[nagdu] Introduction and comments

[Brenda]

  I have been receiving this list via digest for a while.  To read the 
posts I do a window-eyes search for "content" to quickly go through the 
messages.  Unfortunately using digest mode my replys may be a little 
later than those getting individual emails which are just to numerous 
for me to deal with in my inbox because I have several lists.

Anyway, I have been a partial all my life and within the last several 
years lost sufficient vision for me to learn to use a cane and 
contemplate getting a guide dog.  I am concerned that it may be 
determined that I have too much vision, but I really feel a dog could 
benefit me.  I have a family pet dog who will not accept another dog in 
the home so I have plenty of time to sort things out.  I have been 
reading this list and learning a lot and look forward to learning more.

As for the man and his guide dog killed in NJ and the horrible article 
blaming him, people need to write to that newspaper and maybe even 
contact the NFB to bring attention to this discriminatory language.  It 
is possible that the man stepped out in front of the car, but it is also 
possible the driver was going too fast.  The man had his guide dog so I 
find it unlikely he just pstepped out immediately in front of the car.  
Is there a way people could write letters to the editor to that paper to 
point out the slanted view of the editor?  As for pedestrians getting 
hit, my sighted Dad was taking his morning jog in Marin CA in the 80s 
and was hit and killed hit-and-run by a driver who used a fake I.D. to 
rent a van.  The police said that since there were no witnesses they 
couldn't even rule it a homocide as they could not determine if my (very 
safety conscious) Dad had stepped in front of the car.  I know the two 
issues are a little different, but the bottom line is that cars seem to 
have the right-of-way.

I will keep reading and learning from this cool list.  Brenda