[Blind-Rollers] Potential Benefits of Super Lidar for Blind Rollers

[Karen Rose]

Hi. I was replying only to Shane and did not realize this would go to list. So further explanation – I am a full-time psychotherapist, so I am very very privileged to be able to afford to work with this company free. I certainly agree that we should be paid, as our sighted people for other companies, for our time and skills. However I am fortunate enough not to need this at the present time, but very much do you need a way to move safely while using a walker and leaving a rehab hospital in one week. This would be the perfect app if we can make it work. So I apologize for any misunderstanding regarding  the need to pee blind people for user testing in general. 

Karen Rose MFT/LPCC www.career-therapy.net

> On Feb 28, 2022, at 9:44 AM, Karen Rose via Blind-Rollers <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Shane. For me personally, I completely disagree with this. I am more than happy to do any beta testing, work with developers, etc. completely free! I need this tool. And quickly. I am leaving the hospital March 8 to go home and out into a community! If there is anything I can do to work with your developers, testers etc. right now, I will more than happily devote as much time is needed completely free! Hope that is helpful to someone 
> 
> Karen Rose MFT/LPCC www.career-therapy.net
> 
>> On Feb 28, 2022, at 9:34 AM, Shane Lowe via Blind-Rollers <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> To be honest, this is baffling to me. I am the only community
>> operations person at Mediate, and have no idea from where they are
>> pulling information in regards to our budget. It seems to me there is
>> little I can do to actually prove my sincerity, because it appears
>> that the only satisfactory response is of monetary value. I fully
>> respect and agree with your position, and it is correct as it pertains
>> to many companies. I'm afraid it doesn't fit us.
>> 
>>>> On 2/24/22, Starry_sky at live.com <Starry_sky at live.com> wrote:
>>> Hello Shane, I floated your email to a friend who is a business
>>> strategist (with disabilities).  Here is the reply:
>>> 
>>> Unfortunately, this is the typical answer "we would like to pay people
>>> with disabilities but can't because of [insert excuse here]".  There are
>>> different ways to compensate but doesn't sound like they are offering
>>> anything.  At least that other company offered a meager gift card.
>>> 
>>> From what I can piece together, it seems that Mediate has enough funds
>>> but it just isn't budgeted to compensate this user community. Mediate
>>> chose to pay for a team of five or six "community engagement managers"
>>> to find and convince members of the disability community to work for
>>> free or to sort through community exchanges to glean ideas.  Then
>>> Mediate sell those features and products back to us or profit in other
>>> ways.  Then they want more free ideas and free testing from us. The
>>> cycle continues as they spend those profits to find more ways to use us
>>> without compensating us.
>>> 
>>> Everyone with and without disabilities should work to change that
>>> business model and stop providing excuses to perpetuate it.  Is Shane
>>> willing to be a part of the solution?  There needs to be a shift of
>>> mindset at Mediate (and all other companies) so everyone benefits.  What
>>> if Mediate allocates part of that budget for a program that respectfully
>>> compensates people with disabilities' time, skills, and insights?  Then
>>> Mediate won't need a team to glean our ideas and convince us to work for
>>> free because there would be a line of people w disabilities ready,
>>> willing, and able to work with Mediate.
>>> 
>>> On Feb 23, 2022, Shane Lowe via Blind-Rollers <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> You have an excellent point,