[nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag

[Aziza]

I agree with Dave, we can not discredit the fact that the things we use are 
expensive to make. However, is there a way to reduce the cost, which would 
then reduce the cost we pay?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag


> Just because you say it costs to much, that doesn't reduce the costs of 
> developing, marketing and supporting technology.  I understand the 
> frustrati0on of every body here, but you folks are completely unrealistic 
> as to what is going on.  Just saying something is to expensive doesn't 
> amount to a hill of beans.
>
> Dave
>
> At 09:07 PM 2/3/2010, you wrote:
>>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
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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%40gmail.com