[nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home Makeover -blindcouple in OH

Tue Dec 7 15:20:36 UTC 2010

So if you had a chance at a new house, you'd turn it down just for the sake 
of principle? I doubt it.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home 
Makeover -blindcouple in OH

> I'd give them the benefit of the doubt if they hadn't chosen to be 
> plastered
> all over America, talking about how difficult they have it, living as a
> blind couple.  If they didn't want their abilities, or lack of abilities, 
> to
> be an issue, then they shouldn't have allowed it to be broadcast across 
> the
> country.
>
> Cindy
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 5:38 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
> Makeover -blindcouple in OH
>
>
> First of all, I don't see any reason to believe this couple has done a 
> poor
> job of learning to deal with being blind.
>
> But besides that, why must you judge them? Why not give them the benefit 
> of
> the doubt? Why not live and let live? All they did was talk a TV network
> into giving them all kinds of free stuff. More power to them, I say.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 3:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
> Makeover -blindcouple in OH
>
>
>> Well, I'm not saying the bar code reader wouldn't be helpful.  I'm just
>> saying I have done without one and don't really see a need for one, for
>> me.
>> Now, maybe, if someone gave me one, I'd find that it's such a useful tool
>> that I couldn't live without it.  But, the point I wanted to make is,
>> there
>> are other ways to do things and these people have apparently not learned
>> about them, yet and just want to allow technology to save them from
>> themselves.
>>
>> Cindy
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Constance Canode" <satin-bear at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 3:33 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>> Makeover -blindcouple in OH
>>
>>
>> I agree with you Cindy, except for the bar code reader.  I really
>> love mine, but I bought and paid for it myself, no help from anyone else.
>>
>> Connie Canode
>> At 01:25 PM 12/6/2010, you wrote:
>>>John,
>>>
>>>I have never tried to replace a toilet or sink and don't think I'd ever
>>>try.
>>>This isn't because I'm blind, but because I don't know how to do it and
>>>have
>>>no desire to learn.  But, when I know there is a problem with my toilet 
>>>or
>>>sink, I know how to call the plumber and they know how to repair the
>>>problem.  So, although my house is more than 58 years old, it is in good
>>>repair and I have never had a sink fall off the wall or a toilet which
>>>turns
>>>from side to side.
>>>
>>>Yes, you're right; if someone is going to give me a lot of new 
>>>technology,
>>>I
>>>have to demonstrate that I need it.  The problem is, although some of it
>>>would be nice, and even though I appreciate the technology I already 
>>>have,
>>>I
>>>don't *need* every piece of technology that comes along.  I don't need a
>>>bar
>>>code reader to read the cans in my cupboard, and I certainly don't *need*
>>>a
>>>high tech cane which tells me where obstacles are, in front of me.  My
>>>long
>>>straight fiberglass cane does just fine and has ever since I started 
>>>using
>>>a
>>>cane, more than 40 years ago.
>>>
>>>I wonder how much of this stuff would have been necessary if the couple
>>>had
>>>received proper training in blindness skills?  If they don't have these
>>>skills, what impressions are they passing along to the people they are
>>>counseling?
>>>
>>>I didn't see the show, last night, and haven't had the time to watch it,
>>>yet.  But, from Ms. Rovig's description, this couple does need help, but
>>>not
>>>the kind they received.
>>>
>>>Cindy
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net>
>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 2:12 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>>>Makeover -blindcouple in OH
>>>
>>>
>>>One thing that really bothers me about the conversation on this list is
>>>that
>>>people are complaining about ABC depicting this couple as helpless.  But
>>>can
>>>anyone on this list replace a toilet or a bathroom sink? I've done things
>>>like replace garbage disposals, light fixtures, and electrical outlets.
>>>But
>>>I don't think I'd try replacing a toilet. I might replace a sink though.
>>>Assuming the standard hookups are already there, you can do that.  But 
>>>I'm
>>>not sure that even most sighted people would try that either.
>>>
>>>I guess the question is whether ABC's depiction of blind people was
>>>inaccurate. Are these people more helpess than a typical blind couple?
>>>
>>>The one thing that puzzled me was the problem the woman had with cans of
>>>food. I don't know what's in our kitchen cupboard but that's because my
>>>wife
>>>does the cooking and shopping. When I did my own cooking and shopping, I
>>>put
>>>magnetic braille labels on the cans. But, I suppose, its nicer to have 
>>>the
>>>bar code scanner. The woman might have played up the problem in order to
>>>make it look good. I mean, ABC isn't going to want to show the woman
>>>dealing
>>>with her canned food with braille and then give her a scanner anyway.
>>>
>>>When you think about it, if you've got a TV show about giving people new
>>>shirts, you have to make their old shirts look crummy. It would be lame 
>>>to
>>>give someone a new shirt if the person already has a closet full of 
>>>really
>>>nice shirts. In fact, aren't all gifts kind of an insult? Say you buy
>>>somebody a shirt. Does that say their old shirts are crummy? Couldn't you
>>>always say, "Well, if you didn't think I needed a new shirt, why did you
>>>give me a new shirt? "
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 11:16 AM
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home Makeover -
>>>blindcouple in OH
>>>
>>>
>>> > Oh My!  This is just terrible.  It's not the first one Extreme Home
>>> > Makeover
>>> > has done about blind people.  I hope something can be done so it's the
>>> > last.
>>> > It's so destructive.
>>> >
>>> > Cindy
>>> > ----- Original Message -----
>>> > From: "Rovig, Lorraine" <LRovig at nfb.org>
>>> > To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> > Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 12:01 PM
>>> > Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home Makeover -
>>> > blindcouple in OH
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Here We Go Again: Home Makeover Extreme Edition - blind couple in OH
>>> >
>>> > Well, I watched it. It was pretty bad and it could have been worse. It
>>> > could have been a lot better too.
>>> >
>>> > Their original bathroom -- a sink fell off the wall once when Jasmine
>>> > washed her hands so they had no bathroom sink; the old toilet would
>>> > swivel left and right about 20 degrees either way if your toe pushed
>>> > it.
>>> > Other parts of the old home and front porch were dangerous.  The part
>>> > of
>>> > the old house facing the street appeared to be two-rooms wide, small
>>> > rooms, and I do not remember if it was two-story.  They were given a
>>> > two-story, large, modern home with all new appliances in the kitchen,
>>> > laundry room, every other room, and etcetera.
>>> >
>>> > This is an African-American family, the Andersons of Maple Heights,
>>> > Ohio
>>> > (near Cleveland). I do not know if either one has a job; both appear 
>>> > to
>>> > be in their early 40s.  The mother, Jasmine, states she is visually
>>> > impaired. She uses a folding cane with a fat white tip that I think is
>>> > a
>>> > marshmallow tip.  Husband, Andre, pronounced the French way, is 
>>> > totally
>>> > blind and uses a guide dog named Valentine. The show gave the dog a
>>> > heart-shaped bed.
>>> >
>>> > Jasmine gave a tiny monologue stating she lost enough sight to be
>>> > visually impaired and was depressed for awhile but then she became
>>> > "courageous" like she is now. They never charge for their [untrained]
>>> > counseling and encouragement of other people with disabilities. They
>>> > give lots of speeches to educate the community how to make life easier
>>> > for blind people and people with other disabilities.
>>> >
>>> > The couple told us they are in danger every time they cross a street
>>> > and
>>> > the camera mike was held close to trucks and cars as vehicles zoomed 
>>> > by
>>> > on a city street. Jasmine said she was hit in the shoulder by a moving
>>> > car one time. Ty Pennington, the shows' big-hearted hero,
>>> > furniture-designer and designer of his own line of linens and other
>>> > goods for the home, excellent carpenter and TV show leader, went on
>>> > about how dangerous it is for blind people every day when they are
>>> > outside the home. He got installed for the Andersons a fancy talking
>>> > device at the single crossing nearest to their home at their bus stop.
>>> > Jasmine told us "we're not the only blind people living here, you 
>>> > know"
>>> > and, she said, this will help people with other disabilities that live
>>> > in their neighborhood too.
>>> >
>>> > The show gave her a CCTV rigged to a lady's dressing table so she can
>>> > see to put on her make-up and not have to ask her son if she did it
>>> > okay. She got choked up that she can see her nails now and can paint
>>> > them as she could not see to do before, and for the first time she
>>> > exclaims, as we watch her look at it, she can see the beautiful ring
>>> > her
>>> > husband gave her.
>>> >
>>> > In the old house, Jasmine shoved up the sleeves on her dress to show 
>>> > Ty
>>> > and us the many burns on her arms that she got from using her
>>> > conventional electric 4-burner stove and oven.  The show gave her
>>> > "induction heating" which does not give out any heat except to a metal
>>> > pot placed on the burner, and she got a wall oven so her oven is at a
>>> > better height for her to use. The house got a talking temperature
>>> > gauge.
>>> > On the plus side, so the two wouldn't get lost, nothing odd was built
>>> > into the kitchen or the walls and floors.  Also on the plus side,
>>> > except
>>> > for the induction oven, normal if fancy Sears's appliances were placed
>>> > in the home for the kitchen and the baths.
>>> >
>>> > Both Andre and Jasmine got computers that I think had JAWS installed 
>>> > on
>>> > them. They got a home theatre room with one "Sound Dome" over both
>>> > their
>>> > heads that directs the sound directly only to them, and lets them hear
>>> > the SAP channel along with the show. They have two very helpful,
>>> > respectful sons (one may be age 12 and the other is a young teenager).
>>> > Ty stated the older son got a vacation from verbalizing what is on
>>> > screen plus he got the SAP thing with words running below the screen
>>> > when folks talked (which he needed but I missed the part that said why
>>> > he did). The younger son is sure he wants to grow up to be an eye
>>> > doctor
>>> > so he can cure blindness, beginning with his mother's visual
>>> > impairment.
>>> >
>>> > Both Jasmine and Andre got brand new, fat-bodied, folding canes that
>>> > have built-in sensors to inform them of obstacles by their head and at
>>> > their feet, and, said Ty, "these aren't even on the market yet." Andre
>>> > expressed their gratitude.
>>> >
>>> > They got a huge main room that runs from a living room grouping 
>>> > through
>>> > an empty space of floor to a dining room grouping to a kitchen with no
>>> > barriers or changes in floor, so they do not have to worry anymore
>>> > about
>>> > running into posts or walls, as they did run into in their cramped
>>> > original home.  I noticed they are both bulky overweight people and 
>>> > the
>>> > original house doorways were older and appeared smallish, plus a post
>>> > was inconveniently placed, especially for any overweight people trying
>>> > to get past it to the bedrooms and bathroom.
>>> >
>>> > The mortgage company paid off and tore up their mortgage; the local
>>> > branch of the state college gave them 2 college scholarships for the
>>> > boys; Sears gave the four of them enough clothes and shoes to fill 
>>> > some
>>> > of their new closets; the local basketball team called The Cavaliers,
>>> > gave the teen-aged son a closet-full of their clothes plus 3-shelves 
>>> > of
>>> > their basketballs with its metal rack. The building company gave them
>>> > $50,000 to a fund to handle their home maintenance.
>>> >
>>> > Braille got a "shout out" as the modern lingo has it. Ty added
>>> > palm-size
>>> > wooden "dots" to their bed's headboard to spell out in grade one, 
>>> > "Love
>>> > is Blind."  Large print got a "shout out" too, with their top bed 
>>> > quilt
>>> > decorated with "Love is Blind" sewn on as stuffed, raised-up
>>> > hand-writing.
>>> >
>>> > (For me, I keep wondering how they and other Ty Pennington-show
>>> > homeowners can afford their new taxes on their giant gifts of money,
>>> > goods, and a huge new home.)
>>> >
>>> > The Andersons were so very grateful for all they received from Ty and
>>> > Sears Company and ABC. Tears all around.
>>> >
>>> > You can view the entire episode on the Anderson Family via computer,
>>> > here:
>>> > http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition
>>> > Anderson Family
>>> >  | Full Episode
>>> > A visually impaired couple devoted to helping the community receives a
>>> > home makeover, complete with technologies that help people with
>>> > disabilities;
>>> > EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION - "Anderson Family" - Andre and Jasmine
>>> > Anderson have never allowed their visual impairment to slow them down,
>>> > but rather have faced it head on, and established the Disability
>>> > Awareness Center in Maple Heights, Ohio, to help others who are
>>> > struggling with sight loss. The couple and their sons learned they
>>> > would
>>> > be recipients of a home makeover while aboard the public bus that they
>>> > ride every day. The "EM: HE" team surprised them on the bus and
>>> > revealed
>>> > plans to give them a new "smart" home, equipped with technologies that
>>> > support people with disabilities. This episode of "Extreme Makeover:
>>> > Home Edition" airs SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC
>>> > Television Network. (ABC/MIKE CROUCH) ANDERSON FAMILY HOME - AFTER -
>>> > BEDROOM
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________
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>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
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>>> >
>>>
>>>
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>>
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