[Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice comments

Tue Jan 24 07:19:36 UTC 2012

Yes, agree. Again, no savvy, political expert, but people want to
criticize a president like Obama, but they have no concept of what being
president is, nor do they completely understand the inner workings of
politics. It's not like Obama says this is the plan and we are going to
do it. It requires a vote from the Senate and House, and if they can't
agree, then things don't happen. Obama has been cock blocked, pardon my
French, on every issue. And with a Republican majority, especially
Republicans who seem to truly hate the current president, nothing gets
done. Unfortunately, it all falls on the shoulders of the president. It
is a tough climate right now especially with the economy, and everyone
wants to see action and quick fixes, but no one but Obama seems to want
to compromise and be truly bipartisan. Okay, on a good day I'm not a
political guru, but I do have opinions, and I must say I agree with your
thoughts on how to best continue with issues like the Federation's tech
bill of rights. I'll say this, and I say it with no insider knowledge,
that it will definitely take time, but we will see a tech bill of rights
pass long, long, long before we ever see cars for the blind on the road.
Ha-ha. Just my thought.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 10:28 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice comments

I tend to agree with you. We'll eventually get a Tech Bill of rights but
it may not be nearly as soon as people would like.

Believe me, our national staff was sympathetic to ensuring that diabetes
equipment was included and was going to argue that it should be
considered so before the commission that was to be set up. But right now
with the Republicans in power, it was a no-win game.

Since I'm writing off-list, the best thing anyone can do is to vote for
Barak Obama and every Democratic candidate for both Senate and House. I
know people criticized President Obama for not being bold like FDR but
it shows how abysmal our knowledge of civics and politics is these days
that they forget that FDR had a tremendous majority in Congress,
especially during 1933-1935 and 1935-1937. It's all about votes and
President Obama could be as bold as he wished but if he didn't have the
votes, it's sound and fury signifying nothing.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 6:43 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice comments

Dolly Madison told her hubby to "not forget the women" when drafting the
bill of rights, and of course, the women were forgotten. Using  this as
a reference to display how the diabetics shouldn't be "forgotten" in a
technology bill of rights, grin.

As for the current political climate, I understand why we have revised
the bill for now. It is a strange season politically. Maybe we can try
another push with the tech bill of rights after the 2012 elections, but
I'm not so optimistic about things regardless of who takes office next.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at: http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"History is not what happened; history is what was written down." The
Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 7:59 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice comments

Dolly Madison situation? I don't follow.

As for the Technology Bill of Rights, we (NFB) have pulled in our horns
a bit. Given the current make-up of the House of Representatives and the
adamant opposition of the majority party in the House to "mandates", it
was decided to reduce the scope of the Technology Bill of rights to
cover only home Appliances at this juncture. Thus, kiosks, office
equipment and, presumably, medical equipment, are not covered in the
proposed Home Appliance Accessibility Act. While this is disappointing
to those of us who use medical equipment that we wish were accessible
without vision, this is certainly understandable and, in the current
political climate, wise. It's far easier to explain to an obstinate
congressperson why one might want access to one's stove or laundry
equipment than it is to cover a more extensive list of products. Even
so, we're rolling the stone uphill. I won't write further in this vein
as I might wax partisan and NFB is nonpartisan. If you want to read a
diatribe on the subject, write me privately. (huge
grin)

Insofar as what we can do, I'll give some advice privately. But
publicly, I think the best we can do re accessibility is to await the
results of the 2012 elections and hope the next Congress will be mor
conducive to mandates.

We can still work at the state level to make insurance carriers put what
accessible products there are on their formularies. I confess that I
have not caused a bill to be introduced in the Washington state
legislature to this effect though I know where in statute it should
reside as the legislature is dealing primarily with figuring out how to
balance our budjget and it's a short session so any bill I would have
introduced would go nowhere. I hope the legislative climate is better
next year.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 1:24 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice comments

Just out of curiosity, what is being done, or has been done, helping
diabetics receive the nonvisual tools, such as talking meters, essential
for independent management, and is this something that would be covered
under the technology bill of rights? And are there any updates on this
bill? And if diabetic needs are not specifically mentioned in the
current bill, what can any of us do to ensure we are listed on it? Don't
want another Dolly Madison situation, smile.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at: http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"History is not what happened; history is what was written down." The
Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Colleen Roth
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 12:37 PM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice comments

Hi,
My Prescription Provider only covers strips and lancets from two
companies. It is amazing but Expess Scrips can't figure out why a
totally blind person needs to have a talking meter. Colleen Roth

----- Original Message -----
From: Albert Sanchez <albertsanchez at suddenlink.net>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Monday, Jan 23, 2012 09:22:53 AM
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Voice comments

>
>
> Hello List
> I have been using a Prodigy Voice glucometer for the last several
> years and am quite pleased with it. I recently had a need to find the 
> meters
serial 
> number which is on the back. Since both my wife and I are totally
blind I 
> had to wait until I could get sighted assistance in finding that
number and 
> it occurred to me that since I can get an audible "readout" of the
serial 
> number from my Digital Talking Book player and my VR Stream, would it
be 
> possible to get that type of information built in to the "Voice"? I
called 
> Prodigy Tech Support with that idea. I was told by their
representative that 
> "if it happened at all, it would be a long time before it would be
> implemented. The reason for the importance of the Serial Number is
that some 
> software to download your readings from the meter to the computer
requires 
> the meters serial number.
> 
> Am I the only one who wonders about this, or are their others on list
> with input into this discussion question.
> 
> Yours Cordially
> Albert Sanchez
> 
> 
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