[nfb-db] my very abreviated intro

[Scott Davert]

Hello to all on this mailing list.
Baring in mind that this list’s archives are publicly viewable to
anyone, and that I don’t want to publish a novel, I’ll try to be
brief. I’ve been on the list for some time, and feel somewhat of an
intro would be god.
I grew up totally blind, but was born with “normal” hearing. As my
life progressed, so too did my hearing loss. It has created a lot of
issues and I’ve had to face a lot of psychological adjustment, some of
which is still ongoing. Then again, I suppose it’s a never ending
process, we all live and learn as best we can.
I struggled with many services for the blind, because most of them are
adapted for those with hearing loss. My cultural identity, what little
of it was associated with my disability, was as a blind person. My
friends and family only reinforced this for various reasons of their
own.
I had a lot of issues pertaining to mobility like everyone else who
has written and still do. Some of that was the way I was trained to
use the hearing I no longer have, and some of that simply comes from
being what I call spatially stupid for lack of a better way to term
it. The only training I've received that has really got me moving in
the right direction has been at HKNC. Because of that, and those who
have helped me, I'm now here trying to give back what I can to the
small community of those who are deaf-blind.
To make a long story short, I’ve always tried to do my best at
adapting though the process never ends. It’s why I enjoy technology so
much. I ware hearing aids, utilize an FM system, use an iPhone
regularly along with a braille display and various other adaptive apps
and devices, just to name a few things. Technology is what has been
part of why I am where I am today. While it’s great, we still have
plenty of issues to address in terms of accessibility  and
deaf-blindness.
I’m currently working as a Braille and adaptive technology instructor
at the Helen Keller national Center on Long island. I enjoy teaching
people for a living, and also enjoy seeing people succeed. In addition
to working at HKNC, I also am a member of the editorial staff on a
website called applevis.com. This site is dedicated to providing
information about apps for Apple products with respect to their
accessibility. While most of its members are blind, and most content
is produced for users of speech, I try to bring the importance of
braille displays and braille access to the site as well.
I was a board member of the American Association of the Deaf-Blind for
2 years, but have moved on for my own reasons which would probably
help this ever expanding email message turn in to that novel I
promised not to write at the beginning of this message. I hope that we
can get some discussion going on this list, and that we can start to
develop some sort of collective action for those who are deaf-blind.
We’re a small minority among a larger minority, so to get anything
done, we need to work together.

Thanks for reading,
Scot