[access-uk] Re: This article should cause us to stop and think
- From: "Peter Beasley" <p.beasley@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:58:41 -0000
Yes I have got it on my computer. This an open source project and of course it
is free.
----- Original Message -----
From: Angel238
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 2:49 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: This article should cause us to stop and think
This is why I sent the article along with my comments. No matter how much
accessible equipment there is available to us if we are not independent enough
to avail ourselves of it what use is it to us. Speaking of accessible
equipment, has anyone heard of a free screen reader called nvda? Apparently it
has been around for quite a while but I just heard of it yesterday. Thunder
seems to get a lot of press but this screen reader doesn't. I think it has an
advantage thunder hasn't. There is a portable version which can be run from a
thumb drive on any computer without having to install anything on the host
computer, unlike Jaws. Dolphin also can be run from a thumb drive but must be
paid for. I think this is a worthy project for those blind in countries where
computers and funds are hard to come by. It's address is:
http://www.nvda-project.org/about.html
----- Original Message -----
From: Wendy Sharpe
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 7:29 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: This article should cause us to stop and think
I had a friend who was in a very similar situation. Her parents never
allowed her to do anything for herself, so when they died she was on her own in
the house and hadn't even got a clue how to make a cup of tea. When she
developed cancer, she decided to do nothing about it, and when she finally had
to be taken into hospital she asked that they just keep her comfortable until
the end, which they did. This was in the UK, and you do wonder how many others
are suffocated in this fashion.
You mention questioning the father's love, and I certainly do. This was
not love, it was guilt. His reaction to anyone referring to his daughter's
handicap clearly showed this, and his inability to accept that she could live a
normal life also makes it plain. I expect the family had been visited by
professionals who tried to make a difference, but such ignorance and
intransigence would have made it impossible for them to do anything to help.
The daughter is also responsible in some degree, as she should have fought for
her own survival, and to be murdered by her own father was the last act in a
truly appalling story.
I had another friend who was not allowed to be independent, and she also
died young, so this situation does not bode well for a long and active life. I
wonder whether this could be a topic for discussion on In Touch.
Wendy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Angel238
Sent: 22 January 2008 15:17
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] This article should cause us to stop and think
This article causes us to be so grateful for forward thinking relatives and
friends who encourage us to be active and independent. But for the grace of
God could go any of us. One could well question the meaning of the word love,
and whether this father truly loved his daughter. I went to school with a girl
who now is a woman my own age whose father treats her just as this father
treated his daughter. I have often wondered what would happen to her should
anything happen to him, as she doesn't know how to do anything without her
parents. She could not lead an independent life. Further, regardless what our
relatives say, are they truly believing in our capabilities or are they just
giving lip service to their belief in our innate abilities. I got this from
another list, and it has caused me to consider seriously the enormous debt I
owe all those who have truly believed in my ability to be a strong and
independent woman and have backed their believes with teaching, support and
encouragement.
"Hi All,
I received this troubling news from Joseph Sickora, a System Access
Mobile Network member who asked me to post it whereever I thought that
people would be willing to pray about it.
I'm hoping that besides generating prayer for the victims and their
friends; there was no family, it will spark discussion about ways and
means to stop this kind of thing from happening. We think we're so
enlightened, and we think that most of our friends are too, and their
parents, but reading this horrendousness makes me wonder if we've come
any distance at all. Here is what Joe sent me. It's certainly
darkened my day considerably.
Ann P.
troubling news in need of prayer
I knew the person in the following article from Kindergarten through 8th
grade. I wish this could be posted for prayer.
Murder-suicide in Drexel Hill?
By STEPHANIE FARR
Philadelphia Daily News
farrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 215-854-4225
The front porch of Barbara Killian's Drexel Hill home was her narrow window
to the outside world. Her protective father, Robert Killian, 84, rarely let his
blind daughter out of his sight or his house, according to neighbors.
So Barbara, 53, would sit with her father and their small white dog on the
porch, listening to the world go by as six wind chimes provided the score.
Yesterday, the wind chimes continued their tunes, but there was no Barbara, no
Robert and no dog on the front porch. All three were found dead Saturday night
in the basement of their home in an apparent murder-suicide.
Police believe an ailing Robert Killian led his daughter and his dog down
to the basement sometime last week and killed both before turning the gun on
himself.
"We believe he felt that he was very sick and if he died, there would be
nobody to take care of his daughter," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael
Chitwood said. "Each crime scene has a story, some more tragic than others, and
this one is especially sad." Police said the Killians had no known relatives.
An online background check showed that a death claim had been filed for
Robert's wife, Shirley, in 2001.
Neighbors described the father and daughter as a "very quiet" pair who kept
to themselves. They estimated the two had lived at their Drexel Hill home, on
Cheswold Road near Dayton, about six years.
"He was extremely devoted to his daughter. There was a lot of love there,
no question," said Jim McDonald, who lives next door. "But they tended to mind
their own business."
Evan Kramp, another nearby neighbor, said Barbara Killian was never seen
without her elderly father by her side.
"They were only ever together," he said.
Kramp remembered Robert Killian as so defensive about his daughter's
disability that he was offended when someone once offered to put a handicapped-
parking space in front of their house.
"He would get really offended if you viewed her blindness as a handicap.
He'd always try to portray her like everyone else," Kramp said. "But you could
tell he viewed her blindness as a debilitating handicap, because he wouldn't
let her go anywhere on her own." Police were called to the house twice Saturday
to check on the family. One call was from a neighbor who had noticed
accumulating mail and the absence of barking from the Killians' dog, A-Rod.
Another call was from an unidentified friend, Chitwood said.
Around 6 p.m., officers used a ladder to gain entry to the Killians' home
through a second-floor bathroom window.
Barbara Killian was found face-down on the cold basement floor, with a
single bullet to her head. A-Rod, the small, white lap dog, lay nearby, dead
from a single gunshot wound.
On top of his daughter and his dog lay Robert Killian, who had shot himself
in the head with a .38-caliber revolver, Chitwood said. In all, four spent
rounds were found, one in each of the deceased and one which had gone through
the floor, police said.
According to Chitwood and neighbors, Robert Killian had significant
cardiovascular problems in the last week and was admitted to an area hospital.
During his stay, Barbara was looked after by a neighbor, who was unavailable
for comment yesterday.
Robert was released from the hospital Tuesday and was last seen Wednesday,
police said. They believe he, his daughter and their dog may have been dead for
several days before their bodies were discovered Saturday night."It's all very
sad," Kramp
said.
Date:
Monday, January 21 at 8:11 PM
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