[nfb-talk] [blindkid] Blind/Low Vision Inclusive Technology -"ExtremeMakeover: Home Edition" on Sunday, December 5

Fri Dec 10 16:41:23 UTC 2010

and to top this off this doesn't even consider how much money ABC and 
Extreme Makeover is making at the expense of the blind by capitalizing on 
thi at our expense.
Chuck
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Cc: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>; "San Antonio Texas Chapter 
Mailing List" <nfbsatx at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2010 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [blindkid] Blind/Low Vision Inclusive 
Technology -"ExtremeMakeover: Home Edition" on Sunday, December 5


> Good morning everyone,
>
>    We've been through this before haven't we? Every time we've heard what 
> a
> great show the Extreme Make-Over Home Edition will be whenever it features
> blind people. We watch the program only to discover that it's the same old
> junk about the blind portrayed by the media. It's junk like this that 
> causes
> apartment managers to believe that blind tenants seeking to rent from them
> be accompanied by an apartment locator when in the view of the prospective
> blind renter such services are not needed. This happened to Mary and 
> myself
> last spring when we toured different properties looking for a new place to
> live. The manager of one apartment complex was more interested in
> advertising the services of her co-worker whose boyfriend was an apartment
> locator than showing us what they had to offer.
>
>    It was after some persistence on our part that we finally got a tour of
> one of their units. We told the manager that we in fact used a locator
> called HP Pavilion Apartment Hunters and another service called Dell
> Apartment Finding Inc. These services are no further than our living room
> and guest bedroom and on our laps when needed. They're on call 24/7 and 
> will
> allow you to search for apartments at any time. Hence we could look at
> rental property on our schedule not that of apartment locators of the 
> human
> kind.
>
>    Realizing that this complex was looking straight down the barrel of a
> possible disability discrimination complaint they offered us a unit but it
> was smaller than what we needed. In the end we declined this offer but at
> least we accomplished our mission.
>
>    We now live in a 1300 SQFT townhome on San Antonio's Northeast side.
> Unlike our experience with the complex described above the management here
> were surprised that we found them online and were relieved that they
> wouldn't need to pay an apartment location fee.
>
>        I'm relaying this story as it's the kind of thing that can happen 
> to
> blind people looking to lease or perhaps even buy a place to live. As long
> as Extreme Make-over Home Edition portrays us as helpless individuals who
> can only live independently if their home is equipped with this or that
> gadgett, or umpteen textured surfaces and the rest of it. I hope we can 
> find
> a way to put a stop to how ABC portrays blind people on the Extreme
> Make-over Home Edition program. All the best.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Kim Cunningham" <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
> To: "Blindkid" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, December 03, 2010 8:14 AM
> Subject: [blindkid] Blind/Low Vision Inclusive Technology -
> "ExtremeMakeover: Home Edition" on Sunday, December 5
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> WGBH's Media Access Group Encourages Tuning into ABC'S "Extreme
> Makeover: Home Edition" on Sunday, December 5 (8-9pm, EST)
>
> The Media Access Group at WGBH encourages all those interested in 
> inclusive
> technology for people who are blind or have low vision to tune into 
> "Extreme
> Makeover: Home Edition" this Sunday evening, December 5.
> While we can't provide any specific information on what will be seen and
> heard (it would spoil the surprise!), the episode promises to create much
> greater awareness of the services and products now available for people 
> who
> have limited or no sight.
>
> Here is the information the production company has released in advance 
> about
> this episode:
>
> The "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team has selected the Anderson Family
> in Cleveland, Ohio. The family of four answered the call to action when 
> they
> inspired the community to heighten their awareness of the obstacles facing
> the disabled in their community. Diving headlong into their work, Andre 
> and
> Jasmine have dedicated their time to supporting and counseling the 
> disabled
> by connecting them with resources to help them live and lead more
> independent lives. The Andersons have proven to be the definitive role
> models as they themselves lost their sight 4 years ago.
>
> Empowered by their own obstacles, Andre and Jasmine have never let 
> anything
> slow them down. Together they have teamed to complete grad school, run a
> center for people with disabilities, created a support group, and all 
> while
> balancing life at home with their 2 boys (one of whom is hearing 
> impaired).
> Despite having lost their sight after their sons, Jasison and Jahzion were
> born, Andre and Jasmine have rallied back and have embraced their reality.
> While they continue to empower their community, the family has hit a rough
> patch. Their home is falling apart around them and it has become 
> complicated
> and hazardous for them to live in especially in the face of how their 
> needs
> continue to grow.
>
> On September 29th the Andersons will have some changes in sight when Ty
> Pennington, designers Michael Maloney, Tracy Huston, and Xzibit deliver a
> "Smart House" in just 7 days. Local builders Marous Brothers Construction
> and community volunteers will rebuild the structure and give them the key 
> to
> live above and beyond their wildest dreams. The Andersons will vacation in
> Crested Butte, Colorado.
>
> About "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
> The Emmy-award winning reality program "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,"
> now in its 8th season, is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol
> Holding. It's executive-produced Brady Connell and George Verschoor. David
> Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America. The show airs Sundays from
> 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET on ABC.
>
> About the Media Access Group at WGBH
> The Media Access Group at WGBH, which includes a Services division and a
> research and development division--the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family 
> National
> Center for Accessible Media--has pioneered and delivered captioned and
> described media for nearly four decades to people in their homes,
> classrooms, at work and in the community. And the Media Access Group
> continues to develop new solutions to access challenges as technology, and
> the way we all consume media, evolve. Members of the group's collective
> staff represent the leading experts in their fields and their success is
> exemplified by a history of accomplishments and continuous growth, the
> integration of innovative products and services into society at large, and
> the enthusiastic support of the audiences served, including 36 million
> people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have low vision. More
> information about the Media Access Group at WGBH can be found at:
> http://access.wgbh.org.
>
> Contact:
> Mary Watkins
> mary_watkins at wgbh.org
> 617 300-3700
>
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