[nfbwatlk] Am I crazy inr are they

[Jim Portillo]

Right on, Mike.  I've always believed that.
In fact, when I was at LCB back in 1997, we had a few seminars and even
classes dealing with this very topic...having readers and problem solving
when things weren't always "accessible."
I'm all for everything being at our finger tips or via audio, but frankly,
with all I have to do and look at (mainly outside of work) I couldn't do it
without a combination of scanners, readers, etc.
Jim


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2012 6:05 AM
To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Am I crazy inr are they

Debby:

I'm glad Keiko is sending you the handbook in accessible form. As Marci
says, broadly interpreted, doing so is the law of the land. However, with
respect, I vehemently disagree with you (and many other blind persons on our
lists of late) when you say that not all blind persons have scanners or
readers. While it is true that not all blind persons have scanners and for
most this is a matter of finances (for me it is a matter of choice), *every*
blind person in my opinion should develop a network of readers. This is,
after all, a world in which the sighted are a majority. That means that the
world is structured for the majority who, for better or worse, read (or
purport to read) print. We are *never* going to have everything in Braille,
the assertions of BRL or NAPUB to the contrary notwithstanding. This is like
unto the deaf not having signing interpreters everywhere they go. Yes, we
can get Braille in more places but just by virtue of our small numbers, the
blind wil *never* have *everything* in a form that is convenient. Therefore,
it behooves us to exercise a little ingenuity and cobble together a system
of readers, paid or unpaid, to at least let us know what is junkmail, what
is important and in what timetable we must reply to the important stuff.
Needing readers in a world of print is just one of those nuisances of
blindness. Technology can overcome this to a certain extent for those
fortunate enough to own it. But even technology will never obviate the
necessity of human readers which are, BTW, far more efficient than any
technology, at separating the wheat from the chaf.

This illustrates one of the fundamental aspects of NFB's belief system: we,
the blind, must become problem-solvers. If we don't, someone else will
attempt to solve our problems in a fashion we may not like.

Having said all this, however, I reiterate that I'm glad you're getting some
of the material in alternative formats.

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of debby phillips
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2012 2:09 PM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Am I crazy inr are they

You know, I despise getting a bunch of print material from agencies, or
organizations for and of the blind.  It's ridiculous.  Not all of us have
scanners or sighted folks who can read to us.  And I did ask my counselor to
have them send information in an accessible format.  I'LL have to call
Monday 
and request something accessible.    Peace,    Debby

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