[Nfbv-announce] Independently voting.

[Michael Kasey]

This should be a Richmond Chapter issue to be worked together with you.


The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

-----Original Message-----
From: valentinoma19 at gmail.com [mailto:valentinoma19 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2015 12:22 PM
To: Fellows NFB Leadership <Virginia-Fellows at nfbnet.org>;
nfbv-announce at nfbnet.org
Cc: Kasey Michael <michaelgkasey at verizon.net>; Roane Mark
<mwroane at mindspring.com>; Soforenko Tracy <tracy.soforenko at gmail.com>;
Jeannette <jigholson at comcast.net>
Subject: Independently voting.

Recently we had elections here in the Commonwealth of Virginia and when I
went to my polling place I was given the option of having someone read the
ballot to me or marking it up myself. Where I vote we had a paper ballot.
Fortunately, I am low vision and was able to put my nose on the paper and
figure it out independently.

Most of the time I have to put ointment in my eyes which would have negated
me being able to vote without some type of accommodation. I called The
Hanover County Board of Elections this morning and spoke with Teri Smithson.
She assured me that there was an audio and braille style voting device at my
voting precinct. And I assured her that my wife and I were never informed of
its presence or existence. 
After a short positive conversation in which I expressed that I'm not here
to fuss, I'm here to help others and educate them, we agreed that more work
needs to be done to raise the awareness concerning these voting device that
are available to help the blind and visually impaired independently vote.

Michael Valentino
valentinoma19 at gmail.com
Cell - 804-513-6261

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.