[nabs-l] nabs-l Digest, Vol 67, Issue 37

Tue May 29 17:35:57 UTC 2012

Again, I'm replying from vacation, so I have not read all the posts on the GRE thread. Thanks, Cindy and Sean, for your posts. Sean, if you think it'd be appropriate to give me a Q and A slot at Convention, or for me to just invite NABS members for coffee and questions then, I'd be glad to do so.

A few points:
1. The score report does not indicate anything at all about accommodations. Some testing agencies still do "flag" score reports. ETS gave this up more than a decade ago.
2.  Scores are on the same scale in all formats. Your score is not restricted by test format or other accommodations. I can't answer all the research or stats questions, but I'll check into them in June.
3. Cindy, your explanation about the need for tactile graphics or other hard-copy supplements requiring predetermined questions was right on target. Thanks.

Sean, thanks for the kind words. ETS has improved its policies and processes for accommodating blind test takers thanks to NFB input. There is more we need to do, and we'll keep up the dialogue.

If anyone has a question that can't wait a week, please email me off-list at rloew at ets.org. Thanks.
Ruth Loew, ETS

----- Original Message -----
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Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 10:00 AM
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Subject: nabs-l Digest, Vol 67, Issue 37

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: taking the GRE (Cynthia Bennett)
   2. Convention Agenda in Calendar Formats (Tony Olivero)
   3. Re: Convention Agenda in Calendar Formats (Joshua Lester)
   4. Re: Convention Agenda in Calendar Formats (Tony Olivero)
   5. Re: Convention Agenda in Calendar Formats (Joshua Lester)
   6. Re: Device Helps Blind See with Tongue (Chris Nusbaum)
   7. Convention Agenda in Calendar Formats (David Andrews)
   8. Re: taking the GRE (Sean Whalen)
   9. Taxi Technology for Passengers who are Blind or Visually
      Impaired (David Andrews)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 10:50:40 -0700
From: Cynthia Bennett <clb5590 at gmail.com>
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
        <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] taking the GRE
Message-ID:
        <CACUFQdy0u5kzn+FcaN1kJqwm3GPWWTWk4G_VSyBy_6kNUsKH4Q at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I'm glad Ruth was able to clear some things up. I'm sorry I gave wrong
information. One thing she didn't quite mention in her message to the
list but that she mentioned in her email to me is an obvious point
that we should have picked up on. If ETS provides a hard-copy
supplement which is advantageous especially for the tactile graphics,
then all the questions have to be predetermined. So I personally
prefer this so I can have the graphics to look at.

Cindy

On 5/28/12, Loew, Ruth <rloew at ets.org> wrote:
> Hi, everybody.  I'm sorry I've been slow to respond.  I was at a BANA
> meeting last week, and now I'm on vacation.  For most of this week, I'm
> going to be accessing email primarily via a mobile device (BlackBerry) that
> doesn't give me very good access to long emails, such as listserv digests.
> So if you have an urgent question about the GRE (or anything else related to
> ETS testing), please email me offlist at
> rloew at ets.org<mailto:rloew at ets.org>.  I can read short individual emails
> much more easily than the listserv.  Anything that's less urgent, I'll
> answer once I'm back in the office (June 4 and thereafter).  And I'll be at
> Convention all week.
>
> You've asked some great and complicated questions about the GRE General
> Test.  Here are answers to some of them:
>
> 1.      The self-voicing test is still available.  It is true that right
> now, it's still a self-voicing version of the "old" GRE, the one that was
> offered until the revised GRE went live late last summer.  But scores are
> statistically converted to the new scale, so there's no way for grad schools
> to know that you took the self-voicing test (or any other accommodation, for
> that matter).  For more information on score conversion, see
> http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/scores/how.
> 2.      The self-voicing version of the revised GRE General Test is being
> created now.  I'm not sure of the exact time frame; I believe the goal is to
> have the practice test and tutorial ready sometime this summer and the test
> itself soon thereafter.  When I have firm dates, I'll let you know.
> 3.      The "old" GRE was dynamic in the way Arielle described: Questions
> were selected based on performance on previous questions.  The revised GRE,
> however, is much less dynamic in that sense.  After a certain point in the
> Verbal section, and again at some point in the Quant (math), there's a
> branching to easy, medium, or high difficulty questions, based on
> performance; but that's it.  So there's less difference between the "static"
> test formats (self-voicing, braille, large print, reader's script, recorded
> audio) and the standard computer-based test than was formerly the case.
> 4.      In the self-voicing test, and also in recorded audio and reader's
> script, the figures are fully described, and tactile or enlarged graphics
> (your choice) are provided.
> 5.      Here's some information on accessible practice materials for the GRE
> General Test: http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/disabilities.
> If you need more information, or want to request specific practice
> materials, please contact Nora Hallenbeck:
> nhallenbeck at ets.org<mailto:nhallenbeck at ets.org>.  She's a customer service
> representative with a lot of experience with blind and low-vision test
> takers, and she's responsible for shipping hard-copy GRE practice
> materials.
>
> I hope this is helpful.  Feel free to contact me off-list or after my
> vacation.  If there's demand, I'd be happy to arrange an informal Q & A
> session at Convention or by phone.
>
> Enjoy the holiday weekend, at least what's left of it!
>
> Ruth C. Loew, Ph.D.
> Assistant Director
> Office of Disability Policy, ETS
> phone: 609-683-2984
> fax: 609-683-2220
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
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>

--
Cynthia Bennett
B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington

clb5590 at gmail.com
828.989.5383

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 13:47:39 -0500
From: Tony Olivero <anthony at olivero.us>
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
        <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>,    "nebraska-students at nfbnet.org"
        <nebraska-students at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [nabs-l] Convention Agenda in Calendar Formats
Message-ID:
        <CALQ-rrNrADd3GY-DAMJisgHohUqUgZgLpSsiPCakmYLTYgg+wQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

All:

For those of you who would like to use the convention agenda in
something other than Microsoft Word, here are a few different formats
that I created after putting all the events on a Google Calendar:

iCal (for adding to your Google Calendar, Outlook, or other calendar
program): http://j.mp/LYvrXo
HTML (view in your browser): http://j.mp/LCiH28
Microsoft Excel: http://j.mp/JIWoxN

you can use the iCal link if you use a Google Calendar, or a device
like an iPhone or iPad that supports it, to add the calendar to your
mobile device. If you are using Google Calendar in a web browser,
adding the ical feed will allow you to toggle on and off the display
of the agenda. You can also copy events directly to your calendar, and
not sync the Agenda to your mobile device, but view it in the browser
if you find you need to see what else is happening in addition to your
own plans.

For those of you using iDevices, it is best if you have your google
account added as a Microsoft Exchange account, not a Google Account (I
know, it seems strange, but this will allow you to sync mail,
contacts, and calendars between your phone and Google without using
another app). Once you have done this, you can go to
http://m.google.com/sync (from your phone) to control which items are
synced to your phone.

I know some of this may be confusing if you haven't done it before, so
if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'll certainly try to
help.

Also, be aware that the Texas affiliate has placed the entire agenda,
in an HTML file suitable for computers, mobile phones or notetakers,
on their website at http://j.mp/LMtElc

Tony

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 14:23:02 -0500
From: Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu>
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
        <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Convention Agenda in Calendar Formats
Message-ID:
        <CAO83KOuPxDOXxvqQyt0zW8WKkv7b0mNdPTmw5Aboft8euYpWng at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I found the agenda, yesterday!
Thanks!
BTW, Tony, your Website won't work for me.
it says, "Page has no links.
Thanks, Joshua

On 5/28/12, Tony Olivero <anthony at olivero.us> wrote:
> All:
>
> For those of you who would like to use the convention agenda in
> something other than Microsoft Word, here are a few different formats
> that I created after putting all the events on a Google Calendar:
>
> iCal (for adding to your Google Calendar, Outlook, or other calendar
> program): http://j.mp/LYvrXo
> HTML (view in your browser): http://j.mp/LCiH28
> Microsoft Excel: http://j.mp/JIWoxN
>
> you can use the iCal link if you use a Google Calendar, or a device
> like an iPhone or iPad that supports it, to add the calendar to your
> mobile device. If you are using Google Calendar in a web browser,
> adding the ical feed will allow you to toggle on and off the display
> of the agenda. You can also copy events directly to your calendar, and
> not sync the Agenda to your mobile device, but view it in the browser
> if you find you need to see what else is happening in addition to your
> own plans.
>
> For those of you using iDevices, it is best if you have your google
> account added as a Microsoft Exchange account, not a Google Account (I
> know, it seems strange, but this will allow you to sync mail,
> contacts, and calendars between your phone and Google without using
> another app). Once you have done this, you can go to
> http://m.google.com/sync (from your phone) to control which items are
> synced to your phone.
>
> I know some of this may be confusing if you haven't done it before, so
> if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'll certainly try to
> help.
>
> Also, be aware that the Texas affiliate has placed the entire agenda,
> in an HTML file suitable for computers, mobile phones or notetakers,
> on their website at http://j.mp/LMtElc
>
> Tony
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jlester8462%40students.pccua.edu
>

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 16:15:56 -0500
From: Tony Olivero <anthony at olivero.us>
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
        <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Convention Agenda in Calendar Formats
Message-ID:
        <CALQ-rrO+7XvNYioeinJ9s9OH8fu5GeB0mnodBNqTziqp8k1Gxg at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Joshua,

Which one did you click on? There technically are no links in the
Google Calendar HTML view. Find "agenda" and press enter on that, then
press the "next period" button until it shows 6/30.

One thing to remember, not all pages will say there are links, but
there will still be content. A lot of pages that have dynamic content
use JavaScript to make things happen. There aren't always links, but
text is still "clickable" (or in the case of a JAWS user, activated by
presing ENTER on it).

Tony

On 5/28/12, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
> I found the agenda, yesterday!
> Thanks!
> BTW, Tony, your Website won't work for me.
> it says, "Page has no links.
> Thanks, Joshua
>
> On 5/28/12, Tony Olivero <anthony at olivero.us> wrote:
>> All:
>>
>> For those of you who would like to use the convention agenda in
>> something other than Microsoft Word, here are a few different formats
>> that I created after putting all the events on a Google Calendar:
>>
>> iCal (for adding to your Google Calendar, Outlook, or other calendar
>> program): http://j.mp/LYvrXo
>> HTML (view in your browser): http://j.mp/LCiH28
>> Microsoft Excel: http://j.mp/JIWoxN
>>
>> you can use the iCal link if you use a Google Calendar, or a device
>> like an iPhone or iPad that supports it, to add the calendar to your
>> mobile device. If you are using Google Calendar in a web browser,
>> adding the ical feed will allow you to toggle on and off the display
>> of the agenda. You can also copy events directly to your calendar, and
>> not sync the Agenda to your mobile device, but view it in the browser
>> if you find you need to see what else is happening in addition to your
>> own plans.
>>
>> For those of you using iDevices, it is best if you have your google
>> account added as a Microsoft Exchange account, not a Google Account (I
>> know, it seems strange, but this will allow you to sync mail,
>> contacts, and calendars between your phone and Google without using
>> another app). Once you have done this, you can go to
>> http://m.google.com/sync (from your phone) to control which items are
>> synced to your phone.
>>
>> I know some of this may be confusing if you haven't done it before, so
>> if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'll certainly try to
>> help.
>>
>> Also, be aware that the Texas affiliate has placed the entire agenda,
>> in an HTML file suitable for computers, mobile phones or notetakers,
>> on their website at http://j.mp/LMtElc
>>
>> Tony
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jlester8462%40students.pccua.edu
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/anthony%40olivero.us
>

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 16:20:15 -0500
From: Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu>
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
        <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Convention Agenda in Calendar Formats
Message-ID:
        <CAO83KOug8E4JypbYOCXvO-uNSvgYxvpt7txtGS0mXm2q2WfcJw at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Since this is your personal site, I'll E-mail you off list.
Blessings, Joshua

On 5/28/12, Tony Olivero <anthony at olivero.us> wrote:
> Joshua,
>
> Which one did you click on? There technically are no links in the
> Google Calendar HTML view. Find "agenda" and press enter on that, then
> press the "next period" button until it shows 6/30.
>
> One thing to remember, not all pages will say there are links, but
> there will still be content. A lot of pages that have dynamic content
> use JavaScript to make things happen. There aren't always links, but
> text is still "clickable" (or in the case of a JAWS user, activated by
> presing ENTER on it).
>
> Tony
>
> On 5/28/12, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
>> I found the agenda, yesterday!
>> Thanks!
>> BTW, Tony, your Website won't work for me.
>> it says, "Page has no links.
>> Thanks, Joshua
>>
>> On 5/28/12, Tony Olivero <anthony at olivero.us> wrote:
>>> All:
>>>
>>> For those of you who would like to use the convention agenda in
>>> something other than Microsoft Word, here are a few different formats
>>> that I created after putting all the events on a Google Calendar:
>>>
>>> iCal (for adding to your Google Calendar, Outlook, or other calendar
>>> program): http://j.mp/LYvrXo
>>> HTML (view in your browser): http://j.mp/LCiH28
>>> Microsoft Excel: http://j.mp/JIWoxN
>>>
>>> you can use the iCal link if you use a Google Calendar, or a device
>>> like an iPhone or iPad that supports it, to add the calendar to your
>>> mobile device. If you are using Google Calendar in a web browser,
>>> adding the ical feed will allow you to toggle on and off the display
>>> of the agenda. You can also copy events directly to your calendar, and
>>> not sync the Agenda to your mobile device, but view it in the browser
>>> if you find you need to see what else is happening in addition to your
>>> own plans.
>>>
>>> For those of you using iDevices, it is best if you have your google
>>> account added as a Microsoft Exchange account, not a Google Account (I
>>> know, it seems strange, but this will allow you to sync mail,
>>> contacts, and calendars between your phone and Google without using
>>> another app). Once you have done this, you can go to
>>> http://m.google.com/sync (from your phone) to control which items are
>>> synced to your phone.
>>>
>>> I know some of this may be confusing if you haven't done it before, so
>>> if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'll certainly try to
>>> help.
>>>
>>> Also, be aware that the Texas affiliate has placed the entire agenda,
>>> in an HTML file suitable for computers, mobile phones or notetakers,
>>> on their website at http://j.mp/LMtElc
>>>
>>> Tony
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nabs-l:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/jlester8462%40students.pccua.edu
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/anthony%40olivero.us
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
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>

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 21:52:48 -0400
From: "Chris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com>
To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
        <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Device Helps Blind See with Tongue
Message-ID: <001701cd3d3d$c0b996a0$422cc3e0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"

Hi Justin and everyone,

Sorry for the late posting on this thread; I have gotten behind on my emails
lately due to end-of-the-year schoolwork. Ah, the joy of finals... not!
<Smile!>

Justin, I think you hit the nail on the head. This device reminds me of that
extra-sensory cane which was posted about and discussed on the list some
time ago. The cane would, according to the designers, help us improve our
social skills by "leading" us to a person we know via some kind of high-tech
computer. These kinds of things come up often; just read some of the banquet
speeches at our past national conventions. In fact, if you ever want a good
laugh, read or listen to some of Dr. Jernigan's old banquet speeches, and
you will see the stupidity of the public when it comes to blindness!

Don't get me wrong here, I think these researchers had well-meaning
intentions, as do many sighted people who develop high-tech gadgets and do
other things which harm us more than help us. Now, this raises the question:
if these researchers and others have well-meaning intentions, why do their
developments harm us rather than help us? The answer, I believe, is simple:
because they generate a lot of harmful misconceptions about blindness among
the sighted public! Also, the more media attension these kinds of gadgets
receive, the more it harms us. Why? Because the media, despite all the
complaints of most of the public about it to the contrary, is a big factor
in molding public thought, and if the media has misconceptions about
blindness which they put out to the public, it's going to create new
misconceptions among the public at large, or reinforce the old ones. I think
the biggest thing these researchers didn't do was consult with the blind
ourselves by writing to organizations such as the NFB to see if we really
need this device. The only information they are getting is from the public,
and they already have misconceptions.

Just my thoughts,

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Justin Salisbury
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:13 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] Device Helps Blind See with Tongue

Philosophy Discussion Time

I just caught this story on the local news, and I want to hear people's
opinions of it.  There are many different versions of this news story, but
here's a link to a page with a video and text article:

http://wearecentralpa.com/fulltext-healthcast?nxd_id=369932

Feel free to find other versions of this story using a simple search engine.

When I heard that Mark couldn't wait for the day that he could navigate his
own home independently with a device, I thought to myself "hey, I already
have one of those devices.  It's called a cane!"

In my reading on the story, I get the impression that researchers think that
this device is important because we blind people are oblivious to our
surroundings and need some way to get information about them.  I think this
is cool research for the sake of research, but I see absolutely no practical
need for the device.  With the proper skills and training, we can
independently navigate our own surroundings.  I further wonder if maybe
these uneducated or incorrectly educated researchers simply don't know about
the techniques we blind people can use to independently navigate our
surroundings or if they view them as inferior and think we should be trying
to operate as closely to sighted people as we can.

What does everyone on the list think?

Justin Salisbury
President
North Carolina Association of Blind Students

Justin M. Salisbury
Class of 2012
B.A. in Mathematics
East Carolina University
president at alumni.ecu.edu

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."    -MARGARET MEAD

_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nabs-l:
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om

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 21:09:00 -0500
From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] Convention Agenda in Calendar Formats
Message-ID: <auto-000062850620 at mailfront3.g2host.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

>
>All:
>
>For those of you who would like to use the convention agenda in
>something other than Microsoft Word, here are a few different formats
>that I created after putting all the events on a Google Calendar:
>
>iCal (for adding to your Google Calendar, Outlook, or other calendar
>program): http://j.mp/LYvrXo
>HTML (view in your browser): http://j.mp/LCiH28
>Microsoft Excel: http://j.mp/JIWoxN
>
>you can use the iCal link if you use a Google Calendar, or a device
>like an iPhone or iPad that supports it, to add the calendar to your
>mobile device. If you are using Google Calendar in a web browser,
>adding the ical feed will allow you to toggle on and off the display
>of the agenda. You can also copy events directly to your calendar, and
>not sync the Agenda to your mobile device, but view it in the browser
>if you find you need to see what else is happening in addition to your
>own plans.
>
>For those of you using iDevices, it is best if you have your google
>account added as a Microsoft Exchange account, not a Google Account (I
>know, it seems strange, but this will allow you to sync mail,
>contacts, and calendars between your phone and Google without using
>another app). Once you have done this, you can go to
>http://m.google.com/sync (from your phone) to control which items are
>synced to your phone.
>
>I know some of this may be confusing if you haven't done it before, so
>if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'll certainly try to
>help.
>
>Also, be aware that the Texas affiliate has placed the entire agenda,
>in an HTML file suitable for computers, mobile phones or notetakers,
>on their website at http://j.mp/LMtElc
>
>Tony

------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Mon, 28 May 2012 23:10:57 -0400
From: Sean Whalen <smwhalenpsp at gmail.com>
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] taking the GRE
Message-ID:
        <CAPnwOUOtbfLN1xaM=nrty-UWRJJaAr7UL+ee7Z46GeGgm6y-Wg at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

While I acknowledge that, in a perfect world, blind students would
take the exact same test as sighted students, I think it is very
important to keep in mind that ETS has a history of outreach to and
communication with blind students as they have developed accessible
versions of the GRE. ETS has been proactive, and, in my opinion,
certainly not discriminatory. And, the reality is that, pretty much by
definition, accommodated conditions for the GRE, or any test, will
differ from those under which the majority of students take them. Some
bodies, LSAC comes immediately to mind, do definitely engage in
discriminatory practices, but I think ETS has a very strong record.

My understanding is that schools cannot even see whether or not a test
was taken under accommodations, but I am not 100% sure on that. As for
the issue of leaving accommodated scores out of statistical analyses,
that has to be the case, for the reasons that Cindy mentioned.

I would be concerned if the lack of ability to take the version of the
dynamic test put blind students at a disadvantage by limiting the
ability to get high scores due to the impossibility of being branched
off into the harder questions, but I can?t imagine that this is the
case.

Finally, regarding having to spend half of your double time dictating
an essay to a scribe rather than spending all the time writing, I?d
have to ask what we really think is fair here. We get double time
because it takes longer to do this. Why should I get twice as long as
anybody else to write the essay?

In sum, though I admit the system may not be perfect, we ought to be
careful about labeling things discriminatory. And, in truth, we should
be glad that we have a strong partnership with ETS and that our input
is taken into consideration. If all gatekeepers of standardized tests
were as good on this front as ETS, we?d surely be in a better place.

Sean

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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 11:50:32 -0500
From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] Taxi Technology for Passengers who are Blind or
        Visually        Impaired
Message-ID: <auto-000062936371 at mailfront3.g2host.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

>
>The following press release is forwarded to you by the Great Lakes ADA
>  Center (
><http://www.adagreatlakes.org>www.adagreatlakes.org
>) for your information:
>Press Release:
>Taxi Technology for Passengers who are Blind or Visually Impaired
>Contact: Don Hoffman (Lighthouse), 212-981-5118
>Partnership leads to accessibility improvements for blind and visually
>  impaired taxi
>riders in New York and around the nation
>April 17, 2012, New York - In partnership with Creative Mobile
>  Technologies (CMT)
>and Lighthouse International, Council Member James Vacca, Chair of the
>  Council Transportation
>Committee, and former New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced
>  groundbreaking
>software enhancements designed to enable blind and visually impaired taxi
>  riders
>to independently access the credit card payment system and other
>  technology features
>in New York's yellow medallion taxicabs as well as taxi fleets around the
>  nation.
>CMT created adaptive software that will allow blind or visually impaired
>  taxi passengers
>to hear the fare changing in regular intervals during the trip and
>  facilitate all
>aspects of the credit card or cash payment functions upon reaching their
>  destination,
>including selection of payment options, verification of fare and selection
>  of tip
>percentages. CMT's audible touch screen system, which can be activated by
>  a special
>card or by simply asking the driver, will transform the screen into large,
>  easy-to-navigate
>sections that are operated by touch and prompted by step-by-step spoken
>  instructions.
>"I consistently hear that New York City is one of the most difficult
>  places for blind
>and visually impaired individuals to navigate," said Vacca. The payment
>  system in
>taxicabs has been a great improvement for passengers, and visually
>  impaired riders
>deserve to enjoy the same benefits of that system. This nationwide
>  initiative to
>make taxis more accessible for visually impaired riders is a major
>  achievement, both
>for the industry, and for this community. I want to commend CMT and
>  Lighthouse for
>making this a priority. This technology will make a real difference for
>  people who
>need it."
>This software is critical to the blind and visually impaired community's
>  ability
>to independently pay taxi fares. Prior to implementation of this new
>  software, blind
>and visually impaired passengers who chose to use credit cards were forced
>  to rely
>on cab drivers to swipe their card and enter the correct amount, including
>  tip. Not
>only is this a violation of current TLC rules, but also it exposes the
>  visually impaired
>passenger to the potential for fraudulent transactions, including
>  overpayment.
>"As a blind New Yorker I am part of a community that until now did not
>  benefit from
>the convenience of being able to use a credit card in the city's cabs when
>  the technology
>was first mandated in 2008," said David A.Paterson, 55th Governor of the
>  State of
>New York. "I applaud CMT for extending electronic payment to an often
>  underserved
>community by making New York City taxis independently accessible for the
>  vision impaired.
>Council Member James Vacca and Lighthouse International also deserve a
>  great deal
>of gratitude for their undying stewardship of this significant issue."
>In addition to its NYC rollout, CMT also plans to introduce software in
>  4,500 credit
>card and payment systems in taxis around the country including Chicago,
>  Boston, San
>Francisco, Philadelphia, Anaheim, Detroit, Kansas City, Columbus and
>  Charlotte.
>CMT and Lighthouse International will issue blind and visually impaired
>  individuals
>a card, compatible with any CMT taxi nationwide, that will activate the
>  adaptive
>software, though an activation card will not be required to engage the
>  system.
>"CMT is excited to work alongside Chairman Vacca and Lighthouse
>  International to
>produce these innovative software solutions that will revolutionize the
>  taxi experience
>for our blind and visually impaired customers," said Jesse H. Davis,
>  President of
>Creative Mobile Technologies. "We are very proud of the CMT team for
>  developing
>this innovative technology, and we praise the hard working advocates at
>  Lighthouse
>International who provided us with invaluable feedback in shaping its
>  development
>and to Chairman Vacca who has demonstrated great leadership on this issue.
>  We look
>forward to rolling out this feature in New York City and in CMT markets
>  throughout
>the nation."
>"This is an excellent example of the private sector working with
>  government leaders
>and advocates to voluntarily change a system that has excluded the
>  independent participation
>of thousands of people who are blind or visually impaired for far too
>  long," said
>Mark G. Ackermann, President and CEO of Lighthouse International. "We are
>  delighted
>to have played a role in this nationwide initiative and will continue
>  working to
>ensure that every taxi in the nation is accessible to people with a visual
>  impairment.
>Many thanks to Council Member James Vacca for his continued leadership on
>  behalf
>of people who are blind and visually impaired and to Creative Mobile
>  Technologies
>for their willingness to make this a reality."
>"Having a credit card system that talks will make riding in a taxi more
>  accessible,
>enabling me to pay by credit card independently. I applaud the efforts of
>  Council
>Member Vacca and Creative Mobile Technologies for making this possible,"
>  said Ellen
>Rubin, independent access consultant.
>"We applaud this innovation, which we believe will enhance the ability of
>  visually
>impaired New Yorkers to more independently use taxis and to pay for their
>  trips with
>credit and debit cards," said Commissioner David Yassky, Chairman of the
>  Taxi and
>Limousine Commission. "This is another good example of leveraging
>  technology to help
>overcome barriers to accessibility, and we look forward to working with
>  the tech
>community to bring further innovation to taxis with the goal of making
>  taxis more
>accessible to everyone."
>Lighthouse International estimates that the prevalence rate of vision loss
>  in New
>York City is 362,000. This number will only increase because of the aging
>  population
>and age-related causes of visual impairment and blindness, as well as
>  blindness due
>to uncontrolled diabetes.
>This announcement is the latest in a string of pro-accessibility measures
>  championed
>by Vacca, whose own father was blind. On March 28, the New York City
>  Council passed
>three bills aimed at improving mobility for blind and low vision
>  individuals navigating
>the city. Vacca's bill, Introduction 745, requires the Department of
>  Transportation
>to post maps of major street redesigns on its website in a format
>  accessible for
>people with sight and hearing disabilities. Lighthouse International
>  played a major
>role in securing the passage of this legislation, which Mayor Bloomberg
>  will sign
>today at 5 p.m. in the Governor's Room at City Hall.
>*About Lighthouse International:*
>Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit
>  organization dedicated
>to fighting vision loss through prevention, treatment and empowerment. It
>  achieves
>this through clinical and rehabilitation services, education, research and
>  advocacy.
>For more information about vision loss and its causes, contact Lighthouse
>  International
>at 1-800-829-0500 or visit
><http://www.lighthouse.org>www.lighthouse.org
>.
>*About Creative Mobile Technologies (CMT):* Founded in New York City in
>  2005 by taxi
>industry leaders, Creative Mobile Technologies (CMT) provides more than
>  20,000 taxicabs
>in 60 cities and 35 states with a variety of taxi technologies and
>  enhancements including
>credit and debit card processing, media and advertising content, text
>  messaging,
>interactive passengers maps, GPS, electronic trip sheets and back-office
>  fleet management
>systems. CMT has more than 6,600 units in New York City alone. CMT's
>  unique "for
>the industry, by the industry" business model has empowered taxi fleets
>  and individual
>taxi operators throughout the country with customized solutions born out
>  of the company's
>deep roots in the taxi industry. CMT's FREEdom Solution integrates all of
>  the technology
>including dispatching, banking and media components that has helped to
>  bring the
>American taxi industry into a new era of efficiency and innovation.
>Source:
><http://www.lighthouse.org/news/press-releases/vacca>http://www.lighthouse.org/news/press-releases/vacca

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End of nabs-l Digest, Vol 67, Issue 37
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