[nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag

Thu Feb 4 06:33:59 UTC 2010

Oh dear. I'm so sorry about all the typos. I just dashed that message 
off without thinking, didn't I?

Respecctfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> Sarah,

> I agree that the blind are a niche market, and I also agree with the
> implementation of Universal design priciples and how they will
> undoubtedly benefit us. I think however, (and one person brought it up
> already) that the niche market of blind people might be paying extra
> for thing that we really ought not to. For example, some of our
> assistive technology products have very mainstream components. Why then
> are we expected to pay more? Why are we expected to pay more for
> products, that while specialized for us, also and often don't meet the
> specifications of mainstream products? aside from the specialized
> platform and the Braille input/output support, the braillenote apex,
> for example,now has stero sound, WiFi capability, more memory,
> replceable batteries, and chater services that mainstream products have
> had for much longer at at better prices. The PACMate is a simolar story.

> respectfully,
> Jedi
> Original message:
>> 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

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