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

Sat Apr 9 20:45:07 UTC 2011

Ashley,
  Depends on your rehab counselor, state funding, the weather, how
much you can bribe, etc.  (not quite that extreme, but you get my
point)  I'm lucky to be pretty good friends with the guy in our state
who handles our technology justifications, and even then he had me
modify my requests.  The letter of the law isn't reality and probably
never will be.
  As for SSI...that's why I'd still probably want it to stay the way
it is.  True, far too many people abuse it and it gives the disabled
community a bad reputation.  But I honestly can't think of a better
system that wouldn't screw over some people who really do need the
money.  And...Jorge, lots of people aren't looking for employment.  Is
it fair for a kid to starve because the parent is lazy?  (I'm talking
generally here, from my experience working at an employment center)

On 4/9/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 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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