyone working on ideas to handle this frustrating maddening
> >>dilemma?
> >>
> >>Dan W
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
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>bjsexton%40comcast.net
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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>
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