[Ohio-talk] The BuzzClip And My View

[Wanda Sloan]

As Ron Williamitis would say: (Hear, Hear)!
Sloan here

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Milena
Zavoli via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2018 3:41 PM
To: bshaid at gmail.com
Cc: milenacleve at roadrunner.com; ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Ohio-talk] The BuzzClip And My View

Hi Barbara,

I only post these technology items for informational purposes, although I
might not agree with their message.

With reference to the cane being an obhject of shame, I agree with you,
although it wasn't mentioned on the blurb or on the video that it's shameful
to have a cane.

Lots of these companies want you to think that you can't get along without
their items; that the only way to be a competent, successful and confident
blind person is to buy their product.  I disagree strongly.  No amount of
technology can replace the cane or the dog, for that matter.  Using
technology as a shortcut to effective travel does not prepare you to face
the rigors of street traffic or rural environments.  Yes, the cane and the
dog will lead you around obstacles just fine.  Of course, the cane user
needs a long, white cane that goes at least up to your nose.  My cane goes
about five inches over my head, affording me prenty of protection and
obstacle awareness even way before I get near them.  It's true that it
doesn't offer me overhead information, and the BuzzClip and other similar
technologies would help with that, but for these companies to say that
technology makes a blind person a more successful, competent and confident
traveler is absurd.  Only good, solid mobility training, the kind that NFB
centers or NFB-style centers provide, is what will make a blind person an
effective traveler.  The old school techniques are the tried-and-true
yardstick that measures your travel competency and street savvy.  Technology
should never replace the level of practice, experience and wisdom that solid
training provides.  The best it can do is possibly equip you with more
information to allow you to make good decisions on the fly.  

By the way, blindness is what you make of it.  Being shameful or hating your
blindness prevents you from moving forward in your life.  Rising above the
nuisances of blindness will secure a better attitude for loving yourself and
others.  Blindness will then be just viewed as an inconvenience, nothing
more.

Thank you for your attention.

Milena




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