[nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home Makeover-blindcouple in OH

Tue Dec 7 15:22:52 UTC 2010

Come on, Connie. I live in Madisn, Wisconsin and I've never seen them "go 
crazy". Sometimes they don't work but then you're no worse off than if they 
were never there.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Constance Canode" <satin-bear at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 5:19 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home 
Makeover-blindcouple in OH

> So do I, Cindy.  Sometimes cold weather makes them go crazy.
>
> Connie
> At 05:06 PM 12/6/2010, you wrote:
>>Yes, I ignore audible walk signals.  I rely on the traffic.
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net>
>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 5:28 PM
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>>Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>>
>>
>>Cindy, think about what you're saying. You ignore audible walk signals? Do
>>you realize how dangerous that is? What would you think of someone who 
>>said
>>they ignore visible walk signals?  You know that's illegal, right? Do you
>>know why its illegal? Because its dangerous!
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 3:38 PM
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>>Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>>
>>
>> >I don't think Connie, (or her experiences with audible traffic signals) 
>> >is
>> > unusual.  I haven't encountered them frequently.  But, I dislike them,
>> > when
>> > I have.  I try my best to ignore them.  But, if they're loud, it's hard 
>> > to
>> > do.
>> >
>> > Cindy
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net>
>> > To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 3:45 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>> > Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>> >
>> >
>> > Well, you are unusual.
>> >
>> > You don't have to take my word for it, of course.  The Access Board web
>> > site
>> > has quite a bit of information on the research on audible walk signals.
>> > Audible walk signals make blind people safer. That is not debatable.
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Constance Canode" <satin-bear at sbcglobal.net>
>> > To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 2:09 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>> > Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>> >
>> >
>> >> As a good cane traveler and experienced in travel all over the 
>> >> country, I
>> >> find the audible signals distracting when you are trying to listen to
>> >> traffic, especially if the are louder than the norm.
>> >>
>> >> Connie Canode
>> >> At 01:58 PM 12/6/2010, you wrote:
>> >>>Yeah, a driver can still make a mistake and the audible signal won't
>> >>>protect you. But audible walk signals aren't to keep drivers from 
>> >>>making
>> >>>mistakes. They're to keep blind people from making mistakes. And 
>> >>>they're
>> >>>really good for that.
>> >>>
>> >>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
>> >>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 12:51 PM
>> >>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>> >>>Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>>If there's a light, it's not difficult.  A car is just as likely to 
>> >>>>hit
>> >>>>you
>> >>>>in a lighted intersection with or without an audible signal.  If the
>> >>>>crossing is done without stop signs or some other type of traffic
>> >>>>control,
>> >>>>then I agree something is required, but I think audible signals 
>> >>>>should
>> >>>>be
>> >>>>enhancers if used, not requirements.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Joe
>> >>>>
>> >>>>"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
>> >>>>sleeves,
>> >>>>some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>> >>>>
>> >>>>-----Original Message-----
>> >>>>From: John Heim [mailto:john at johnheim.net]
>> >>>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 1:32 PM
>> >>>>To: jsorozco at gmail.com; NFB Talk Mailing List
>> >>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>> >>>>Makeover -blindcouple in OH
>> >>>>
>> >>>>She didn't say it was too much of a challenge to cross the street. 
>> >>>>She
>> >>>>demonstrated how difficult it is.  Sometimes, it is difficult.
>> >>>>There are
>> >>>>intersections where having an accessible pedestrian signal makes it 
>> >>>>way
>> >>>>easier and way safer for a blind person to cross. Its impossible to 
>> >>>>say
>> >>>>whether an accessible pedestrian signal was really necessary on
>> >>>>that corner
>> >>>>but I see no reason to doubt it. I say when in doubt, put the signal 
>> >>>>in.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
>> >>>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 11:18 AM
>> >>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>> >>>>Makeover -blindcouple in OH
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>>You know, if they were willing to give me all them there
>> >>>>gifts, I'll be
>> >>>>>glad
>> >>>>>to accept them and simultaneously correct their misconceptions of
>> >>>>>blindness.
>> >>>>>A win/win!  LOL  I'm just curious to hear what it is they
>> >>>>counsel people
>> >>>>>about empowerment if the street intersection is too much of a
>> >>>>challenge?
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>Joe
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up
>> >>>>their sleeves,
>> >>>>>some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>-----Original Message-----
>> >>>>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> >>>>>[mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rovig, Lorraine
>> >>>>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 12:02 PM
>> >>>>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> >>>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>> >>>>>Makeover - blindcouple in OH
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>Here We Go Again: Home Makeover Extreme Edition - blind couple in OH
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>Well, I watched it. It was pretty bad and it could have been worse. 
>> >>>>>It
>> >>>>>could have been a lot better too.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>Their original bathroom -- a sink fell off the wall once when 
>> >>>>>Jasmine
>> >>>>>washed her hands so they had no bathroom sink; the old toilet would
>> >>>>>swivel left and right about 20 degrees either way if your toe
>> >>>>pushed it.
>> >>>>>Other parts of the old home and front porch were dangerous.
>> >>>>The part of
>> >>>>>the old house facing the street appeared to be two-rooms wide, small
>> >>>>>rooms, and I do not remember if it was two-story.  They were given a
>> >>>>>two-story, large, modern home with all new appliances in the 
>> >>>>>kitchen,
>> >>>>>laundry room, every other room, and etcetera.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>This is an African-American family, the Andersons of Maple
>> >>>>Heights, Ohio
>> >>>>>(near Cleveland). I do not know if either one has a job; both
>> >>>>appear to
>> >>>>>be in their early 40s.  The mother, Jasmine, states she is visually
>> >>>>>impaired. She uses a folding cane with a fat white tip that I
>> >>>>think is a
>> >>>>>marshmallow tip.  Husband, Andre, pronounced the French way,
>> >>>>is totally
>> >>>>>blind and uses a guide dog named Valentine. The show gave the dog a
>> >>>>>heart-shaped bed.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>Jasmine gave a tiny monologue stating she lost enough sight to be
>> >>>>>visually impaired and was depressed for awhile but then she became
>> >>>>>"courageous" like she is now. They never charge for their 
>> >>>>>[untrained]
>> >>>>>counseling and encouragement of other people with disabilities. They
>> >>>>>give lots of speeches to educate the community how to make life 
>> >>>>>easier
>> >>>>>for blind people and people with other disabilities.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>The couple told us they are in danger every time they cross a
>> >>>>street and
>> >>>>>the camera mike was held close to trucks and cars as vehicles
>> >>>>zoomed by
>> >>>>>on a city street. Jasmine said she was hit in the shoulder by a 
>> >>>>>moving
>> >>>>>car one time. Ty Pennington, the shows' big-hearted hero,
>> >>>>>furniture-designer and designer of his own line of linens and other
>> >>>>>goods for the home, excellent carpenter and TV show leader, went on
>> >>>>>about how dangerous it is for blind people every day when they are
>> >>>>>outside the home. He got installed for the Andersons a fancy talking
>> >>>>>device at the single crossing nearest to their home at their bus 
>> >>>>>stop.
>> >>>>>Jasmine told us "we're not the only blind people living here,
>> >>>>you know"
>> >>>>>and, she said, this will help people with other disabilities that 
>> >>>>>live
>> >>>>>in their neighborhood too.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>The show gave her a CCTV rigged to a lady's dressing table so she 
>> >>>>>can
>> >>>>>see to put on her make-up and not have to ask her son if she did it
>> >>>>>okay. She got choked up that she can see her nails now and can paint
>> >>>>>them as she could not see to do before, and for the first time she
>> >>>>>exclaims, as we watch her look at it, she can see the
>> >>>>beautiful ring her
>> >>>>>husband gave her.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>In the old house, Jasmine shoved up the sleeves on her dress
>> >>>>to show Ty
>> >>>>>and us the many burns on her arms that she got from using her
>> >>>>>conventional electric 4-burner stove and oven.  The show gave her
>> >>>>>"induction heating" which does not give out any heat except to a 
>> >>>>>metal
>> >>>>>pot placed on the burner, and she got a wall oven so her oven is at 
>> >>>>>a
>> >>>>>better height for her to use. The house got a talking
>> >>>>temperature gauge.
>> >>>>>On the plus side, so the two wouldn't get lost, nothing odd was 
>> >>>>>built
>> >>>>>into the kitchen or the walls and floors.  Also on the plus
>> >>>>side, except
>> >>>>>for the induction oven, normal if fancy Sears's appliances were 
>> >>>>>placed
>> >>>>>in the home for the kitchen and the baths.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>Both Andre and Jasmine got computers that I think had JAWS
>> >>>>installed on
>> >>>>>them. They got a home theatre room with one "Sound Dome" over
>> >>>>both their
>> >>>>>heads that directs the sound directly only to them, and lets them 
>> >>>>>hear
>> >>>>>the SAP channel along with the show. They have two very helpful,
>> >>>>>respectful sons (one may be age 12 and the other is a young 
>> >>>>>teenager).
>> >>>>>Ty stated the older son got a vacation from verbalizing what is on
>> >>>>>screen plus he got the SAP thing with words running below the screen
>> >>>>>when folks talked (which he needed but I missed the part that said 
>> >>>>>why
>> >>>>>he did). The younger son is sure he wants to grow up to be an
>> >>>>eye doctor
>> >>>>>so he can cure blindness, beginning with his mother's visual
>> >>>>impairment.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>Both Jasmine and Andre got brand new, fat-bodied, folding canes that
>> >>>>>have built-in sensors to inform them of obstacles by their head and 
>> >>>>>at
>> >>>>>their feet, and, said Ty, "these aren't even on the market yet." 
>> >>>>>Andre
>> >>>>>expressed their gratitude.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>They got a huge main room that runs from a living room
>> >>>>grouping through
>> >>>>>an empty space of floor to a dining room grouping to a kitchen with 
>> >>>>>no
>> >>>>>barriers or changes in floor, so they do not have to worry
>> >>>>anymore about
>> >>>>>running into posts or walls, as they did run into in their cramped
>> >>>>>original home.  I noticed they are both bulky overweight
>> >>>>people and the
>> >>>>>original house doorways were older and appeared smallish, plus a 
>> >>>>>post
>> >>>>>was inconveniently placed, especially for any overweight people 
>> >>>>>trying
>> >>>>>to get past it to the bedrooms and bathroom.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>The mortgage company paid off and tore up their mortgage; the local
>> >>>>>branch of the state college gave them 2 college scholarships for the
>> >>>>>boys; Sears gave the four of them enough clothes and shoes to
>> >>>>fill some
>> >>>>>of their new closets; the local basketball team called The 
>> >>>>>Cavaliers,
>> >>>>>gave the teen-aged son a closet-full of their clothes plus
>> >>>>3-shelves of
>> >>>>>their basketballs with its metal rack. The building company gave 
>> >>>>>them
>> >>>>>$50,000 to a fund to handle their home maintenance.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>Braille got a "shout out" as the modern lingo has it. Ty
>> >>>>added palm-size
>> >>>>>wooden "dots" to their bed's headboard to spell out in grade
>> >>>>one, "Love
>> >>>>>is Blind."  Large print got a "shout out" too, with their top
>> >>>>bed quilt
>> >>>>>decorated with "Love is Blind" sewn on as stuffed, raised-up
>> >>>>>hand-writing.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>(For me, I keep wondering how they and other Ty Pennington-show
>> >>>>>homeowners can afford their new taxes on their giant gifts of money,
>> >>>>>goods, and a huge new home.)
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>The Andersons were so very grateful for all they received from Ty 
>> >>>>>and
>> >>>>>Sears Company and ABC. Tears all around.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>You can view the entire episode on the Anderson Family via computer,
>> >>>>>here:
>> >>>>>http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition
>> >>>>>Anderson Family
>> >>>>>  | Full Episode
>> >>>>>A visually impaired couple devoted to helping the community receives 
>> >>>>>a
>> >>>>>home makeover, complete with technologies that help people with
>> >>>>>disabilities;
>> >>>>>EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION - "Anderson Family" - Andre and 
>> >>>>>Jasmine
>> >>>>>Anderson have never allowed their visual impairment to slow them 
>> >>>>>down,
>> >>>>>but rather have faced it head on, and established the Disability
>> >>>>>Awareness Center in Maple Heights, Ohio, to help others who are
>> >>>>>struggling with sight loss. The couple and their sons learned
>> >>>>they would
>> >>>>>be recipients of a home makeover while aboard the public bus that 
>> >>>>>they
>> >>>>>ride every day. The "EM: HE" team surprised them on the bus
>> >>>>and revealed
>> >>>>>plans to give them a new "smart" home, equipped with technologies 
>> >>>>>that
>> >>>>>support people with disabilities. This episode of "Extreme Makeover:
>> >>>>>Home Edition" airs SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the 
>> >>>>>ABC
>> >>>>>Television Network. (ABC/MIKE CROUCH) ANDERSON FAMILY HOME - AFTER -
>> >>>>>BEDROOM
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>_______________________________________________
>> >>>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>> >>>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> >>>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>_______________________________________________
>> >>>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>> >>>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> >>>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>_______________________________________________
>> >>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>> >>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> >>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>_______________________________________________
>> >>>nfb-talk mailing list
>> >>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> >>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> nfb-talk mailing list
>> >> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > nfb-talk mailing list
>> > nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > nfb-talk mailing list
>> > nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> >
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
> 