[nabs-l] New Technology and Blindness

[Kirt Manwaring]

To all,
  Here's my take...and, because I enjoy being an argumentative pain in
the neck, I'm going to enjoy this.  :)  But before I start, I want to
make it perfectly clear that I'm absolutely for the Technology Bill of
Rights, making new technology accessible ought to be a legal right,
and we are at a disadvantage when technology, like the touch screens
Ashley mentioned are being put in store checkout lines, is used.
  But we need to remember we are a minority and the majority of the
population shouldn't bend over backwards to accomodate us.  While
having all new technology come to us perfectly accessible is a
laudable goal, it's probably never going to totally be realized.
Should we have the right?  Absolutely.  Will we ever have it totally?
Probably not...even with the Technology bill of rights, this dream of
Universal Design will probably never be totally realized.  That
doesn't mean we don't work towards it-it just means we need to learn
how to live in a world where there are inconveniences we have to deal
with.  We may have to stand in lines instead of using the independent
self checkout-deal with it.  We may need to get a reader if our
textbooks aren't accessible-too bad.  We may need to get assistance
using keosks in the airport-I'm terribly sorry, that's life.  e maybe
might even have to go with a trusted family member or friend when
using an ATM...what a terrible tragedy!  I can't believe we're so
mistreated, abused, ignored, neglected, forgotten, and treated like
crap by the rest of the evil sighted world that doesn't even give a
damn about us!  Life is aweful!  This new technology isn't
accessible-woe is me, we're
dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooomed!  Noone even
cares about us!  This is a terrible, terrible, no-good world we live
in, because we need to get people to help us use touch
screens...whatever are we going to do?
  Now of course that was an exhageration, and I certainly want
technology to be accessible.  But rather than spend so much time
complaining about it, let's do our best to get around the
inaccessibility and live our lives!  I'm all for pushing to make this
new technology independently usable...but it's probably never going to
totally happen, deal with it.  There will always be inconveniences and
annoyences associated with being blind-get used to it.  The world will
never perfectly cater to our every whim, get over it.
  Warmest regards,
Kirt

On 5/2/11, humberto <humbertoa5369 at netzero.net> wrote:
> Sorry, but your message came out blank: Subject: Re: [Nabs-l] New
> Technology And blindness, sent on Sonday may 1, 2011 at 9:33 AM
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>From: Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
>>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing
> list<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>Date sent: Sun, 01 May 2011 09:33:12 -0400
>>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New Technology and Blindness
>
>
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