[nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act

[Jason Mandarino]

Jim,

I first want to commend your intentions as I think it is very important and
valuable to be one who is aimed toward integrating into society rather than
bending society.

However, in spirit of being American, we are meant to be a nation that
supports and cares for its minorities. The whole purpose of making buildings
handicap accessible is to promote the equality of individuals that are
unable to utilize stairs or narrow doors. Our nation has been devoted to the
change for equality as we have fought for racial reconciliation, gender
equality, education opportunities, and much more.

America prides itself on being so accessible to information, but I find that
although the internet is a friend to information it is an enemy to thought.
Those who care about me and know me barely think for me, and those who do
not know me will never think for me until I introduce myself. We are a
market driven society that thrives on practical knowledge, and until things
are done to promote blindness, the sighted world will become more and more
removed from our grasp. I believe that the issue of touch phones is already
taunting this reality, and other common appliances that have spurred our
Federation to propose a technology bill of rights.

Now how many times have you had someone ask you about Braille on ATM
machines? They do not realize that there is Braille on the ATM machines
within wall mart or other walk up tellers, but only the drive through
machines. They also do not realize that they are made in the same place, and
it is easier to adapt all of them, rather than a select few. My new
municipal court building has a talking elevator as well, and I could point
that such a thing is unnecessary. However, when people downtown see me, they
forget that the sound prompts helped them out, and are more impressed with
the novelty that I have an opportunity to be prompted to the floor I chose.

My point being, there are plenty of things that I personally find dumb, but
they are beneficial in spurring the thinking in the majority. Perhaps the
most hilarious find on my campus is that they went a bit over board on the
Braille signs. There is a sign located in the middle of my cafeteria that is
labeled cafeteria, and I was informed by its existence through a friend who
was curious. I follow along the wall of that particular section, and would
easily go my entire time on campus without knowing there is a sign in the
middle of a room just for me!

However, my classrooms are labeled, and all I needed was some assistance in
knowing where buildings were located rather than every class room.

Sincerely,

Mandarino


-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
of Jim Reed
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 6:08 PM
To: MAB List
Subject: [nabs-l] Pedestrian safety improvement act

Hello,
I am not quite sure how to feel on this issue. On one hand, quiet cars might
pose a saftey risk to blind persons and others, but on the other hand, there
is such a thing as noise pollution, air pollution, dependence on forign oil,
and enviromental damage.  

Aditionally, there is another element of this issue related to the support
or hinderance of societal progress. Hybrids represent the next great leap in
our society, if additional laws are passed regulating this development, it
may prove to hinder the development of the hybrid car. Remember, the impact
of hybrid cars isnt just a blindness issue, there are much more importiant
nation issues at stake. For example, national security risk via a dependence
of forign oil.

There are also economic concerns. The continued research and development of
hybrids, alternative fuels, and  "green" energy, will potentially be the
savior of our economy. If hybrids become the next big thing, they could
jumpstart the nearly dead auto industry, thus helping our economy and
individual families. If you go to the national convention in Detroit, you
will all see first hand the conciquences of this current economic collapes.
Now is the time to be supporting industy and inovation, not hindering it.

Lastly, if blind independence is truely the goal of the NFB and blind
persons, then the burden is on us -- blind people-- to adapt to the changing
world, the burden is not on the world to adapt to us. Perhaps in the era of
silent cars, it may be time to tweak cane-travel methodologies? 

I can't support this. I will not be a party to the hinderance of societal
progress, continued enviromental degradfation,  or further economic decline.
I will not expect industy or tax payers to foot the bill because I (we)
refuse to adapt. 

Well thats my two cents
Jim

"Ignorance killed the cat; curiosity was framed." 


      
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