[nfb-talk] [Bulk] Re:[NFB-talk] HereWeGoAgain: Home Makeover-blindcouple in OH
John Heim
john at johnheim.net
Fri Dec 10 14:19:33 UTC 2010
The NFB organized protests against accessible pedestrian signals in 2001. In
another message, I provided a link to a Braille Monitor article about this.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wm. Ritchhart" <william.ritchhart at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 6:45 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Bulk] Re:[NFB-talk] HereWeGoAgain: Home
Makeover-blindcouple in OH
> John,
>
> You are correct that in 1993 the position was as you state. However I
> remember at later NFB conventions in the 1990's that the NFB position
> changed on the subject. My memory is not perfect. I think if you can
> look
> for the 1997 Convention round up and/or resolutions you will notice a
> change
> in the position.
>
> I would also opine that the average Federationist would like to have
> accessible money and DVS. But not at any price. There are things we tend
> to want more and we are definitely concerned with the image that is
> created
> when we proclaim the need for accessible money and DVs. I think most of
> us
> define these items as wants and not needs. Certainly they are for me.
>
> However I think my sighted girl friend might disagree with me on the DVS
> issue. As I am often asking her to pause movies to describe visual things
> to me.
>
>
> Thanks, William
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of John G. Heim
> Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 8:27 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: [Bulk] Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] HereWeGoAgain: Home
> Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>
> Oh, Steve!!!! We've been over that a bzillion times!
>
> In 2001, the NFB organized protests against an Access Board recommendation
> that would have required audible walk signals to be installed when visible
> walk signals were being newly installed or replaced. The protestors didn't
> chant, "We're against accessible walk signals except under certain
> circumstances." No, they chanted "Chirp, chirp. Beep, beep. We know how
> to
> cross the street." Now explain to me how that can be taken as anything
> but
> a total rejection of audible walk signals?
>
> Read this article from the Braille Monitor:
> http://nfb.org/legacy/bm/bm03/bm0301/bm0301.htm
>
> There is nothing in that article about the NFB favoring audible signals
> under certain circumstances. The author makes it quite clear that at least
> in her mind, the NFB position is no audible signals, period. Now, you can
> argue that even this is a distortion of the NFB policy but my point is
> that
> the NFB effectively blocked audible walk signals even if it didn't intend
> to.
>
> Besides, up to this point, I hadn't specifically mentioned the NFB policy.
> I'm merely arguing in favor of audible walk signals. I'd do that
> regardless
> of what the NFB policy was.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 4:40 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] HereWeGoAgain: Home
> Makeover-blindcouple
> in OH
>
>
>> John,
>>
>> You and probably some others are intentionally polarizing this issue.
>> Your example of intersections with unusual configurations is irrelevant,
>> for example,
>> since we don't oppose them in that situation. The rest of your premise
>> is
>
>> based upon the concept that if the sighted have it then we should as
>> well.
>
>> Nobody
>> is saying we should do away with walk lights. The question is whether
>> getting the same information to us is necessary and in some cases even
>> helpful.
>>
>> As an attempt to get a broader handle on issues that confront us, when do
>> we say we need the same access to something to which sight provides
>> access
>> and when do we say we don't need the same access, just consideration so
>> we
>
>> can use alternative approaches to a problem? If safety is a prime issue
>> for
>> example, how does one balance the fact that the safest thing we can do is
>> to stay home. Don't amusement parks have the right to decide it is not
>> safe for
>> us to ride without being accompanied by someone who can warn us of sudden
>> changes as some amusement parks have claimed? Even if we reach the
>> point that it is easy to install an audible signal at every corner that
>> has a controlled light, It would, in my opinion, be a mistake to allow
>> safety to become the
>> sole governing factor for decisions as to what is good for us. It would
>> also be unfortunate if we were to loose the ability to figure out
>> alternative ways of
>> doing things rather than expecting that everywhere we go, someone will
>> provide an exact copy of the sighted experience because that isn't likely
>> to
>> happen. I think this is at least partly why you get such a strong
>> response to your position on audible signals. It is unfortunate that all
>> discussion roads with
>> you seem to lead to an audible intersection, though, because I think you
>> have made some worthwhile points and generated some good discussion
>> regarding this TV show. The idea that we only want to be portrayed as
>> completely self-sufficient including replacing our own plumbing is a
>> topic
>
>> that is worth
>> examining. There are those who feel they could accept the good stuff but
>> educate at the same time. I wouldn't be surprised that's what these
>> people may
>> have thought they could do. We have to be careful to realize that this
>> show isn't a documentary. It is not a news show. It is, in a manner of
>> speaking,
>> fiction, a show designed to sell ads and get ratings, to make people cry
>> and tell themselves how lucky they are. There's a lot of good stuff to
>> discuss here
>> without walking down the same old APS path again.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Steve Jacobson
>>
>> On Thu, 9 Dec 2010 15:07:56 -0600, John Heim wrote:
>>
>>>David, I can't say nobody ever stepped into an intersection just because
>>>the
>>>audible signal started clanging. But that's no reason to argue against
>>>audible signals. It makes no more sense than saying they should get rid
>>>of
>>>walk lights because some people might step into the intersection when
>>>they
>>>see the light turn green.
>>
>>>I suppose in the long history of the world, lots of people have just
>>>walked
>>>off into the street when the walk signal turned green and got run over.
>>>But
>>>that's no reason to get rid of walk lights. Likewise, if people are
>>>foolish
>>>enough to not bother listening for traffic when the audible signal starts
>>>beeping, well, that's terrible but it is not a reason to do away with
>>>audible signals.
>>
>>>Also, you do not get the same information from the traffic surge as you
>>>do
>>>from a audible signal. The traffic surge is not nearly as dependable or
>>>as
>>>clear. Some streets are deliberately configured so that there is no
>>>surge.
>>>They time the lights so that the cars arrive just as the light changes.
>>>Secondly, its easy to confuse the sound of a car making a left turn for
>>>the
>>>sound of a car starting out at a green light. Third, the audible signals
>>>provide information on the location of the opposite curb.
>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 1:45 PM
>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here WeGoAgain: Home
>>>Makeover-blindcouple
>>>in OH
>>
>>
>>>>
>>>> Dear John,
>>>>
>>>> Audible signals do not , of themselves , make street crossing any
>>>> safer.
>>>> The actions of drivers and above all the Blind crosser do. We can
>>>> never
>>>> have complete control of what the drivers will do, but we can control
>>>> what, we do.
>>>> Part of that action is listening to make sure , as much as we can, that
>>>> all cars are stopped or moving in a parallel direction.
>>>> We can get the same information , the audible signal gives, that is
>>>> that
>>>> the light has changed, just from the sound of the parallel traffic
>>>> surging
>>>> forward and the sound of the cars stopped at the crosswalk.
>>>> Audible signals do not, of themselves, force the cars to stop, dead in
>>>> their tracks, and wait for us to cross. No steel barrier jumps out of
>>>> the
>>>> pavement to prevent them from running through the intersection and
>>>> running us down. The sound of the audible signal only lets us know
>>>> that
>>>> the light has changed, something we already know from the sound of the
>>>> traffic. Just because we know that the light has changed does not
>>>> automatically make it safe or safer to cross than if there were no
>>>> light
>>>> present at all.
>>>> I have pulled 3 people back from getting run down at the old audible
>>>> signal in front of the Lighthouse of the Palm Beaches over the years.
>>>> The cars can and do run the lights, noise and All.
>>>> They even tried making the signal louder, you can hear it almost half a
>>>> mile away, and it still did no good.
>>>> It actually covered up the sounds of the cars and made it more
>>>> dangerous.
>>>> I refused and still refuse to use such crossings. I do not press the
>>>> buttons anymore as the sounds of the traffic give me all of the clues I
>>>> need to tell when it is safe to cross or not.
>>>> I routinely cross Glades Road and State Road 7 in West Boca Raton,
>>>> Florida.
>>>> This is the intersection of two 6 lane roads, with duel left hand turn
>>>> lanes at all 4 corners, meridians in between the opposing traffic
>>>> directions and right on red lanes at all 4 corners. There are 80,000
>>>> cars
>>>> going through the intersection daily and NO AUDIBLE SIGNALS, Thank
>>>> God!!!
>>>> I have been crossing there for the past 32 years. I cross it in both
>>>> the
>>>> Nor to South and the East to West directions.
>>>> The cars making the Right on Red are the biggest hazard I face and that
>>>> is
>>>> where I especially need unobstructed hearing so I can hear that
>>>> descending
>>>> wine of tires and gear trains of the cars as they slow, but do not stop
>>>> for the red light. My hearing is what makes the difference in crossing
>>>> the streets safely.
>>>> Many people, who do use the audible, just get use to the sound and step
>>>> off the curb without checking to make sure it is safe. They get into a
>>>> false sense of security and drop their guard. The red lights nor the
>>>> audible signals , make the cars stop. Heck, our county is making a
>>>> mint
>>>> off money on the fines from the stop light cameras here in my county
>>>> and
>>>> we only have a few of them right now. The county plans to install more
>>>> as
>>>> it is proving to be a great revenue stream.
>>>>
>>>> I know that you may find it hard to believe John, But their are many of
>>>> us
>>>> who don't need audible signals, Don't want them and even avoid them
>>>> because they mask the sound of traffic, which is the only good
>>>> information
>>>> we, as blind people, can depend upon.
>>>> I will agree that there are some unusual intersections where an audible
>>>> signal may or may not be useful, but they are the exception and not the
>>>> rule. They are not the answer to the problem to safe street crossing,
>>>> good mobility training and hearing are by far the best tools we have in
>>>> getting across alive.
>>>> I don't care what you think or how many sightings of the ANSI you can
>>>> dig
>>>> up. I have served on the ANSI before and know that they don't always
>>>> get
>>>> it right or know what is best for everyone.
>>>> You always believe that your logic and opinion is the best and just get
>>>> into circular arguments with members on this list, talking down to us
>>>> and
>>>> trying to shame us into your way of thinking or because we don't agree
>>>> with your point of view. You try to hide , smugly, behind your logic
>>>> and
>>>> condescend to those who disagree with you.
>>>> I, for one, don't agree with you and likely never will.
>>>> I shall use my choice and delete all messages from you in the future as
>>>> soon as I see your name.
>>>> I feel sorry for you that you are so afraid to cross without an audible
>>>> signal and you feel you must brow beat all others into your own way of
>>>> thinking.
>>>>
>>>> GOOD DAY to you sir!!!
>>>>
>>>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net>
>>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 10:19 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] Here We GoAgain: Home
>>>> Makeover-blindcouple in OH
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> 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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