[nabs-l] [stylist] Instead of Cars, Jobs

[Peter Donahue]

Good evening everyone,

    Cars drivable by a blind person can mean more employment opportunities. 
In another ten years or so it could be common to see blind cab drivers, 
blind bus drivers, blind engineers, and blind pilots to name a few. If you 
take the time to study and understand the goals of the Blind Driver 
Challenge you will observe that the aims and goals of the NFB are all 
interconnected. For those who don't know there is now a Web site dedicated 
solly to the Blind Driver Challenge. The URL is:
http://www.blinddriverchallenge.org

        The site contains lots of information about this dynamic project; 
one I imagined and shared with others as far back as 1968.  Creating new 
employment possibilities is just one facet of this endeavor. Remember that 
the next time the bus or your paratransit vehicle is late or fails to show 
and you're forced to travel on their schedule, not your own. All the best.

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jewel S." <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
To: <jsorozco at gmail.com>; "Writer's Division Mailing List" 
<stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 6:45 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Instead of Cars, Jobs


Who says the NFB can't persue both? The NFB has been working hard for
*both* jobs for blind people and the accessible car project. Why can't
we have both? I just don't understand this hostility toward the
project to create a car that is accessible to the blind. It is
interesting, and may someday produce easier transportation for the
blind, which will in turn allow for more jobs for the blind. Two birds
with one stone! For example, I worked as a nanny. One of the reasons I
would not be able to work as a nanny now (as verbalized by the few
families who took the time to interview me after seeing my white cane)
was that I did not have reliable transportation. If there was an
emergency, I could not simply hop in the car with their child/ren and
rush to the emergency room. Nor could I drive to the child's school on
the drop of a dime to pick them up if they got sick or were in
trouble. If there were a car that I could drive, this would not be a
valid point. So, having a blind-friendly car would create jobs!

My two cents,
Jewel

On 8/24/10, Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com> wrote:
> See, instead of using current resources on distant future projects like 
> the
> blind driver challenge, the NFB could be using funds to pursue 
> opportunities
> like the one below, projects that actively find ways to put people into 
> jobs
> in the here and now.  I hope someone in Baltimore tracks these kinds of
> opportunities:
>
>  Department of Labor: Add Us In Initiative
>
> CFDA: 17.720
>
> Deadline: September 1, 2010
>
> Amount: Estimated funds available: $2,300,000. Estimated grant range:
> $500,000-$625,000. Estimated number of awards: Up to 4.
>
> Eligibility: Eligible consortiums consisting of four organization types,
> including an association of targeted business owners or other similar
> entity, a
> disability-serving organization, a local workforce investment board, and a
> youth-serving organization (See full announcement for additional
> information.)
>
>
> Description: This program provides support to eligible consortia efforts 
> to
> design, implement, and evaluate innovative systems models that support
> integrated
> employment opportunities for people with disabilities within targeted
> businesses. Priority will be given to proposed activities that integrate 
> the
> following
> objectives: increase the ability of targeted businesses to employ adults 
> and
> youth with disabilities; develop and evaluate replicable models, 
> strategies
> and policies that would ensure that youth and adults from targeted
> populations with disabilities have access to a broader range of employment
> and mentoring
> opportunities; and, form and strengthen connections between targeted
> businesses, diversity-serving organizations, youth-serving organizations,
> and disability-serving
> organizations, building a national and local network of experts skilled in
> serving individuals with disabilities.
>
> Contact:
> Cassandra Mitchell,
> 202-693-4570
>
>
>
> Joe
>
> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves,
> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com

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