The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for content, style and space available. Opinions expressed are those of the authors, not those of the American Council of the Blind, its staff or elected officials. “The Braille Forum” cannot be responsible for the opinions expressed herein. We will not print letters unless you sign your name and give us your address.
ADA Blow-ups
In response to the recent article about requesting large print under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), my experience has taught me don’t. Normally government agencies and public accommodations will only provide the minimum, namely a photocopy enlargement to 14-point type on low-quality paper.
Most people with vision loss need good quality large print which is not specified in the ADA. My answer is to request only audio cassettes and avoid a long and losing battle over print size, font style and typeface resolution, as well as letter, word and line spacing.
— Larry Harper, Milwaukie, Ore.
Regarding the new dot-cons
I just read the article “Beware of the New Dot-Cons.” I found it interesting, but there’s one statement in the article with which I somewhat disagree. It suggests that you cannot always avoid getting scammed. As a matter of fact, I ALWAYS avoid getting scammed because as a matter of policy I don’t do business on the Internet at all except with firms like Dell Computer Corporation and Microsoft. Even with these I do any product or service ordering by mail, using traditional, readily traceable methods of payment. I do not personally own or use general-purpose credit cards, and to those who do I give just one piece of sound advice: Never use a credit card except when making your transaction by signing a form at the point of sale, and keeping your copy of that form. When you use a credit card to make purchases on the web, telephone, or even the good old mail, you’re risking not only fraudulent charges, but theft of your very identity as well. Bottom line? In today’s business environment, “caveat emptor” regrettably means “don’t trust anyone at all.” Believe me, the business world doesn’t trust you, either.
— Charles Lott, Ithaca, Mich.
Regarding paratransit
Let me commend you upon the publication of a very excellent article regarding paratransit service within the nation. I found it to be very informative in terms of what ADA-mandated paratransit service actually is and is not. Furthermore, I appreciated your attention to the issue of rider expectations and paratransit service.
Thank you for favorably mentioning Access Services, Inc., coordinator of the largest paratransit system throughout Los Angeles County, in your article’s discussion of flexible service delivery options. ASI takes great pride in its management of a quality system serving eligible ADA-paratransit patrons. The agency was the recipient of the American Public Transportation Association’s Public Transportation System Outstanding Achievement Award for 2000. Access Services is unique in that it offers two types of paratransit service to its customers. It offers a same-day reservation “Ready Access” service and a premium subscription-based “Steady Access” service. You stated in your article that you were told that ASI ceased providing same-day service, and we are thus writing to let your readers know that we still offer same-day service to eligible ADA-paratransit riders.
In closing, let me once again express our appreciation to your article explaining paratransit service in the country. We thank you for affording us the opportunity to describe our two distinct paratransit services. Should you or any ADA-eligible paratransit rider need any information or questions about ASI answered, please contact us at (800) 827-0829.
— Rychard Martindale-Essington, ASI Community Relations Analyst, Los Angeles, Calif.
I was mortified to learn that paratransit drivers are not required, under the ADA, to assist disabled passengers to and from vehicles or help them in any other way, and that people needing such help should travel with a companion or a personal care attendant. I can certainly understand drivers not being required to handle oxygen tanks and other medical equipment. But some visually impaired people live alone and can’t always find companions with whom to travel. And some of us don’t need personal care attendants.
In Sheridan, Wyo., where I live, the drivers for our local transportation service, which is run by the senior citizens’ center, are very helpful. When asked, they not only assist disabled passengers to and from the vehicles, but also help carry groceries and other items. In order to facilitate the independence of our visually impaired residents, I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a driver to assist passengers in these ways.
— Abigail L. Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo.
Regarding Paul Edwards’ comments about the NFB Newsline
Yes, the artificial-voiced NFB Newsline is better than nothing at all. But at the Metropolitan Washington Ear we very much prefer the real-voice Telephone Reader dial-in software from Lawrence, Kansas. With our state-supported free 800 lines we service telephone callers throughout two states — Maryland and Virginia — plus the District of Columbia.
Our live readers describe into the computer photos, charts, maps, illustrations, advertisements and, on Sunday, the comics. The stories are arranged as they are in the paper(s) so callers can casually say to colleagues, “Did you see the story on the front page...” — stuff Newsline can’t do. Also live readers don’t (often) mess up foreign names as synthetic speech can. Janet Campbell of Audio Reader Network jcamp@falcon.cc.ukans.edu can tell you more.
— Margaret Pfanstiehl, Silver Spring, Md.
The “President’s Message” in the February 2001 issue of “The Braille Forum” causes me to write in reply. Edwards seems to advocate that we all go out and buy a computer so that we can listen to the news as he does. Well! Everybody does not want to be computer literate.
Nearly everyone has a telephone which makes Newsline available to us all. Are elderly blind readers going to go out and buy computers? Many people would not be able to afford the costs or have the skills or physical ability needed to operate these devices.
— Mark Miller, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Regarding Paul Edwards’ January Message
With regard to Paul Edwards’ message in the January 2001 edition of “The Braille Forum” well said. Edwards was right when he said that more blind people are using computers and going to regular public school, and fewer are using braille. It is also true that service and consumer organizations like ACB may have to adjust to these trends.
Yes, more and more young blind people are using computers. They make access to information and integration easier. For many with additional disabilities or conditions like cerebral palsy or diabetes, using a computer to read and write is more practical than using braille. Computers also connect blind people to others, blind and sighted, through e-mail, chat rooms, etc. Taking these benefits and more into account, I still think that braille is invaluable and should be encouraged whenever possible, just like print. It lends itself to higher levels of literacy in blind people than merely using voice or speech.
It also seems like more blind children are being educated in regular public schools. When I lost my sight about 20 years ago, mainstreaming was just starting its rise here in Canada. I was the only disabled person in my public school, and after three and a half years of it, I started and then completed high school at a school for the blind. By the time I left, mainstreaming was in vogue, as student numbers at the blind school had dropped. I think it’s great that blind children are attending regular public schools. I have to wonder how satisfactory their experiences there are, though. Recently, I was informed during a visit to the school for the blind that attendance is skyrocketing, and waiting lists exist to enter the school. These are otherwise healthy blind students transferring from regular schools.
I am concerned about fear and denial. I know that fear and denial might contribute to a blind person’s decision to associate only with other people who are blind and to avoid the sighted world altogether. And I think this might be a problem the other way around. I know several people whom I met at the school for the blind and elsewhere who avoid blind people and blindness organizations like the plague!
I suspect that in many cases, parents and older blind students wish to avoid the possible stigma that can accompany blindness. I remember a few boys at the school for the blind who insisted on dating only sighted girls they knew, because of the prestige and convenience that dating someone who could see would afford them. I also know some parents and some blind people themselves who push for super- independence and expect the same in all blind people.
Don’t get me wrong. As a blind person myself, and as a recent graduate of rehabilitation teaching for the blind, I encourage and applaud independence and integration — to the best of an individual’s ability. My personal experience and observations have shown me though that we need to strike a balance. Integration is good, but I think it can be great if an individual accepts his or her blindness and his or her place in the community — the blind community as well as the sighted!
I think there will always be a place for ACB and other blindness organizations. Although society is slowly moving toward integration of blind people, organizations such as ACB provide education, advocacy, training and support. In light of Edwards’ message and my own experiences, it seems that perhaps people who are blind need education about blindness as much as the rest of society does.
— Sara Bennett, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
About John Wayne
We received the following letter via e-mail. In Jerry Annunzio’s article “The Bridges of Madison County and More,” which appears in the February “Braille Forum,” he says that John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison. I believe his birth name was Marion Michael Morrison not Robert.
— Harvey Heagy, New Orleans, LA
Our Response:
Dear Harvey,
We spent some time on the Internet trying to track down the essential information about John Wayne’s birth name. Encyclopedia Brittanica listed his birth name as Marion Michael, and the John Wayne site listed him as Marion Robert. Now, whom do we trust?
— Penny and Sharon