[tabi] Re: jobs for the blind; was RE: Re: a new approach for a car for the blind
- From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 12:01:15 -0400
Hi Darla,
one possible solution to the internet database problem would be for DBS
or the employer to hire someone to do a little custom scripting for you,
so that the scripts would read to you the info you need with just a
hotkey; or move you to the right place on the screen (actually, both
major screen readers now have "bookmarks" which allow you to jump to a
place on the screen).
Also, this comes under the general topic of ADA reasonable
accommodation; so, if the software isn't accessible, they are required
to make it so. this isn't going to come up during the interview, and
afterwards, well, they can't fire you because their software isn't
accessible.
I knew one blind person who, for many years while his employer claimed
they were going to rewrite the software to be accessible, was forced to
hire for him a live screen reading person (who also helped him deal with
hand-written paperwork he had to read and input). They didn't like it,
but they did admit it was their responsibility, so no lawsuits were
needed.
Chip
------------------------------
Chip Orange
Database Administrator
Florida Public Service Commission
Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(850) 413-6314
(Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not
necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Darla J. Rogers
> Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 10:48 AM
> To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [tabi] Re: jobs for the blind; was RE: Re: a new
> approach for a car for the blind
>
> One large problem I have experience and am not alone, is new
> databases that
> are Internet-based we just can't navigate as quickly as our sighted
> counterparts, especially if said database wasn't designed
> with the blindness
> community in mind, in the first place.
>
> Darla & Precious Roxy
>
>
>
> Darla J. Rogers
>
> djrogers0628@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Skype Username: wildflower0628
> "Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere."---Martin Luther
> King, Jr.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Allison and Chip Orange" <acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 1:56 PM
> Subject: [tabi] jobs for the blind; was RE: Re: a new
> approach for a car for
> the blind
>
>
> > Yes, we need to help think of ideas to get this general
> view of the blind
> > changed.
> >
> > It would be good if the Florida DBS would consider this as
> part of their
> > general mandate to help the blind get jobs; they could,
> for example,
> > create
> > PSAs showing successfully employed blind people, along with
> commentary
> > from
> > their employers saying in effect, "we have a good worker
> here and don't
> > regret hiring someone with a disability; neither should
> anyone else."
> > Getting something like this aired might be the best way
> toward convincing
> > other employers to try someone with a disability. There
> must be other
> > ideas
> > waiting to be tried which could work towards changing
> societal atitudes as
> > well, if DBS would just consider the challenge.
> >
> > Chip
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> > Behalf
> > Of Joe Plummer
> > Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 10:44 AM
> > To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [tabi] Re: a new approach for a car for the blind
> >
> > Hi, yes jobs is important! But the problem is not the jobs
> they are out
> > there that we can do and do as good or almost as good as our seeing
> > partners. The problem is getting the companies to hire us.
> We have to
> > change
> > the way they look at us as well as the general public. They
> the general
> > public and companies don't look at us employable. They have
> a negative
> > view
> > of us to start with. Just my thoughts.
> >
> >
> >
> > sign,
> > Joe Plummer (JP)
> > joeplummer@xxxxxxx
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> > Behalf
> > Of Daniel Ben Moshe
> > Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 10:01 PM
> > To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [tabi] Re: a new approach for a car for the blind
> >
> > Wow this is cool on the surface. However lets really examine this
> > prospect.
> > The reality is that the average blind person will not be
> able to own one
> > of
> > these cars because of economics'. Also the market for such
> cars will be
> > very small. Like much of our technology, it is over
> priced, and leaves
> > much
> > to be desired when it comes to quality. Many of our blind citizens
> > struggle
> > now just to make ends meet, can you imagine the added
> responsibility of
> > now
> > owning, and maintaining such a car? You must ask yourself,
> are we as a
> > community really ready for such an event? I think, that the
> research
> > should
> > continue, but we ought to really keep focused on what
> really matters.
> > Jobs,
> > Jobs, and more jobs. Because if we have the correct jobs
> for our blind
> > citizens, then we will not have to struggle just to make
> those ends meet.
> > Just my thoughts.
> >
> >
> > I'm glad to be your humble and obedient servant,
> >
> > Zechen Elder Daniel Ben Moshe,
> > Benai Yahshuah Synagogue Of Broward County,
> www.theblindcansee.org Choose
> > ye
> > this day whom you will serve. If Yahweh be Elohim, then
> serve him, with
> > all
> > of your hart. However, if bail be your master. Then serve
> him. As for
> > me,
> > and my house. We choose, to serve Yahweh!
> >
> > The late Bishop Joe Patterson told a story long ago, when I
> was a small
> > child. About Elijah, and the 450 false prophets of bail.
> He said that
> > Elijah, stood, and told the false prophets to go on ahead,
> because they
> > had
> > a much larger program. He said that they had 450
> participants, and he
> > only
> > had one. Elijah, also reminded them, that they had to drag
> their god up
> > the
> > mountain side on an ox cart. the man of yahweh, also said,
> that his
> > Elohim
> > would be there when he arrived. He said mockingly, you go
> on ahead.
> > Heck,
> > I will even let you call your god first. I'M going to take
> a nap, and
> > when
> > you guys finish your foolishness, wake me up. Go ahead now,
> take your best
> > shot.
> > Bishop Joe O Patterson
> > A blessed memory
> > 1963-1989
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> > Behalf
> > Of Allison and Chip Orange
> > Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 9:42 PM
> > To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [tabi] Re: a new approach for a car for the blind
> >
> > well, it may be that an actual car for the blind which
> works like this
> > never
> > does hit the market, but, think how much technology might
> be invented;
> > technology having to do with sensors, and conveying
> information from the
> > sensor to the blind person in some way which isn't verbal
> and isn't in
> > braille, as part of the research for this project. The
> space program
> > certainly did that, and it's often sighted as the primary
> benefit of the
> > moon landings, instead of the actual landings themselves.
> >
> > So, while I agree with Barbara and "Joe" about the possible
> problems with
> > this approach, I hope the research continues.
> >
> > One other point to consider is the cost? owning the
> average automobile
> > today costs something like $9000 a year (and that's a lot
> of cab rides
> > right
> > there); can you imagine what the cost for the vehicle, and
> the insurance,
> > would be?
> >
> > Chip
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> > Behalf
> > Of Joe Plummer
> > Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 8:05 PM
> > To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [tabi] Re: a new approach for a car for the blind
> >
> > Hi, I don't think this is a good idea. Let me tell you why.
> I think at
> > some
> > point in time not in my life time they will have a computer command
> > vehicle,
> > that would be able to drive just about any where sort like
> the movie night
> > rider the car in it. Now this is great for us but what happens if
> > something
> > fails. I don't think the blind community having the way or
> right to drive
> > is
> > worth one person getting killed or injured in any way,
> especially if they
> > get injured badly. This is not worth having this freedom.
> Now if they
> > could
> > apply this to maybe some kind of navigation so we would not
> need help
> > walking and shopping and cooking and doing every day stuff
> then this would
> > be nice. I think we need to focus on the small things and
> then go from
> > there. We have problems with the every day task that needs
> to be fixed
> > before we jump to driving. This is my thoughts.
> >
> >
> >
> > sign,
> > Joe Plummer (JP)
> > joeplummer@xxxxxxx
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> > Behalf
> > Of Barbara Lineberry
> > Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 7:44 PM
> > To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [tabi] Re: a new approach for a car for the blind
> >
> > I saw something like this on TV several months ago, maybe a
> year ago. The
> > driver had a sighted person giving directions and the test
> was perfect.
> > My
> > problem is I believe that people who are blind can do a
> whole lot of
> > things,
> > many of them much better than me, including having a sense
> of direction
> > and
> > getting me to a location by directing me and I think it is
> terrific. I'm
> > not so sure about the driving, because it is hard enough to
> drive, being
> > sighted, and having to deal with drunks, teenagers and
> people whose eyes
> > are
> > failing but they won't admit it, and even cloudbursts. I read this
> > article
> > and tried to imagine what things might happen. It would be
> amazing if
> > something could happen to make this possible. I didn't
> learn to drive
> > until
> > I was 30 because it was thought my orthopedic problems were
> too severe.
> > And
> > I've had several periods since I could drive that I was not
> able to for
> > various reasons. I know it is hard, and having the feeling
> of freedom is
> > great, but I won't always be able to drive.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Allison and Chip Orange" <acorange@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 6:15 PM
> > Subject: [tabi] a new approach for a car for the blind
> >
> >
> >>
> >> WASHINGTON (AP) -- Could a blind person drive a car?
> Researchers are
> >> trying to make that far-fetched notion a reality.
> >> The National Federation of the Blind and Virginia Tech plan to
> >> demonstrate
> >
> >> a
> >> prototype
> >> vehicle next year equipped with technology that helps a
> blind person
> >> drive
> >
> >> a
> >> car
> >> independently.
> >> The technology, called "nonvisual interfaces," uses
> sensors to let a
> >> blind driver maneuver a car based on information transmitted to him
> >> about his
> >> surroundings: whether
> >> another car or object is nearby, in front of him or in a
> neighboring
> >> lane.
> >> Advocates for the blind consider it a "moon shot," a goal
> similar to
> >> President John F. Kennedy's pledge to land a man on the
> moon. For many
> >> blind people, driving a car long has been considered
> impossible. But
> >> researchers hope the project could revolutionize mobility and
> >> challenge long-held assumptions about limitations.
> >> "We're exploring areas that have previously been regarded as
> >> unexplorable,"
> >> said
> >> Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind.
> >> "We're moving away from the theory that blindness ends the
> capacity of
> >> human beings to make contributions to society."
> >> The Baltimore-based organization announced its plans for
> the vehicle
> >> demonstration at a news conference Friday in Daytona Beach, Fla.
> >> A blind person, who has not yet been chosen, will drive
> the vehicle on
> >> a course near the famed Daytona race track and attempt to
> simulate a
> >> typical driving experience.
> >> Maurer first talked about building an automobile that the
> blind could
> >> drive about a decade ago when he launched the
> organization's research
> >> institute.
> >> "Some people thought I was crazy and they thought, 'Why do
> you want us
> >> to raise money for something that can't be done?' Others thought it
> >> was a great idea,"
> >> Maurer said.
> >> "Some people were incredulous. Others thought the idea was
> incredible."
> >> The vehicle has its roots in Virginia Tech's 2007 entry
> into the DARPA
> >> Grand Challenge, a competition for driverless vehicles
> funded by the
> >> Defense Department's research arm. The university's team won third
> >> place for a self-driving vehicle that used sensors to perceive
> >> traffic, avoid crashing into other cars and objects and
> run like any
> >> other vehicle.
> >> Following their success, Virginia Tech's team responded to
> a challenge
> >> from the National Federation of the Blind to help build a car that
> >> could be driven by a blind person.
> >> Virginia Tech first created a dune buggy as part of a feasibility
> >> study that used sensor lasers and cameras to act as the eyes of the
> >> vehicle. A vibrating vest was used to direct the driver to
> speed up,
> >> slow down or make turns.
> >> The blind organization was impressed by the results and urged the
> >> researchers to keep pushing. The results will be demonstrated next
> >> January on a modified Ford Escape sport utility vehicle at
> the Daytona
> >> International Speedway before the Rolex
> >> 24 race.
> >> The latest vehicle will use nonvisual interfaces to help a blind
> >> driver operate the car. One interface, called DriveGrip,
> uses gloves
> >> with vibrating motors on areas that cover the knuckles.
> The vibrations
> >> signal to the driver when and where to turn.
> >> Another interface, called AirPix, is a tablet about half
> the size of a
> >> sheet of paper with multiple air holes, almost like those
> found on an
> >> air hockey game.
> >> Compressed
> >> air coming out of the device helps inform the driver of his or her
> >> surroundings, essentially creating a map of the objects around a
> >> vehicle. It would show whether there's another vehicle in a nearby
> >> lane or an obstruction in the road.
> >> A blind person, who has not yet been chosen, will drive
> the vehicle on
> >> a course near the famed Daytona race track and attempt to
> simulate a
> >> typical driving experience.
> >> Dr. Dennis Hong, a mechanical engineering professor at
> Virginia Tech
> >> who leads the research, said the technology could someday
> help a blind
> >> driver operate a vehicle but could also be used on conventional
> >> vehicles to make them safer or on other applications.
> >> Hong, who directs the school's Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory,
> >> said they hope to turn the technology into a consumer
> product. But he
> >> added, "This is not going to be a product until its proven
> 100 percent
> >> safe."
> >> Advocates for the blind say it will take time before
> society accepts
> >> the potential of blind drivers and that the safety of the
> technology
> >> will need to be proven through years of testing. But more than
> >> anything, they say it's part of a broader mission to change the way
> >> people perceive the blind.
> >> Mark Riccobono, executive director of the NFB's Jernigan Institute,
> >> said when he walks down the street with his 3-year-old son, many
> >> people might think he, as a blind person, is being guided
> by his son.
> >> "The idea that a 3-year-old takes care of me stems from what they
> >> think about blindness,"
> >> Riccobono said. "That will change when people see that we can do
> >> something that they thought was impossible."
> >>
> >> Check out the TABI resource web page at
> >> http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> >> and please make suggestions for new material.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the
> freelists.org
> >> web interface, or by sending an email to the address
> >> tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in
> the subject.
> >>
> >
> > Check out the TABI resource web page at
> > http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> > and please make suggestions for new material.
> >
> >
> >
> > if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the
> freelists.org web
> > interface, or by sending an email to the address
> > tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
> >
> > Check out the TABI resource web page at
> > http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> > and please make suggestions for new material.
> >
> >
> >
> > if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the
> freelists.org web
> > interface, or by sending an email to the address
> > tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
> >
> > Check out the TABI resource web page at
> > http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> > and please make suggestions for new material.
> >
> >
> >
> > if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the
> freelists.org web
> > interface, or by sending an email to the address
> > tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
> >
> > Check out the TABI resource web page at
> > http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> > and please make suggestions for new material.
> >
> >
> >
> > if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the
> freelists.org web
> > interface, or by sending an email to the address
> > tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
> >
> > Check out the TABI resource web page at
> > http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> > and please make suggestions for new material.
> >
> >
> >
> > if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the
> freelists.org web
> > interface, or by sending an email to the address
> > tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
> >
> > Check out the TABI resource web page at
> > http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> > and please make suggestions for new material.
> >
> >
> >
> > if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the
> freelists.org web
> > interface, or by sending an email to the address
> > tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in
> the subject.
> >
>
> Check out the TABI resource web page at
> http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
> and please make suggestions for new material.
>
>
>
> if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the
> freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the
> address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
> "unsubscribe" in the subject.
>
Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.
if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web
interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
Other related posts:
