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

Sat Apr 9 20:36:53 UTC 2011

In theory ... usually yes, but SSI is helpful, in case they don't.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of bookwormahb at earthlink.net
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2011 4:21 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Interesting topic for discussion: Is Technology
Turning into Our Enemy?

Oh my! Technology is expensive.  I thought rehab bought all adaptive 
technology if you justified it!

-----Original Message----- 
From: Desiree Oudinot
Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2011 3:40 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Interesting topic for discussion: Is Technology 
Turning into Our Enemy?

I have heard that funding in NJ for things like adaptive tech is
pretty atrocious, so I can understand where you're coming from. This
really is a complicated issue and what seems like a fair decision for
one person might paralyze another's progress.

On 4/9/11, Serena Cucco <serenacucco at verizon.net> wrote:
> Respectfully, even if parents are paying for college, SSI is helpful for
> paying for adaptive technology, at least, in NJ.  Adaptive tech is
> considered an impairment related expense.
>
> Serena
>
> -----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 2:13 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Interesting topic for discussion: Is Technology
> Turning into Our Enemy?
>
> Hi,
> I said that if the parents are paying for college there is really no
> need for SSI. I think if you're living on your own, going to college
> and trying to find a job, that's different. Then it truly can be
> considered a supplement, as its name implies, and is a good survival
> mechanism.
>
> On 4/9/11, Koby Cox <kobycox at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 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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>>>>>
>>>>>
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