[nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag

Thu Feb 4 04:43:53 UTC 2010

Yes... you make the same points I did, though perhaps more concisely.
On Feb 3, 2010, at 10:21 PM, Sarah Jevnikar wrote:

> All the points raised are valid ones, which I agree with on principle, but
> we need to look at this from other angles. Yes technology for the blind is
> expensive, but that's because it's a niche market, so to speak. The number
> of people requiring Braille or text to speech strictly because they cannot
> read a screen is small in comparison to the larger populous. Economically
> speaking, this means that there is a small demand, so prices must be higher
> for technology providers to make profits. They need these profits to
> operate, as any business would. So I would wonder if a better pursuit isn't
> to pressure mainstream technology providers to make their products more
> blind-friendly so that the number of assistive devices we need to purchase
> is lessened. Obviously anything to do with Braille would unfortunately have
> to remain in a "blind-specific" company, but given that North America has an
> aging population it should make sense that technology providers make screens
> larger, have better contrasts, and make all menus optionally audible. Apple
> is making serious headway in this matter, and I think they are setting a
> precedent that all companies should be following in order to remain
> competitive. Scanners and OCR technology should in theory be made more
> accessible (Adobe is making improvements in this way too) because companies
> are now trying to make themselves as paperless as possible. Given that all
> scanning and text-to-speech options are covered in the mainstream, more
> resources can be allocated to funding more Braille-specific devices such as
> embossers and Braille displays.
> 
> Now I know that this is not instant, and that often blind-specific products
> such as JAWS or Kurzweill are superior to mainstream products but I think
> this is changing. Given the popularity the IPad is likely to attract, I am
> sure that in a few short years  we will be more likely to access electronic
> material and many other benefits as of yet unimagined by the blind
> community. I don't mean to perpetually wear rose-coloured glasses because I
> know that all is not perfect, but I think this argument needs to be
> redirected from sources of funding to developers of products to benefit not
> just those with no or little vision but all society.
> 
> Thank you for your time.
> 
> Sarah Jevnikar
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Beth
> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 10:07 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
> 
> I would have to agree with Aziza.  Assistive tech costs too much, and
> there needs to be something done about those who are sitting on their
> bums collecting government benefits.  We don't have the money nor a
> chance to be employable without assistive tech.  Worse, with the 70 to
> 92.5% chance of us not having jobs, that assistive tech is vital for
> us.
> Beth
> 
> On 2/3/10, Aziza <daydreamingncolor at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I'm personally not in favor of making anyone the enemy in this issue,
>> however I do have a position.
>> 
>> I believe assistive tech costs to much, and unnecessarily so. Few
>> individuals can afford them on their own, and organizations like DOR are
>> reluctant to pay for things for a reason, they are expensive. Its simple
> to
>> understand, we need more. We need screen readers, OCR software, text
>> translation software, embossers, scanners, printers, braille displays.
>> However, to make an office setting work perfectly for a blind person would
>> cost much more than setting an office up for a sighted person. Its fact.
>> That isn't really my main concern. My main concern is districts. High
> school
>> and younger. They refuse to purchase technology because they don't have
> the
>> funds, or they don't get their students the training because they lack the
>> funds. If training and our tech costed less perhaps our blind youth would
>> receive a better blindness skills education in main stream situations, at
>> least on one level.
>> 
>> Aziza
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "V Nork" <ginisd at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 12:03 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
>> 
>> 
>>> This is such a complex issue, but so critical to the lives of  the
> members
>>> 
>>> of our community.  It should be pointed out, I think, that just being
> able
>>> 
>>> to afford the equipment is sometimes just the beginning of sticker shock.
>>> It can be extremely expensive to find instruction for your complicated
> new
>>> 
>>> devices, if you can  even find it.  This is true also for repair, since
>>> this equipment is so specialized and esoteric at this time, not everyone
>>> who works on computers will be able to do repairs if needed Best, Ginnie.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Hope Paulos" <hope.paulos at maine.edu>
>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 8:45 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> Dear Joe. I agree with you. There have been countless times that I've
>>>> needed adaptive technology and haven't been able to purchase it without
>>>> assistance from my vocational rehabilitation agency. (I was in high
>>>> school or college at the time). It's horrible to think that companies
> can
>>>> 
>>>> charge $150 or more for even  software updates.  Paying $6,200 or
>>>> thereabouts for a device made especially for the blind is ludicrous.
>>>> Especially when this device may not be compatible with mainstream
>>>> software. If you need help with this campaign, I'd be more than willing
>>>> to assist you in any way possible.
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> Hope Paulos
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: "'Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students.'"
>>>> <nabs at acb.org>; <tabs_students at googlegroups.com>; "'NFBnet NFBCS Mailing
>>>> List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 11:45 PM
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> Dear list,
>>>>> 
>>>>> I'm continuously appalled at the price tags associated with adaptive
>>>>> technology.  While you're in college you might receive assistance from
>>>>> your
>>>>> rehab agency to purchase equipment.  You may get some assistance after
>>>>> you
>>>>> find a job, but inevitably there comes a point when the expense comes
>>>>> directly from your own pocket.  I wonder how many people have had to
>>>>> settle
>>>>> for outdated technology because they simply cannot afford it.  But,
>>>>> that's
>>>>> the thing.  I'm only assuming there are tons of people who cannot
> afford
>>>>> this technology.  I'd like to lead a campaign to call public attention
>>>>> to
>>>>> this monopoly, and, I'd like to hear your thoughts on whether or not
> you
>>>>> think me crazy.  If my assumption is wrong, I'll keep my views to
>>>>> myself.
>>>>> If there is a high number of people unable to tap into emerging
> software
>>>>> simply because they cannot pay for it, I'd like to hear from you.  I
>>>>> understand the technology itself costs a lot of money to develop.  Yet,
>>>>> it
>>>>> seems more of the price boost is owed to extravagant government
>>>>> contracts
>>>>> that allow the few players to charge something like $6,200 for a device
>>>>> that, despite its best advertisements, does not perform completely on
>>>>> par
>>>>> with its mainstream counterparts.
>>>>> 
>>>>> At this time I have only a vague idea for a strategy.  Yet it's
>>>>> something
>>>>> I'm willing to build up if the need can be clearly identified.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Looking forward to your input,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Joe Orozco
>>>>> 
>>>>> "A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the
>>>>> crowd."--Max Lucado
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
>>>>> signature
>>>>> database 4829 (20100202) __________
>>>>> 
>>>>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>>>>> 
>>>>> http://www.eset.com
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>> 
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/hope.paulos%40maine.
> edu
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>> 
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/ginisd%40sbcglobal.n
> et
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>> 
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/daydreamingncolor%40
> gmail.com
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> 
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/thebluesisloose%40gm
> ail.com
>> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/sarah.jevnikar%40uto
> ronto.ca
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/brileyp%40gmail.com