[HumanSer] Apologize for only Lurking Lately!

Tue Aug 4 16:03:04 UTC 2026

Yes, Ashley, the help you get in school has gotten a lot better but sadly, the real world still isn’t opening its doors to us like they should. Wow, this is an Nfb List and I shouldn’t say this. I am grateful for both organizations, Nfb and ACB who continue to do the fighting. One person alone can’t change the world as we all know. We have been trying to work with some of the job coach agencies in the area to see if there’s a way we can create an advocacy group that would work by educating businesses. That way HR wouldn’t have to feel like they’re going alone. There would be someone they could call for.  for answers. It would be a resource for them that was lead basically by people with disabilities who know more than subsided person in an office.  Nothing‘s really gotten off the ground, but we’ve planted some seeds.

One example I can tell you is not mine, but a friend of mine. She is hearing and visually impaired. She has social work, education training, and raised two girls by herself because well her husband was a jerk. So anyway, she’s a stubborn, hard-working gal and quite funny. Anyhow, she worked at the state school For The Blind for years doing personal care work and an educational assistant. She does now have her masters, but did not get the opportunity to do the student teaching, which is sad. Anyhow, in Wisconsin, they have the early autism project which takes kids from birth to three helping them learn social skills and how to communicate better  better in training the families so that when the specialist comes, the kid has been practicing. I love the fact it’s a family affair. They trained the parents or caregiver or whatever. I thought about doing this 20 some years ago, but never filed through on it. My friend is in the training and hopefully we’ll be hired. She  She’s scared about the technology because she’s not any better than I am. But I talked to her yesterday and she’s gotta just keep calm. Zoom wasn’t working on her computer, but she did the zoom training on her phone yesterday and it worked OK.

Thank you all for your support and stories. Have a great day and keep them coming.

And J. Nelson BSW and gerontology certificate 
KE9DYn, Gernal class Amature Radio 
1921  W. State  st
Janesville WI 53546
H: 608-754-8671
C: 608–2 08–3419

> On Aug 3, 2026, at 4:50 PM, Ashley Bramlett via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Ericka,
> 
> I also liked Hope's story. Quite inspirational to do so many things
> Including caring for a mother with dementia.
> 
> All my high school and college was done in the late 1990s and early this millennium.
> 
> I completed my high school studies in 2002 from Robinson Secondary school and earned my standard diploma there and then completed college this millennium from Marymount University
> 
> I was in college just as there was a move to greater online access such as those learning management platforms where professors post notes, announcements, and have all course documents like their syllabus and powerpoints that went with lectures.
> 
> Learning management software such as Blackboard and Canvas are fairly usable with Jaws and other screen readers.
> But research databases seemed harder to use sometimes, but as Hope said, if you ask the University, they can work with you to make it accessible such as converting pdf research articles into readable text that is html based.
> You can also ask classmates to be human readers for you. They do not  need to read everything but just the highlights of the textbook or if researching, the research article highlights like abstracts, method, and results sections.
> I found that recording the readers helped me to review it; I would make a new recording for each article. You can use a digital recorder like the Olympus recorder for this or Victor reader stream if you have that or your Iphone with one of its recording apps.
> 
> When she said,
> "There is a far more difficult/ interesting challenge that we the B/VI
> community confront moving forward.
>  Over the past 15 years, I have cared for my Dear Mother stricken with
> severe dementia until her death; earned my MSW; earned my LSW in both
> Indiana & Illinois.
> 
> Here's what I can tell you unequivocally, is: technology  and web-
> accessibility will be your most challenge.
> 
> While digital books and journal articles (scholarly) will always come
> and go and will always be accessible for students; educational
> institutions will make it possible. accessible databanks (proprietary)
> websites  (in the
> workplace) will not."
> 
> I agree very much and very well said.
> 
> Universities will work with you much more; workplaces will not; they will simply hire another employee who does not need accommodations.
> 
> 
> Good luck with your studies!
> 
> Sincerely,
> Ashley
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HumanSer <humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Ericka Nelson via HumanSer
> Sent: Monday, August 3, 2026 2:31 PM
> To: humanser at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Ericka Nelson <erickanelson88 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [HumanSer] Apologize for only Lurking Lately!
> 
> Hope, I love your story! I totally agree with the people that are supposedly advocating for us but failed to talk to the businesses. My husband and I would love to be doing that but we’re too busy fighting battles and nobody seems to really support this year.
> 
> 
> And J. Nelson BSW and gerontology certificate KE9DYn, Gernal class Amature Radio
> 1921  W. State  st
> Janesville WI 53546
> H: 608-754-8671
> C: 608–2 08–3419
> 
>> On Jun 24, 2026, at 9:00 PM, Hope Lewis via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello Ericka:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I wish you the best. In addition, I would like for you to know that
>> one's age is so much less consequential as one's determination.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> As an individual with a visual impairment (acquired at age 19), I can
>> tell you, without a doubt; educational institutions learn best from
>> those of us with lived experiences. So. be encouraged!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> There is a far more difficult/ interesting challenge that we the B/VI
>> community confront moving forward.
>> 
>> Over the past 15 years, I have cared for my Dear Mother stricken with
>> severe dementia until her death; earned my MSW; earned my LSW in both
>> Indiana & Illinois.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I have worked in myriad practice settings (i.e. K-12 education,
>> community mental health, local municipalities, etc.) both in-person
>> and online. O, I forgot to mention. as of May 31 of this year. I am now 62!!!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Here's what I can tell you unequivocally, is: technology  and web-
>> accessibility will be your most challenge.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> While digital books and journal articles (scholarly) will always come
>> and go and will always be accessible for students; educational
>> institutions will make it possible. accessible databanks (proprietary)
>> websites  (in the
>> workplace) will not.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Here is both the question & the challenge: who is asking businesses,
>> corporations, and agencies to bring true web access for those of us
>> who require web accessibility?.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Moreover, those of us whom ask these questions on a regular basis of
>> businesses, corporations, and organizations would like to know the
>> best way to incorporate assistive tech into modern technology relative
>> to the workplace; both in-person & remotely.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Finally, I would like anyone on this list to inquire, in their state:
>> how many web developers are there in their state specifically working
>> in the state vocational rehabilitation arena on behalf of the B/VI community?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Again, I wish you the best in your educational endeavors Ericka and
>> yet, I challenge you to ask the difficult questions for the next generation.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Be well,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Hope Lewis, LMSW
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Hope Lewis, MSW, LSW
>> 
>> Hlewis64 at gmails.com
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
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