[nfb-talk] Making Our Homes Comfortable and Accessible to Blind Folks

Tue Dec 20 01:52:49 UTC 2011

Hi:  Even though my wife can see, we have someone mow our yard and do the
other things that keeps it looking in great shape.  Because my wife has
Lupus, we also have a cleaning service 2 times a month.  Although I know I
can clean, I always like to be sure this place is kept up nicely.  I've
never watched H.G. TV but I ought to just to get some ideas.

Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Wm. Ritchhart
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 5:53 PM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Making Our Homes Comfortable and Accessible to Blind
Folks

This is a real good point about house numbers.  Mine were small and placed
on this old rusty awning.  We were able to remove the awning entirely and we
purchased new large and easy to see numbers.  Lowes or Home Depo have them
for around $20.00.  

We have planted a tree, ripped out the plant mess of the former owners and
planted different color mums.  

I am told it looks really good.  

My next door neighbor who was sighted used his yard as a junk yard.
Fortunately he has now moved to Denver and his property is being cleaned up.
This is good for all as a well-kept neighborhood also works to keep crime
down.  

I just think it's important for us to remember it's a sighted world.  We may
not care about the appearance of our property.  However it's condition does
send a message.  We should care what that message is that we are sending.
That is why it is important to ask the questions and either do the work or
pay someone to do it for us.  

It helps if you have a partner who loves HG TV.  

Thanks, William

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Reyazuddin, Yasmin
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 9:34 AM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Making Our Homes Comfortable and Accessible to Blind
Folks

Hi List,
Another aspect in reference to lights out side the house is the house
number. The family members and friends will know the house by looking at it
but cab drivers and stranger may not know. Some of the cab driver and
paratransit drivers told me that the number on the house were not clear.
I asked my family members and they agreed. Having a specific marker is good
for such people. I also know the color of the house color of the wicker
chair on the porch and for myself a wind chime which I can hear on a windy
day. 

Yasmin Reyazuddin 
Aging & Disability Services 
Montgomery County Government 
Department of Health & Human Services 
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) 
Rockville MD 20850 
240-777-0311 (MC311) 
240-777-1556 (personal) 
240-777-1495 (fax) 
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm 
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille 

This message may contain protected health information or other
information that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the
intended recipient, please contact the sender by return mail and destroy
any copies of this material. 

Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 9:08 AM
To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Making Our Homes Comfortable and Accessible to
Blind Folks

I think you should have lights on, not only for your guests but for
protection.  I have some sight and can not stand a dark house.  My
totally blind, chapter members, when I go to their homes, have lights
on.  I think they use timers to control the lights, posibly.  
If you walk into my home, accept for the canes at the door, a brailler,
on my craft table, a talking micro wave and a few braille gagits like a
braille ruler, I do not think you would even know it was the home of a
blind person.  I have collections, a few pictures on the walls and have
decorated for the Christmas holiday.  An NFB member came over and we
decorated my place and had a great time.  
When planning my lay out of furnature I planned it so I could look at
the tv when I wanted, even though I can not see it well.  I have a place
to sit and talk on the phone and I have a recliner.  I love all aspects
of my home accept transpertation, now that I am living on my own. 

Terry Powers

-----Original Message-----
From: David Andrews [mailto:dandrews at visi.com] 
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 4:50 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Making Our Homes Comfortable and Accessible to
Blind Folks

I think you answered your own question.  If you have sighted persons
over regularly then you should do things to make them comfortable.  To
do otherwise would be making yourself a bad host.  Where you draw the
line is a personal decision though.  For example, if you have a working,
and adequate TV, you may feel that it is not necessary to go out and
spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a HD model, or you may!

Dave

At 03:43 AM 12/17/2011, you wrote:
>Hi there,
>
>
>
>Here's a question that I guess could also be somewhat philosophical in
>that it will make us think about how we deal with and interact with 
>sighted people.
>
>
>
>As blind folks, do you think we have a responsibility to not only make
>our homes comfortable and accessible for us and the folks with whom we 
>live, but also to sighted folks?
>
>I've heard comments in the past that basically say that since it's a
>blind person's home, then the only thing that should be of concern is 
>that things are comfortable and accessible for the blind person.
>
>
>
>I've been thinking a lot about this over a long period of time.  I have
>some friends that come over, and one in particular who stays in my 
>guest room when he's in town, and when all of that happens, I'm the 
>only blind person around.  All of a sudden, I begin to think about 
>lights and the amount of light in a room.  I begin thinking of making 
>sure that appliances that are labeled in Braille are done using clear
tape so that they can also use them.
>I even began thinking of the layout of my living room and how one of my

>friends finally said that it was uncomfortable to do things like watch 
>TV or watch movies, because of how my furniture and TV are placed.  
>People have to face sideways to be able to watch TV.  And, my TV is so 
>old that it doesn't support or have HD capabilities.
>
>
>
>I began wondering about the importance of a blind person having an
>aesthetically or visually appealing house, not only for himself but 
>also for the sighted friends and family that come to visit.  Are we 
>being selfish by not considering these things, or should sighted 
>company learn to live with how we have things and deal with them?
>
>
>
>I'm beginning to think that if I care about my friends and family, then
>I should do something to make them feel comfortable in a place where 
>they spend quite a bit of time.  But then, where does one draw the
line?
>
>
>
>Anyway, hope you don't mind the question.  Just curious what other
>blind folks (especially those who are totally blind) think.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jim

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