[nabs-l] Interesting topic for discussion: Is Technology Turning into Our Enemy?

Sat Apr 9 18:09:54 UTC 2011

Me parents like mine are not going to pay for me to go to college. Some
parents don't pay for college because they know that DRS (Department of
rehabilitation) will pay for college if you are on SSI. Please
reconsider this decision.
Thank you, Koby. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Desiree Oudinot
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2011 12:59 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Interesting topic for discussion: Is Technology
Turning into Our Enemy?

I agree that some limits should be imposed on those who can get SSI.
My question to you guys is, how do you propose we prove we're actively
seeking employment? Proving you're a student is easy, but by the same
token you shouldn't necessarily qualify if you're living with your
parents and having them pay college expenses, such as if you're
attending a community college. But proving you're looking for a job?
That sounds a little bit more difficult, and probably easy to abuse if
you wanted to.

On 4/9/11, Jorge Paez <computertechjorgepaez at gmail.com> wrote:
> I think your idea only sounds extreme because society's tried to force
us
> into this entitlement mentality.
>
>
> You're 100% right on every point, and I think that should be
implemented.
>
> As far as you were saying about the couple you knew with kids,
> as long as they could proove that they were actively seeking a job
there'd
> be nothing to worry about.
>
> Jorge
>
>
> On Apr 9, 2011, at 1:36 PM, Kirt Manwaring wrote:
>
>> Marsha,
>>  I'm on SSI and I'm a college student.  I use it to survive and enjoy
>> life every once in a while (anyone ever said laser tag isn't a fun
>> date activity for a blind person?  It was brilliant last night!)  So
>> I'm not condemning the idea, or the ideal purpose of the system.  But
>> you know that there are way too many people who abuse it- I won't
>> insult your intelligence by thinking you don't see it.  So the
>> question I posed is simply this: would it be better to only give SSI
>> to students and people actively seeking employment?  To respond to
>> Bridget's point, we could include general unemployment checks that go
>> out every month and lump that in with SSI- only give unemployment to
>> those actively looking for jobs.  I'm not saying I agree with the
>> idea, although to be honest it's got a certain logic to it.  But I do
>> think it's probably a bit extreme.  Thoughts, anyone?
>>
>> On 4/8/11, Maurice Mines <maurice.mines at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hello, I think the word balance is a very in port and word and
education
>>> as
>>> well's life. I am a student, I am also an amateur radio operator I
also
>>> use
>>> Facebook, and twitter. What I am not is one to use any of these two
>>> excess.
>>> I also have and have always had on my desk a Perkins braille writer.
I
>>> also
>>> possess a notetaker or whatever I need it. I believe that having
many
>>> tools
>>> in our toolbox to get the work done that we must get done is
critically
>>> important. I'm also looking for work. I've also done work. I guess
to sum
>>> up
>>> some of things I've said here is balance is important in order to
find a
>>> job
>>> I must want to work. All of the other things are just window
dressing
>>> around
>>> the central issue. As others have said on this list just because one
is
>>> on
>>> some form of assistance does not make him, or her lazy. And just
because
>>> one
>>> has all the tools didn't necessary to live in today's world is full
of
>>> technology as it is. Does not make one instantly dependent on them.
Just
>>> my
>>> own take on all of this. PS I am using dictation software, so some
of
>>> this
>>> may not quite turn out like the way it's supposed to turn out.
Because I
>>> also have an additional disability on top of blind us. Hope all is
well.
>>> Thank you very much for reading this Maurice, amateur radio call
sign
>>> kd0iko.
>>> On Apr 8, 2011, at 3:06 PM, Bridgit Pollpeter wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello NABSTERS,
>>>>
>>>> This was posted on another list.  It is a topic I find interesting,
and
>>>> one we should consider and discuss.  I am curious to hear student
>>>> opinions, and what your experience has been regarding technology.
Is
>>>> there a balance in how we use this technology?
>>>>
>>>> One of the things I like in your note was your observation that "We
now
>>>> have the opportunity to explore a future of our own making.  Jobs,
>>>> school and families are not dreams we long for, but are realities
within
>>>> our reach."
>>>>
>>>> One of the questions I've been struggling with is how to start a
>>>> dialogue, probably in the Braille Monitor, about whether these are
still
>>>> the widely-shared dreams of blind people. I read the statistics
about
>>>> our unemployment, and in my job searches have certainly encountered
>>>> discrimination, but I can't tell you of very many Missourians who
are
>>>> actively out looking for work. Neither can I tell you about many
who are
>>>> employed.
>>>>
>>>> In my younger days there were blind people who were smart and
articulate
>>>> who simply would not tackle the challenge of going to get a job.
Some of
>>>> them were amateur radio operators and spent their days doing good
by
>>>> taking Western Union style messages and sending them free of charge
>>>> across the country and the world. The message might be as simple as
>>>> happy birthday or as complicated as "I'm going in for surgery
tomorrow.
>>>> I will let you know how it goes. I will appreciate your prayers."
Still
>>>> other amateur radio operators would connect their telephone and
radio
>>>> and help people talk to loved ones. This, of course, was before the
days
>>>> of free long distance.
>>>>
>>>> The thing I want to focus on here was that the folks who spent most
of
>>>> their time doing this substituted these volunteer tasks for
employment.
>>>> They were not seeking jobs. They were getting fulfillment but from
a
>>>> very different source because our society, whether through SSI,
SSDI I,
>>>> the Missouri blind pension, or some other program, was perfectly
willing
>>>> to give them at least a minimal level of support and didn't
challenge
>>>> them with the tough question "Why aren't you employed?"
>>>>
>>>> Today I think I see our young blind folks substituting the Internet
for
>>>> ham radio. Maybe they are all about building websites to
communicate
>>>> something special they believe they know about blindness. Some do
their
>>>> own radio shows. Some make podcasts. The shows and topics seem to
be all
>>>> over the place. On one podcast I follow, which is usually technical
in
>>>> nature, one person put up a recording demonstrating how to change a
>>>> diaper, while another produced a podcast of his dog guide popping
the
>>>> bubbles that are found in shrink wrap. Both were similar--lots of
>>>> rustling plastic but not a lot of information. I do not object to
what
>>>> anyone wants to do for entertainment, but my concern is that these
>>>> playtime activities are being substituted for what I see as a major
life
>>>> activity and responsibility, that being to earn a living and do
these
>>>> other things as time allows.
>>>>
>>>> I think the question I would like to explore is whether the work
ethic
>>>> which burned in so many folks of my generation still is prevalently
>>>> found today. If not, who put out the fire and how do we rekindle
it? Is
>>>> our safety net frequently being used as a means of permanent
support,
>>>> and, if it is, is there something we can and should do about it?
>>>>
>>>> Some folks I know claim they had to do upwards of a hundred
interviews
>>>> to get their first job. Is this still true today? If so, I'm not
hearing
>>>> about it. My fear is that, with all of the civil rights protections
and
>>>> advances in technology, we still have a significant number of
>>>> intelligent blind people who aren't taking advantage of a world
which is
>>>> more receptive today than ever it has been in the past to getting
us
>>>> employed and accepting us as capable human beings in society.
>>>>
>>>> I think the dream we share is worth dreaming and that what we dream
of
>>>> is attainable. Are there more effective ways for us to sell this
dream?
>>>> If so, how can our newsletters and our Braille Monitor help?  As I
look
>>>> at the most recent issue of the students late, it is perfectly
obvious
>>>> to me that some still buy the dream. The question really is how
many,
>>>> and are there better ways for us to sell the dream of equality so
that
>>>> more young folks act on it?
>>>>
>>>> I see technology being the downfall for society in general, but
this
>>>> post presents a very serious issue.  We know far too many blind
people
>>>> still refuse to believe in complete independence, but how is this
>>>> reliance on technology affecting the situation?
>>>>
>>>> What are student thoughts?  Do you see this trend, and if so, what
can
>>>> be done to tackle it?  What areas do you think need work, and can
you
>>>> propose any ideas to change a larger population of blind peoples
>>>> mindsets?
>>>>
>>>> Bridgit
>>>>
>>>>
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