[Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired people, There Are Ways To Fund It

Fri Dec 22 20:58:40 UTC 2017

I would urge you and others to not make generalizations about individuals.  We do not all think alike, as much as some people would have you believe otherwise.

Dave

David Andrews | Chief Technology Officer
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development 
State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave West, Suite 240, St. Paul MN 55114
Direct: 651-539-2294
Web | Twitter | Facebook

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andy Baracco via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2017 2:42 PM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Andy Baracco <wq6r at socal.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired people, There Are Ways To Fund It

We don't often agree, but I do so here. And we're not even discussing a necessity.

Andy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerald Levy via Electronics-Talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Gerald Levy" <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2017 3:20 AM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired people, There Are Ways To Fund It

>
> It is absolutely astonishing to me that a Federationist would suggest 
> that a blind person short on cash grovel on a street corner with 
> fiddle and tin cup to raise enough money just to buy a smart phone.  
> This is prcisely the type of behavior that reinforces the negative 
> stereotype that is widely held by the general public that many blind 
> people are just a bunch of lazy mendicants who are looking for a handout.
>
> Gerald
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ashley Bramlett via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2017 1:11 AM
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
> Cc: Ashley Bramlett
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired 
> people, There Are Ways To Fund It
>
> Peter,
>
> good ideas and I was going to recommend that.
> I know the price for adaptive equipment is high and I'd have more 
> things like a braillle display if it were affordable.
> I make do with what I have such as my old braille notetaker.
>
> However, if you really cannot afford a product and cannot get 
> assistance from family, you can do what you suggested or there are 
> usually assistive tech loans out there.
> I know virginia has some sort of low interest loan for adaptive tech. 
> And also, there  might be help from NFB national or state affiliates.
>
> Ashley
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Donahue via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 4:07 PM
> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
> Cc: Peter Donahue
> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] Smartphone for visually impaired people, 
> There Are Ways To Fund It
>
> Good afternoon everyone,
>
> There's always Busking, Crowdfunding, Dumpster diving,Network 
> Marketing, and other ways to increase one's income to cover the cost 
> of assistive technology without getting rehab involved. If you want it 
> bad enough you'll find a way to raise funds to buy it. That's what you 
> would need to do if you were sighted. Some of the ideas above even 
> allow you to do a little community service in the process of 
> increasing your income to cover these costs.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Michael Russillo via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 3:00 PM
> To: S L Johnson via Electronics-Talk
> Cc: Michael Russillo
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] FW: Smartphone for visually impaired 
> people
>
> Amen to that; the blindness market is a smaller one--I know, I know, 
> that's been hashed over time and again.  We should see if the company 
> has an installment plan to pay for those tech items gradually; 
> alternatively check with NFB for low-interest tech loans; just my 2 
> cents.
>
>
> Peter
>
>
> On 12/13/2017 3:26 PM, S L Johnson via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>> Hello:
>>
>> Thanks for this information.  I got excited when I began to read 
>> about a phone that I could use that was a smart phone with real easy 
>> to feel buttons.  Then I got to the price.  Why do all the companies 
>> making products for the blind price them so high that most of us 
>> cannot afford them?  I know you will all say research and development 
>> but the reality is that most blind people, especially retired seniors 
>> who have to live on less than $760 per month, cannot afford it.  I 
>> wish there was some way of making these products more affordable to 
>> all of us.  A smart phone with GPS, OCR scanning and other helpful 
>> apps would be a great help to all blind people but only those with 
>> the financial resources will be able to have it.  The same is true 
>> with the Braille notetakers.  All of these wonderful products will 
>> never be in the hands of most of the blind because of their high 
>> price.  I know it will never change but I wish it would because I 
>> really could use this phone and a new Braille notetaker that is still 
>> supported and up to date instead of used equipment that I can no 
>> longer get repaired by companies who no longer support them.  I 
>> apologize for venting but I am reallyfrustrated!
>>
>> Sandra Johnson
>> SLJohnson25 at comcast.net
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Tracy Carcione via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 11:37 AM
>> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
>> Cc: Tracy Carcione
>> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] FW: Smartphone for visually impaired 
>> people
>>
>> Some people recently were asking about easy-to-use phones, so I 
>> forward this
>> ad:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: Irie-AT [mailto:sales at irie-at.com]
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 11:31 AM
>> Subject: Smartphone for visually impaired people
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> <https://irie-at.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fbe22e0e299fe21f72
>> d
>> c7bd81&id=544bdebc61&e=5daf9aa555>
>> Image removed by sender. SmartVision 2 -the Smartphone for the 
>> visually impaired
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Announcing the new SmartVision2!
>>
>>
>> Smartphones too difficult to see or too confusing to use? 
>> SmartVision2 could be for you.
>>
>> SmartVision2 is the only smartphone designed specifically for people 
>> with visual impairments. Complete with a high-contrast display, 
>> speech input and feedback and even a tactile keypad and buttons, 
>> SmartVision2 can adapt to your needs. And SmartVision2 is very easy to learn and use.
>>
>> <https://irie-at.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fbe22e0e299fe21f72
>> d
>> c7bd81&id=bbc3dfb59c&e=5daf9aa555>
>> Learn More
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> <https://irie-at.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fbe22e0e299fe21f72
>> d
>> c7bd81&id=71639feb93&e=5daf9aa555>
>> Image removed by sender. John's Demo Room | SmartVision 2 
>> demonstration video
>>
>>
>> Watch a demonstration video now!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> <https://irie-at.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fbe22e0e299fe21f72
>> d
>> c7bd81&id=971befe084&e=5daf9aa555>
>> Image removed by sender. Image of the SmartVision 2 phone menu
>> 