[Blind-international-students] meeting minutes

Fri Oct 29 15:44:00 UTC 2010

 Hi Anmol,
I agree that the children with the least vision should get our  assistance 
first.
And,
many blind schools are slowly targeting those with multiple disabilities: so 
the blind person  who only has his/her blindness as a disability is 
mainstreamed.
 I do understand what you are saying about partially sighted seeming to be 
able to function with a minimal amount of modifications.
when I went to get my dog, there was a woman who could read  road signs from 
the bus. she was getting a dog, also.
There was another man who could see perfectly fine in the day and said that 
he needed a guide dog for night time use:
yet, his work, etc was in the daytime.
These two: this older woman and this man actually did not seem to need the 
dog's assistance much.
But, It was not my decision.
I guess left for another time and topic.

----- 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 2:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Blind-international-students] meeting minutes

Jan I agree with you, but. This is why we need to define what is low vision. 
Someone who can drive and read regular print does need our services, but 
what about those read large print or can read regular print with corrective 
measures such as glasses? I think that those who are totally blind or those 
who read braille and need cane or a dog to get around need our services 
first because those are the people who have it the hardest and then those 
who have low enough vision to read large print and need glasses to carry out 
everyday tasks. The ironic thing is that in my country there would be alot 
more people who would be considered legally blind if they used the same 
standard as they used in this country and alot more people would be 
attending blind schools. This is just my oppinion and it is off topic, but 
most people who attend blind school do not really have a vision problem 
enough to alter their lives and could make it in regular public schools, but
 attend blind schools because it is easy. But this is best left for another 
discussion.
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, 1:22 PM
>
> 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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> > > naaltaf1983%40gmail.com
> > >>
> > >
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