>> On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 22:38:50 -0500, Nicole Massey wrote
(in article ):

>=20
> "Amy Guskin"  wrote in message=20
> news:0001HW.CCD823C6074D0F57B051B9BF@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>> On Sun, 25 Nov 2012 09:03:21 -0500, Nicole Massey wrote
>> (in article ):
>>=20
>>> The NFB is a problem sometimes for blind folks. They contend that=20
>>> blindness
>>> isn't a handicap, society's approach to it is what gives blind folks
>>> trouble. They're anti-guide dog, instead preferring blind folks to us=
e a
>>> long "glide" cane that doesn't contact the ground, and they're also=20
>>> against
>>> talking elevators and chirp signals on traffic lights.  <<
>>=20
>> Well, that is extremely interesting and curious. Nicole, I am curious =
what
>> your position is on all of that?
>=20
> I find the position that blindness isn't a handicap to be one that migh=
t be=20
> useful in getting political support, but not of much use actually helpi=
ng=20
> those who are blind.<<

That's really unfortunate. I wonder why they would be so positional if it=
=20
actually fails to help most of the community they aim to represent?

>> And I'm=20
> neutral on the traffic signals -- unless everyone is driving a Prius <<

Guilty!  I am quite careful when I see *anyone* crossing anywhere near me=
,=20
because it really is completely silent.

>> My values are more=20
> in keeping with the American Council of the Blind, though I'm a bit=20
> frustrated that these two organization were so busy fighting with each =
other=20
> during the talks for the ADA that the mobility folks managed to get bro=
ad=20
> applications of what are commonly known as "wheelchair ramps of death" =
by=20
> blind folks. (Curbs are superior for blind people over ramps because th=
ey=20
> signal the end of a sidewalk and the beginning of a more dangerous stre=
et -- =20

> ramps with bumps, sometimes jokingly called "Acne Ramps" or "measles ra=
mps"=20
> are better than nude ramps but not as good as curbs)  <<

I don't think I've ever seen a ramp with bumps =8B=A0will keep an eye out=
 for=20
them. And, what you say about the curb signalling the start of the street=
=20
makes complete sense! I had no idea there was so much division in the bli=
nd=20
community. I guess it's like any other insular community =8B a theatre tr=
oupe,=20
a family, a newsgroup =8B familiarity ultimately breeds dissent!

Amy


--=20
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