[Blind-international-students] meeting minutes

Thu Oct 28 18:22:03 UTC 2010

So, is "low vision" the same as "legally blind?"

Here is the problem, when we say that we want to serve "those with 
significant vision loss,"
we mean those who actually have  enough vision loss which effects their 
daily living.
Those who can drive or  read small print, (and I don't know the other 
qualifications)  yet are termed "legally blind,"
would not really "need" our services or assistance and we don't want them to 
use them.

I understand the sunglasses as a preventative measure for those who can 
already see and don't want to go blind.
Zully, have you tried contacting industries that use "safety glasses?" they 
are a bit different, but would be durable and they might be able to help. 
Actually, it seems that safety glasses would work better because they fit 
closer to the eye and will not allow dirt/sand/dust to get between the lense 
and the eye. The industries (I think) get new glasses every so often, so 
will have lots of old ones lying around. I am sure that the manufacturers 
might have an inspection process that they go through.
Since you might not demand the same durability as: "Let's say a  welding 
company" you might be able to tap into their glasses that did not make the 
cut in terms of the welders, yet could serve your purpose well.
  And, I am not saying that we should not do a project to collect glasses 
and such.

But, in my opinion,
and this is just my own opinion
(I respect the collectiveness of the group and will yield to majority)
I think that there is a larger need with those whose vision loss effects 
many of their daily living skills in such a way that they are unable to find 
work without some types of accommodation or
they are not able to read&write or receive an education comparable to their 
sighted peers.

We still should find the exact definition of "low vision"

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anmol Bhatia" <anmolpbhatia at yahoo.com>
To: "Blind International Students Mailing List" 
<blind-international-students at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Blind-international-students] meeting minutes

I agree Jan.
This is the problem with us saying significant  vision loss and I think I 
mentioned it in the last meeting.
What does significant  vision loss mean and to what degree will we consider 
significant  vision loss? Unless and until we define what we consider 
significant  vision loss it will present a problem for us when we provide 
services. Therefore, it is probally better for us to leave it at legally 
blind and we can determine who receives our services based on various 
factors such need, lack of funds and various factors. I think we need to say 
that we will provide tools and services to anyone who needs it in order  to 
be successful which would include providing eye glasses for legally blind 
people in Equidor. Low vision  I think is anyone who is legally blind which 
means that low vision is just a better term for legally blind. We could say 
that people with low vision excluding those with high parshel vision but 
again what do we consider high parshel? Proper language is vary important 
and significant  vision loss is the same arguement like reasonable
 accomadation. Americans with Disabilities mandates that employeers provide 
reasonable accomadation, but does not define what is considered reasonable 
accomadation.
Just my thoughts.
Anmol

I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps 
there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze 
among flowers.
Hellen Keller

--- On Thu, 10/28/10, Jan Wright <jan.wrightfamily5 at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Jan Wright <jan.wrightfamily5 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Blind-international-students] meeting minutes
> To: "Blind International Students Mailing List" 
> <blind-international-students at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Thursday, October 28, 2010, 10:39 AM
>
> I think that it will exclude those who do not have
> significant vision loss.
> Because... .... they don't have significant vision loss and
> therefore, we
> are saying that when the vision loss is not
> "significant," it does not
> detour them from their daily living.
>
> but, we probably should define "Significant."
> Maybe "significant vision loss," is the same as "low
> vision."
> If that has been defined, then, we can go with it.
> I mean,
> what exactly is "low,"
> If there are definitions, let us know.
> We did not like the "legally blind," definitions because we
> felt that there
> were some "legally blind" individuals who could see quite
> well and would not
> need our services.
> I know some here in the USA.
> Jan
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Causes for Change International (CCI)" <Info at CausesforChange.org>
> To: "'Blind International Students Mailing List'"
> <blind-international-students at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 6:58 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blind-international-students] meeting
> minutes
>
>
> >A question. What percentage of the
> > Population has "significant vision loss"?
> > How is that defined? Will this exclude those
> > That do not have "significant vision loss"?
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: blind-international-students-bounces at nfbnet.org
> > [mailto:blind-international-students-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Hina
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 5:22 PM
> > To: Blind International Students Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: [Blind-international-students] meeting
> minutes
> >
> > hi jan,
> > no, but please send it to me both goals and mission
> statement because i
> > and
> > philip are going to work on our web site this
> weekend.
> > hina.
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Jan Wright" <jan.wrightfamily5 at gmail.com>
> > To: "Blind International Students Mailing List"
> > <blind-international-students at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 1:35 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Blind-international-students] meeting
> minutes
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Hina,
> > Yes. we decided to change it to "Those with
> significant vision loss."
> > That will be in the goals.
> > Do you want a new copy sent to the list with the
> revisions?
> > Jan
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "hina altaf" <hinaaltaf1983 at gmail.com>
> > To: "Blind International Students Mailing List"
> > <blind-international-students at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 11:04 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Blind-international-students] meeting
> minutes
> >
> >
> > dear jan, thanks for sending out the minutes. I think
> instead of
> > legally blind, we should use words like people with
> significant vision
> > lose. The time for next meeting is this coming sunday
> at 6 pm central
> > time. if anyone has any other plans please let me know
> ahead of time.
> > any suggestions of what are some of the projects we
> can work on? zully
> > the braille writer was already taken by someone else
> and if you still
> > did not recieve one, i can try a few other resources.
> thanks.
> > hina.
> >
> > On 10/26/10, jan wright <jan.wrightfamily5 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >> The meeting Began at 8:15 P.M. (EST).
> >>
> >> Those in attendance were Hina, Anmol,
> Zaby, Jan, Philip and Imran.
> >>
> >> The goals and mission statement were read again.
> It was suggested and
> >> adopted to change " Legally blind," and "Blind and
> Low Vision" to
> >> "Those with significant vision loss."
> >> It was pointed out that there are already
> international databases of
> >> organizations. So, instead of reinventing the
> wheel, we will
> >> "evaluate" already existing databases and make
> attempts to add to them
> >> or correct them if/when possible.
> >> The goals and mission statement were accepted as
> corrected.
> >>
> >>
> >> Zaby is going to Pakistan, Karachi to
> evaluate an organization where
> >> blind people live and work. He will give us a
> report of his findings
> >> when he returns. We wish him luck and a safe
> trip.
> >> There was much discussion concerning publicity.
> >> Anmol was to write an add for us to put on the
> email lists, etc.
> >> We realize that we don't have a website, yet, but
> we could advertise
> >> the blind-international-student mailing list
> >> and our conference calls.
> >> Anmol talked about putting an advertisement
> in the Ziggler Magazine,
> >> MIUSA and the Braille forum.
> >> Hina will put something on the technology
> list.
> >> Everyone should put a blurb about the
> organization on their email
> >> lists,
> >> etc.
> >> We could also advertise on newsline, Braille
> Monitor and the Student
> >> division.
> >> We also discussed making a web site.
> >> Philip and Imran can create the web page.
> >> Imran will look into setting up a website
> and have a mailing list on
> >> freelists.
> >>
> >> We discussed grant writing and defining projects
> that are important to
> >> us. Hina would talk to Katy about grant writing.
> Anmol would
> >> investigate the grant from AAPD.
> >> Next meeting is on
> Halloween. The exact time is to be announced.
> >> This meeting was adjourned at 9:25 P.M.
> >>
> >> Respectfully submitted,
> >> Jan Wright (am in the process of changing my last
> name to Ahmed)
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >
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