[nfb-db] Travel

Tue May 19 05:21:49 UTC 2009

John,
You have some good advice out there. First let me acknowledge that I don't 
read your original posts in their entirety, so I may not always know what I 
am responding to. So pardon me for the misunderstanding on your use of ASL. 
I am preoccupied with other things, but I'll return to the discussion 
shortly and clarify things further. I think I have learned a couple of 
things from reading your messages on a variety of threads.
Let me quickly ask this: Does your state sponsor a SSP program? It is my 
understanding that you do not always get a free ride and a free lunch, you 
know, and you have to occasionally cover SSP expenses here in my area.
Also, your statement regarding websites for shopping or banking not being 
accessible struck me, though I am not surprised. I have done shopping 
in-store, but I am not one who enjoys the crowd and the hassle of dealing 
with transportation. I still do shopping at the local stores, but a vast 
majority of my shopping activities is done online. Banking is also done 
online, but I cannot print out cash from my computer or deposit checks using 
my computer, so I go into local branches. All bills are paid online, for I 
get email bills for all utilities. But of course it is primarily because I 
teach tech. I just wish there was a very simple way to handle bills and 
everything else for make life easier and fully in control of the deaf-blind 
individual.
Mussie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Lee Clark" <johnlee at clarktouch.com>
To: "'NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List'" <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 8:12 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Travel


> Haben:
>
> You don't have to know ASL first to use SSPs.  Many nonsigning DB people 
> use
> SSPs.  SSPs are most often used for food shopping, doing errands like the
> bank, checking the mail and paying bills.  Sometimes they are used to make
> your participation in certation recreational and social events easier. 
> They
> are "eyes" that you can use, and because they are human they are the best
> technology.  You can tell the SSP, "I'm looking for William Poll'[s Raw
> Honey Plus."  Then the SSP scans the shelves.  Or "Iif you see any sales 
> or
> special deals, let me know, but otherwise we'll follow the list."  A SSP 
> can
> be anyone with whom you can communicate easily.
>
> Typically, I use my SSPs for
>
> Paying bills, since the bills don't translate well through my scanner.
>
> Going on occasional food shopping trips.  Normally, I go on my own and 
> have
> a list for customer service to use and gather my food while I sit
> comfortably and read.  But it's good to go with a SSP from time to time to
> find out what's new, or if I am looking for new ingredients and want to 
> know
> my options.
>
> Shopping for clothes.  There are many brands, colors,s styles, and prices 
> to
> consider, so it's good to have the SSP so I can get this info rapidly.
>
> Interpret video relay calls.  This doesn't happen often, as I rarely need 
> to
> use the telephone.
>
> At conferences where there are many venues.  While each workshop or
> presentation will come wiwth its interpreters for me, it's not the
> interpreters' job to guide me from one venue to another.  So a SSP is good
> for that, and also for finding the food, exploring the exhibit hall, and 
> for
> networking as the SSP can tell me who is around me or find specific people 
> I
> want to approach.
>
> And I have what I call my "digital SSPs."  Those are savvy with computers,
> highly literate in English, and can type very fast.  Sometimes I use them 
> to
> track down information online that I don't want to bother, either because
> the target Web sites are not accessible or a pain to navigate around in, 
> or
> because the documents are in PDF, etc.  So I email one of my digital SSPs
> what I need, and he or she goes online and tracks it down.  Or some Web
> stores' ordering forms are coded badly, so I have the SSP order stuff on 
> my
> behalf, using my credit card information.  Or becoming a member of 
> something
> online may require your answering the question of what this image spells,
> which I obviously cannot see.  Most of the time, my digital SSPs are not
> actually with me in person at all, but they still keep track of their time
> and bill the agency for their time.  And if I have an old book with text 
> too
> grimy, grainy, or smudgy for my scanner to read, I have a ditial SSP type 
> it
> up.  Sometimes I would send one on a research trip to a library in another
> state or country, to type up fragile documents and texts that cannot leave
> the library.  It makes no sense for me to go there because there would be
> absolutely nothing for me to do.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> John
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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