[nfb-talk] Extra Tax Exemption

Mon Apr 26 10:08:38 UTC 2010

Actually, at that time the University of Michigan did a pretty good job of 
meeting individual accommodations for blind students as well as those with 
other disabilities and this was long before the ADA and Section 504 was in 
its formulative stages.
Chuck
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T. Joseph Carter" <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
To: "qubit" <lauraeaves at yahoo.com>; "NFB Talk Mailing List" 
<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 1:14 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Extra Tax Exemption


> I'll agree blindness has little to do with the size of your room.  But I 
> can imagine blindness-related needs for space, depending on your 
> equipment, Braille books, etc.  But that's an individual matter, not a 
> cookie cutter accommodation.  Universities rarely understand that few 
> accommodations really are "cookie cutter" for anyone.
>
> But that's a whole other debate for another list.  *smile*
>
> Joseph
>
> On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 01:21:44AM -0500, qubit wrote:
>>I see no reason a blind person would "need" either a double or single 
>>room,
>>because of blindness that is.  I personally liked having roommates.  But
>>there were also years when I paid for a single room. When I got into my 
>>big
>>accident (won't bore you with the details) I needed a nurse's aid liing 
>>with
>>me for a few months, and that required me to get a double room and pay for
>>my dorm mate to work as an aide.  But that is another situation 
>>altogether.
>>Blindness alone had no effect on need for a particular living arrangement.
>>Now you know what's really fun is when you mislay something and can't find
>>it and you have a little thought in the back of your head that your 
>>roommate
>>or someone with her had something to do with its appearance, but you say
>>nothing because you know that in all probability it was you who mislaid 
>>it.
>>Now I found that 99.99% of the time I was right in saying nothing and
>>letting the matter go. It is not worth damaging a good relationship by
>>making accusations.
>>On the other hand, I had a friend in a wheelchair down the hall who also 
>>had
>>an aid. She was not blind, but her aid was the cleptomaniac aide from
>>hell -- left her high and dry one day by disappearing, so my friend (who 
>>was
>>quadroplegic) had to find a new aid, then discover that her aide had 
>>stolen
>>all her cash and her bank card, went on a shopping spree with the card and
>>disappeared. She had also not stopped there, but went down the hall and
>>stole from everyone who left their door open.
>>So we all have our trials in life.
>>That's one I would hate to have.
>>Count your blessings.
>>--le
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net>
>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 12:52 AM
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Extra Tax Exemption
>>
>>
>>I would have to agree. I think that at times we spend too much time as 
>>blind
>>people trying to prove our independence when we need to just do what we 
>>need
>>to do. If it is more convenient and appropriate to use a convenience then 
>>do
>>it and let it be an individual choice. When I was in college I had single
>>dorm rooms because I took heavy course loads and did most of my studying
>>during the night as I worked two part time jobs and required much 
>>additional
>>storage space for tapes--reel to reel in those days. so it was more
>>convenient and less disruptive to other people.
>>Chuck
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "T. Joseph Carter" <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2010 5:42 PM
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Extra Tax Exemption
>>
>>
>>> My opinion, generally unasked-for though it may be, is that we worry
>>> sometimes far too much about what people might think if they see
>>> something.
>>>
>>> Over on the NABS list, someone asked about the notion that she might 
>>> need
>>> a single dorm room for herself.  The immediate response from the list 
>>> was
>>> that she must at all costs refuse this on the grounds that she should 
>>> not
>>> wish to be seen as needing something.
>>>
>>> How insecure in oneself must one be to constantly assume that something 
>>> as
>>> simple as asking for more than half a shoebox as a living arrangement
>>> somehow connotes inferiority? I gave the most logical advice I could: 
>>> If
>>> you want a roommate, do not allow the school to isolate you.  If you
>>> don't, ask for a single.  If someone asks if it's for your disability,
>>> answer honestly that it is simply your preference.
>>>
>>> Being a bit older than the average undergraduate, not a small person, 
>>> and
>>> having more possessions than comfortably fit in half a shoebox, I 
>>> greatly
>>> valued my single room.  I paid for the privilege, as did half of the
>>> students on my floor.  I did move eventually into a graduate student
>>> apartment, which required special approval, but the request was based on
>>> age and personality, not disability.
>>>
>>> Joseph
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 10:49:18PM -0700, ckrugman at sbcglobal.net wrote:
>>>>In my experience I have never heard or run across any negative feelings
>>>>about it on the part of society as a whole. The benefits of it for
>>>>idnividuals outweigh any alleged unproven detriments as a whole.
>>>>Chuck
>>>
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>>
>>
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