[gps-talkusers] Re: state policy

 Good morning,
      One problem in the state purchasing GPS for clients when I have
specified a gps device in the ORIENTATION+mobility Plan is the hubris of
the purse holding supervisor, manager, and director. I have tried the
?job requires travel? and ?medical condition? with vigorous justification
of gps as an orientation tool likened to the cane as mobility tool.
Recently a case was abruptly closed without notifying the customer who
was trying to self-advocate for the gps device.(Perhaps we were getting
too close to opening the purse.) I keep current with the devices at my
own expense of time and dollars, use gps for my job and believe it should
be available to everyone. Hopefully it will be within short time as
common and accessible as cell phones,canes and wi-max. I?ll keep
advocating with our customers and demonstrate as many devices I can
afford.
Bye for now,
Maurie
coms,clvt

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 01:15:40 -0800 karen <successability@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
writes:
> Hello everyone!
> I think there is justification for many blind individuals to receive 
> assistance from the Department of Rehabilitation in purchasing a GPS 
> system, particularly with the BrailleNote.  I can see how it 
> benefits me and would benefit any blind individual who travels 
> anywhere alone or is a navigator for a driver who is rather clueless 
> or even a good driver who just prefers to get information from the 
> visually impaired navigator.  I feel that the GPS system is 
> appropriate for many clients of the Department of Rehabilitation.  
> The main problem I see is the lack of training opportunities for 
> these individuals.  Not everyone can listen to a tape or read a 
> manual and learn that way.  Many people need someone, a real person, 
> to at least introduce them to the technology.  Well, it's hard to 
> find trainers, and I've already come across a few clients who 
> received the BN GPS from their counselors, and they have no clue as 
> to how to use it, so it sits in a closet unused.  I know how to use 
> GPS
>   and can't imagine life without it, but I can't train every client 
> in the county!  We, the pioneers, have a long way to go, and I'm 
> glad we have this list in order to collaborate and educate others.
> 
> With a smile,
> Karen
> 
> 
> 
>

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