[Diabetes-Talk] Medtronic sharing site

Patricia Maddix pmaddix at comcast.net
Sat Jan 23 00:13:13 UTC 2021 

So maybe we could do some sort of a survey starting with DAN and then find some other groups to see how many people are struggling with the pumps or simply not using one because they’re not accessible like you said you did in your previous survey. That sounded like great information that you got.
And maybe this could be part of the NFB insulin pump accessibility work group project.
Patricia

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jan 22, 2021, at 3:32 PM, Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Oh believe me, that's not what I'm saying. My only comment is that this is what I've heard from them and that we need to be aware of their point of view so we can figure out how to counter it right from the get go. For instance, it would be really interesting if we could find a way to figure out how many people out there have not even started thinking about using a pump because of the accessibility problems. Then we'd have some stats to toss out to them. If we start by admitting that we're dealing with a for profit system, then we know where to look for leverage and strategy. I definitely want all devices to be accessible, not a pump for the blind. Look where that's gotten us with meters. I hope this clears things up. It's just a "know your audience" type of strategy that I'm advocating. There's no excuse for this lack of access, particularly in companies who claim to serve people with diabetes. Back in 1996 I was a member of a very large email list for pumpers. At that time there was a lot of talk about non-invasive blood glucose monitors coming out soon. I set up a survey among list members asking for reasons they might want speech built in as an option in such meters. They came up with a long list of reasons for me. I had thousands of participants. I then sent my survey results to a bunch of companies. My intent was to show these companies that what makes their meter possible at all for me, also provides added benefits for everyone. I was hoping to knock the teeth out of their "not enough of you" argument. So I do think we're all after the same result. I was merely talking about possible schemes and strategies along the way.
> Veronica
> 
> 
> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now available on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide Dog Glee Club. 
> To learn more, visit:
> http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>                Veronica Elsea, Owner
> Laurel Creek Music Designs
> Santa Cruz, California
> Phone: 831-429-6407
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sandi Ryan via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 2021 3:18 PM
> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
> Cc: sjryan2 at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Medtronic sharing site
> 
> Hi Veronica,
> 
> I don't disagree with anything you've said, but what we're talking about here is having the manufacturers include accessibility in every item, which doesn't force them to make a different unit for each audience depending on needs, and doesn't cost one audience an arm and a leg and everybody else a lot smaller amount. It's the Apple model of things, and all I can say is, they did it under duress, but they went all out and did it, and it has worked very, very well. I have, a couple of times, asked to borrow a friend's iPhone, and they are always impressed that I can take their phone and use it, just like a sighted friend would. And because there are accessibility features for several different kinds of disabilities, people who have multiples don't have to choose one kind of accessibility over another one. It's all there. And that can be done with pumps. 
> 
> If we're going to work toward accessibility, we might as well go for what we really want and then do our best to work with what we get. But if we just say "We're a tiny audience, and they'll never do" this or that, we're shooting ourselves in the foot. It's our job to make them think outside their very sturdy and impermeable box!
> 
> Sandi
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 2021 4:56 PM
> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Medtronic sharing site
> 
> Actually, Apple created VoiceOver because it was being sued. They also had a much larger user base. What would we say the number of blind people using their pumps would be. It's about money when all is said and done and if there aren't enough of us, they're not going to invent a new system. And if they have their own operating system, they would pretty much have to invent from the ground up. And then there would be the models already out. And then there's the FDA. Of course if they really wanted to, they could work with these hurdles. But then, they could have done that decades ago while they were spouting all of those empty promises. Part of what we really have to do with all of these companies is to convince them that there's something in it for them. That's one of the problems with for profit medicine. Not saying we shouldn't go after them, but we need to really understand where they are and what we're up against.
> Veronica
> 
> 
> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now available on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide Dog Glee Club. 
> To learn more, visit:
> http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>                Veronica Elsea, Owner
> Laurel Creek Music Designs
> Santa Cruz, California
> Phone: 831-429-6407
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 2021 2:43 PM
> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
> Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Medtronic sharing site
> 
> Well, obviously, this is not the same as other digital devices. And not necessarily every program will work for every device. But the concept is the same. Medtronic just has to code a text-to-speech program that works with its platform. It does not have to build up from ground zero.
> 
> When Apple first created smart devices, it did not include Voiceover. When it finally realized accessibility was an important feature and discovered it would broaden its market reach, Apple programmers created a text-to-speech feature to work for its smart devices, as we all know. It didn't have to create a new phone; it just added the new feature into its existing platform.
> 
> No reason Medtronic can't do the same.
> 
> Bridgit
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 2021 2:58 PM
> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Veronica Elsea <veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com>
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Medtronic sharing site
> 
> Medtronic can't include a TalkBack feature because they don't use that sort of operating system. They'd have to invent something from scratch and they sure aren't going to do that.
> Veronica
> 
> 
> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now available on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide Dog Glee Club. 
> To learn more, visit:
> http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>                Veronica Elsea, Owner
> Laurel Creek Music Designs
> Santa Cruz, California
> Phone: 831-429-6407
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Patricia Maddix via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2021 5:03 PM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Cc: Patricia Maddix
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Medtronic sharing site
> 
> I just filled out the Medtronic idea request encouraging them to update their software on their pumps to include a talkback feature and two create an app that allows the user to control the pump from the app in an accessible way for the blind.
> I encourage as many people as possible from this list to do the same and who knows they might actually take notice. I think there is power in numbers.  I am not holding my breath however it can’t hurt.
> Patricia
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jan 21, 2021, at 3:40 PM, Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Here is the link to the share your ideas page.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/share-your-idea?utm_source=Eloqua
>> <https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/share-your-idea?utm_source=Eloqua&u
>> tm_med 
>> ium=Email&utm_campaign=NTIJan_01302021&utm_content=ShareNow&elqTrackId
>> =bbd5d
>> c92b63c4ff7ad19fee1956b9320&elq=5430f22d0e8948b8bcbd8a9448f7a9e7&elqai
>> d=3784
>> &elqat=1&elqCampaignId=1853>
>> &utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=NTIJan_01302021&utm_content=ShareNow&el
>> qTrack 
>> Id=bbd5dc92b63c4ff7ad19fee1956b9320&elq=5430f22d0e8948b8bcbd8a9448f7a9
>> e7&elq
>> aid=3784&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=1853
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Jamie Gurganus, Resource Coach       
>> 
>> Phone:  515-291-8451
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> "be Yourself;  Everyone else is already taken."
>> 
>>                                 Oscar Wilde
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
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