[nabs-l] Lives Worth Living disability rights documentaryairs on PBS

Wed Oct 26 03:02:43 UTC 2011

Jedi,
Although not as critical as ramps or elevators for physical impairments, I 
suggest that building accessibility have some elements for us. This makes 
navigation more efficient and independent. Label room numbers and restrooms. 
Do not hang objects overhead because a cane cannot reach them. You can ask a 
room number, but then you have to either find someone or wait til someone 
comes by. I recall being in an older university building with no braille 
signs. I had a hard time locating a particular office. I couldn't find 
anyone to ask for a long time; many offices are locked so you cannot exactly 
barge in and ask. But overall accessibility to buildings needs more work for 
physical disabilities.
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Jedi
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 10:39 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Lives Worth Living disability rights documentaryairs 
on PBS

Patrick,

What is it about buildings and their layouts that would be inaccessible
to blind persons? Or, put another way, what do you mean by making a
building's layout easier for a blind person to navigate?

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> Anmol,
> I've followed this discussion for a little while now. You ask: "How
> does a building need to be made accessible for the blind?" There are
> several things that can be done. First, the addition of Braille signs
> for rooms. Second, the building could be laid out a certain way so
> that it was easy to navigate. Another way that some buildings could be
> made accessible would be for them to provide a tactile map of the
> building in the lobby. I noticed that there were several tactile maps
> when I was down in Washington, D.C. this past summer. Beyond this,
> there's really not a whole lot that buildings can do to make
> themselves more accessible. I hope this helps you.
> Patrick

> On 10/24/11, Anmol Bhatia <anmolpbhatia at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Hello Carly,
>> How does a building need to be made accessible for the blind? A person in 
>> a
>> wheel chair can not clime stairs there a

>> I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps
>> there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a 
>> breeze
>> among flowers.
>> Hellen Keller

>> --- On Mon, 10/24/11, Carly <carlymih at earthlink.net> wrote:

>>> From: Carly <carlymih at earthlink.net>
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Lives Worth Living disability rights documentary
>>> airs on PBS
>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>, nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Date: Monday, October 24, 2011, 12:25 AM

>>> Hi, Bridgit,

>>> Here in Berkeley, we have the Ed Roberts Campus, which is
>>> designed to
>>> be this one-stop shop for agencies serving folk with
>>> disability. I
>>> have noticed that, though they spent tons of cash on this
>>> building
>>> which is all sup'd up for chairs, it is really inaccessible
>>> for folk
>>> who are blind. In the ERC's defense, It seems no easy feat
>>> to make
>>> the same facility accessable for both blind folks as well
>>> as chairs.
>>> This must be because our needs and abilities are so
>>> divergent.
>>> Today, they are having problems making this building named
>>> for this
>>> disability pioneer, a meaningful, presence in the
>>> disability
>>> community.however, I have to point out that many, many
>>> other people have been
>>>> instrumental in the disability rights movement, and the
>>> NFB is but one
>>>> organization. Because a group like the Federation
>>> focuses solely on one
>>>> disability, we aren't always aware of what else exist
>>> out there.

>>>> Ed Roberts is actually one of the big names mentioned
>>> when discussing
>>>> rights for those with disabilities. He started the
>>> entire independent
>>>> living movement, and he's the first person to establish
>>> independent
>>>> living centers for those with disabilities. Roberts was
>>> diagnosed with
>>>> Polio at a young age; he was unable to move his body
>>> from the neck down
>>>> except a few fingers, and he has had to wear an iron
>>> lung most his life.
>>>> Roberts had a very independent and positive outlook on
>>> disability,
>>>> spurring others to get on board with accepting
>>> disability as a part of
>>>> life. He is known for saying "differently able," it was
>>> Roberts who
>>>> initiated the dialogue with airlines so that people
>>> with disabilities
>>>> could travel with whatever accomodations necessary
>>> especially those
>>>> using wheelchairs.

>>>> The pioneer program at Berkley providing services to
>>> students with
>>>> disabilities, that eventually was adopted at colleges
>>> around the
>>>> country, was headed by Ed Roberts. Because of this guy
>>> who few actually
>>>> know of, students with disabilities are offered
>>> services on their
>>>> respective campuses. Schools lacking stellar services
>>> should be ashamed
>>>> because that was never Roberts idea of quality
>>> services. Berkley has one
>>>> of, if not thee, best disability services in the
>>> country.

>>>> So before assuming the Federation, which has done a lot
>>> and is certainly
>>>> a powerful, important organization, double check facts.
>>> No pun intended,
>>>> but we tend to keep our blinders on in terms of
>>> disability in general.
>>>> The Federation has done a lot- probably the most- for
>>> blindness alone,
>>>> but in terms of the disability rights movement as a
>>> whole, many have
>>>> come before, and many are still around.

>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
>>>> Read my blog at:
>>>> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

>>>> "History is not what happened; history is what was
>>> written down."
>>>> The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

>>>> Message: 3
>>>> Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:43:04 -0400
>>>> From: Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net>
>>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] "Lives Worth Living" Disability
>>> Rights

>>>    Documentary
>>>    Premieres on PBS Series Independent Lens;
>>>> October 27
>>>> Message-ID: b9626ff6-e05b-419d-9ef1-2d8812f5fc58 at samobile.net
>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1";
>>> format="flowed"

>>>> That's odd, where's the Federation in all this seems
>>> how Jacobus
>>>> tenBroek kind of founded the Disability Rights movement
>>> through his
>>>> scholarly work ? And really, the blindness movement is
>>> probably one of
>>>> the strongest in the overall Disability Rights
>>> Movement.

>>>> And also, has anyone heard whether or not the film will
>>> be available
>>>> online as I don't have a television?.

>>>> Respectfully,
>>>> Jedi

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