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

John Heim john at johnheim.net
Tue Dec 7 15:19:26 UTC 2010


Well, I can't imagine why anyone would deliberatly do something so 
dangerous. But its not really relevant anyway. I mean, I wouldn't want you 
to get hit by a car but your rather odd personal preference aside, the fact 
remains that audible walk signals make it safer for blind people to cross 
streets.

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


> Yes, I ignore audible walk signals.  I rely on the traffic.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 5:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
> Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>
>
> Cindy, think about what you're saying. You ignore audible walk signals? Do
> you realize how dangerous that is? What would you think of someone who 
> said
> they ignore visible walk signals?  You know that's illegal, right? Do you
> know why its illegal? Because its dangerous!
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Cindy Handel" <cindy425 at verizon.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 3:38 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
> Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>
>
>>I don't think Connie, (or her experiences with audible traffic signals) is
>> unusual.  I haven't encountered them frequently.  But, I dislike them,
>> when
>> I have.  I try my best to ignore them.  But, if they're loud, it's hard 
>> to
>> do.
>>
>> 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 3:45 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>> Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>>
>>
>> Well, you are unusual.
>>
>> You don't have to take my word for it, of course.  The Access Board web
>> site
>> has quite a bit of information on the research on audible walk signals.
>> Audible walk signals make blind people safer. That is not debatable.
>>
>> ----- 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 2:09 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>> Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>>
>>
>>> As a good cane traveler and experienced in travel all over the country, 
>>> I
>>> find the audible signals distracting when you are trying to listen to
>>> traffic, especially if the are louder than the norm.
>>>
>>> Connie Canode
>>> At 01:58 PM 12/6/2010, you wrote:
>>>>Yeah, a driver can still make a mistake and the audible signal won't
>>>>protect you. But audible walk signals aren't to keep drivers from making
>>>>mistakes. They're to keep blind people from making mistakes. And they're
>>>>really good for that.
>>>>
>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
>>>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 12:51 PM
>>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>>>>Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>If there's a light, it's not difficult.  A car is just as likely to hit
>>>>>you
>>>>>in a lighted intersection with or without an audible signal.  If the
>>>>>crossing is done without stop signs or some other type of traffic
>>>>>control,
>>>>>then I agree something is required, but I think audible signals should
>>>>>be
>>>>>enhancers if used, not requirements.
>>>>>
>>>>>Joe
>>>>>
>>>>>"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
>>>>>sleeves,
>>>>>some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>>>>>
>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>From: John Heim [mailto:john at johnheim.net]
>>>>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 1:32 PM
>>>>>To: jsorozco at gmail.com; NFB Talk Mailing List
>>>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>>>>>Makeover -blindcouple in OH
>>>>>
>>>>>She didn't say it was too much of a challenge to cross the street. She
>>>>>demonstrated how difficult it is.  Sometimes, it is difficult.
>>>>>There are
>>>>>intersections where having an accessible pedestrian signal makes it way
>>>>>easier and way safer for a blind person to cross. Its impossible to say
>>>>>whether an accessible pedestrian signal was really necessary on
>>>>>that corner
>>>>>but I see no reason to doubt it. I say when in doubt, put the signal 
>>>>>in.
>>>>>
>>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
>>>>>To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 11:18 AM
>>>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We Go Again: Home
>>>>>Makeover -blindcouple in OH
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>You know, if they were willing to give me all them there
>>>>>gifts, I'll be
>>>>>>glad
>>>>>>to accept them and simultaneously correct their misconceptions of
>>>>>>blindness.
>>>>>>A win/win!  LOL  I'm just curious to hear what it is they
>>>>>counsel people
>>>>>>about empowerment if the street intersection is too much of a
>>>>>challenge?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Joe
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up
>>>>>their sleeves,
>>>>>>some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
>>>>>>
>>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>[mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rovig, Lorraine
>>>>>>Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 12:02 PM
>>>>>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>>>>>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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