June 2008 Issue

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From Ernestine Patterson, San Francisco. CA:

Perhaps it was Christmas 1964 when my aunt and my mother gave me my first shortwave radio. I at first thought as an adult that they gave some of us odd presents because they wanted to know about such things themselves. Not so with shortwave. I had a lot of time to myself, and they thought I was curious. I operated it at first more by trial and error than a manual. But I remember how intrigued and frightened I was to get Moscow in the US. I like the languages on shortwave that I don't understand, and certainly the ones I do. I'd like more articles on this subject.

I agree with Marcia Harrison that braille work should be proofread because it sends the wrong message when there are errors. In modern braille production, sometimes those who know braille don't know computers, and those who know computers don't always know braille. If a sighted person is using a computer to transcribe, he or she should compare what's in their file with what has been embossed on paper.

Turning to another subject, I'd like to praise the Ziegler for attempting from time to time to address some of the painful issues that make blindness a hard thing--isolation, overprotection by relatives for a variety of reasons, class, race and gender difficulties, employment, weight loss, transportation, etc. These efforts may not get you the results or responses you'd like--including my own--but I applaud you for trying. We should all think about these things at some point.

From Eric Calhoun, Inglewood, CA:

In the March issue, Michele Anne Jacquays is correct in saying that she is a blind person who walks across the streets without help. That is commendable, and I try to live up to that very example.

I think that people overhelp. That means that when sighted people offer to help you, they feel bad when you turn them down. They bad-mouth you, telling you to accept help, even when you don't need it. If we don't need help, who cares what they think?

I would like to give a preview of the Golden Baseball League (GBL) to those of you in Edmonton and Calgary. This league is dedicated to developing professional independent baseball in western North America. Now five years old, the GBL will continue to establish and grow minor league teams with a vision for three eight-team divisions in the Pacific Northwest/Canada, the Pacific Coast and the Southwest over the next five years. This is a league that will be easy on both the Cracker Cats' and Vipers' pocketbooks. You will see the Long Beach Armada, Orange County (CA) Flyers, Reno Silver Sox, Chico Outlaws, Yuma Scorpions and Saint George (UT) Roadrunners. To contact the Calgary Vipers, call 403-277-2255; or the Edmonton Cracker Cats, 780-423-2255. To learn about the independent Golden Baseball League, visit www.goldenbaseball.com.

From Cheryl Wade, Midland, MI:

Thank you for including my Midland Daily News column about Braille Beats Fine Arts Program in the March Ziegler. I am one of several staff members who writes a Sunday column on a rotation basis. I wanted to send notices about this program to all the blindness magazines, but I knew my newspaper had first rights to anything, so I wrote the column. I didn't know if it would interest anybody, but I always like to write about perceptual or feeling kinds of issues because I don't share my opinion on the news pages where I write day to day. So my columns are a fun break, a chance to describe something that interests or provokes me. Thanks so much for giving my column such wonderful, broad exposure in the blind community!

From Delbert Walker, E. Jordan, MI:

I am responding to two letters in the March issue. Kishia Mason wondered why not everyone uses braille. I think the reason is that a lot of blind people are too lazy to learn it, even though braille is not that hard. Some just don't want to learn. They would rather go to their computers and get on the Internet. So, they say that braille is going out of fashion.

To Marie Rudys: I too think it is rude that people who are listed in the Ziegler's Pen Pals section do not want to answer letters from people over a certain age. They're so picky about their correspondents. These people just want to see how many responses they are going to get, and some of them don't answer even one. I have a suggestion: Anyone who does not respond to letters should not be included in the Pen Pals section.

From Donna Hill, Meshoppen, PA:

In the Special Notices section of the March edition, Edna Bacon asked for information about braille knitting books. I am also a knitter, and I borrow braille books from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. They have an excellent collection, and the librarians are very patient and helpful. My favorite is A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, by Barbara G. Walker, which is strictly stitch patterns organized in such chapters as slip-stitch, color change, eyelets, laces, cables, and so on. I think it's nine volumes. I brailled the patterns I wanted--most of them. Call your regional NLS; they can go through what they have with you.

From M. Vikas Munot, Chennai, India:

I agree with Marie Rudys, the reader who complained about the lack of response from those who want pen-friends. I have had not one but three such bitter experiences. The only difference is that Ms. Rudys seeks a romantic relationship, and I want to make friends.

Since I am a voracious reader, my heart jumped when I read about the free subscription of The Braille Mirror in the editorial. But, to my disappointment, it is only for citizens of the United States and Canada. Could anyone help me by suggesting how I could get a subscription? Contact vikas.munot@yahoo.com or my Skype address, speakvikas.

From Vince Blaise, Phoenix, AZ:

I'd like to address a couple of things from the February Reader's Forum. Cheryl Wade asked about bills transcribed into braille. As far as I know, most companies now offer online viewing of bills. Some will even send your bill directly to your inbox, if you have Internet access, of course. I do this all the time. I've even stopped paper bills for some companies. If you do decide to opt for this service, be sure you have the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader program, as some bills are in PDF format.

Corinne Phillips of Oshkosh, WI, wrote about her place of employment treating her like a person. That is great and wonderful. However, I couldn't help dwelling on the word she used: "disability." This left me with the assumption that she is either one who chooses not to use the word "blind" or she is not visually impaired/legally blind. My reason for dwelling on this particular word is that the majority of the employable "blind" or "totally blind" are employed by state- or government-run companies. The only companies I know that hire the "blind" are Sears, Discover and some telemarketing firms. I know people who work in banks, supermarkets and hospitals, but they are "visually impaired," also known as "partially sighted." Let's just say if you have enough vision that you don't need much assistance to perform the job, you will get hired. If you are blind, the job opportunities are few and far between.

Some companies have a quota for the amount of "disabled" workers they'll hire. I recall trying to become employed back in the late '70s with our local phone company. Since I knew of three other blind employees there, I figured perhaps they'd give me a shot. That was when I was told they had met their quota and there would be no further hiring of disabled individuals.
When it comes to hiring a person with a disability, the totally blind are passed over. We are dedicated, punctual, efficient, proficient and safe. When I worked in a sheltered workshop, the injuries that occurred involved individuals that had some amount of vision.

Even though advances in assistive technology have greatly improved our lives, doors are still closed to the totally blind. Most companies--and I must say I don't blame them for the fear of sabotage--will not allow their employees to install software onto their computer systems, and some companies are even paranoid about attaching an external device to a computer.

This makes me wonder why blind organizations like the NFB and the ACB aren't trying to decrease that 80 percent unemployment rate of the employable blind. It's time for the visually impaired community to stop quibbling over proceeds from a commemorative coin and start trying to level the playing field for all blind individuals.

From Marcia Harrison, W. Sacramento, CA:

I write about cell phone accessibility, and how Sprint half responds to our needs and Verizon does somewhat better. But neither is interested in giving us phones that will work out of the box without purchasing some software that costs $300. Also, if we get a phone that is even half-way accessible, we are immediately thrown into a one- or two-year contract. In defense of Sprint, they do offer a 30-day guarantee, but if the blind person has no sighted help (which many of us do not), that can be a hassle. I'm aware that some phones have braille manuals. But even with a braille manual, a blind person who has no sighted help is still left out in the cold when there are no braille or raised marks on the phone.

I would like to see a discussion in Readers Forum about cell phone accessibility as well as recycled braille materials. Do people recycle their braille, throw it away, or what? I know many people who share their braille with others.

From Randy Gilbert, Georgetown, TX:

I had Brytech upgrade my Note Teller 2 currency identifier to read the new series of U.S. bank notes in addition to those notes currently in circulation. This procedure requires the Note Teller 2 to be returned to Brytech, and it costs $75, including shipping. Your Note Teller 2 will then be able to denominate all the old and new series as well as the latest colored $5 bill that entered circulation in March 2008. Older Note Tellers (not Note Teller 2s) bought before mid-2001 are unable to be upgraded and need to be replaced. If you are unsure of the age of your unit, Note Teller 2s are dark blue and have a serial number greater than 18000.

Send your Note Teller 2 via regular mail only to Brytech, 2301 St. Laurent Blvd., Suite 400, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1G 4J7. Mark the package in large bold letters with the following: Originally made Canadian goods, Return to the manufacturer, Product for the blind and visually impaired, Customs #9992.00.00, GST #66."

You will also need to fill out a green-and-red Customs form. Mail your Note Teller 2 to Canada at a regular United States Post Office because a satellite Post Office will probably not be able to insure the unit for $300 or send it to Canada via Priority Mail, which can track your package. You can send your Note Teller 2 via first-class mail, but it will take a long time--at least 11 days--for it to arrive in Canada. Your Note Teller 2 will be returned via FedEx.
Brytech says to allow two weeks turnaround time. I sent my Note Teller 2 on March 19th to have it updated. FedEx delivered it to me late in the morning of April 2nd.

My Note Teller 2 now reads bills much faster. Call Brytech at 800-263-4095. I hope this information will be helpful to many readers of The Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind.

From Mildred Frank, Ormond Beach, FL:

I would like to respond to the remarks made in March about the term vision impaired. The term blind covers such a wide range of blindness that I feel the following categories best describe the way "legally blind" people see. Blindness is not a black-and-white issue; there are many levels of blindness. "Blind" means that you cannot see anything. "Low vision" means that you can still read with the help of the CCTV and a hand-held magnifier. "Visually impaired" means that one can see guide lights and shadows and, on a sunny day, the trees against the sky.

I have experienced all stages of blindness, and I would feel like a fraud if I called myself blind. I feel visually impaired best describes my degree of blindness. I was low-vision for most of my life until I lost my husband to cancer. The trauma of losing my mate was so stressful that I lost what little vision I had, and I experienced total blindness for about 10 years. I started taking lutein and other nutritional supplements, and in six weeks, I experienced a small improvement in my vision. My field tests proved five yearly enlargements in fields of poor vision. I now think of myself as visually impaired since I cannot read the test charts or the computer screen, but I can see a little. I feel that I should not call myself blind out of respect to those who are totally blind.

The other misunderstood issue is the idea that some people object to braille. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many people lose their vision late in life; they simply cannot feel the dots. Diabetics and the elderly lose sensitivity in their fingers and lack the motor skills to feel braille. I know from experience I could teach Grade 1-1/2 when I was low vision, but could not read it by touch. I wrote articles for Vision Enhancement years ago, telling of the need for a jumbo brailler to be produced, but to no avail. I recently found the peel-off jumbo braille letters, and I influenced Maxi-Aids to offer a professional audible and tactile labeling kit containing a backing for the peel-off jumbo braille and print letters. The backing has a hole in which the included safety pins can be inserted and attached to a garment to denote color of clothing and rubber bands to slip-knot for attaching to food in the pantry and freezer or items to be later identified.

I also wrote articles about the need for the Voxcom to be re-developed, and an inventor called me and asked me to critique his Voxcom prototype. After making several changes that I suggested, he sold the rights to MaxiAids. MaxiAids made further improvements, and I developed systems to use with the Voxcom. Now, we have an audible and tactile method of labeling, as well as a system of filing and retrieving information by applying a few peel-off raised letters or jumbo braille to the talk cards that come with the Voxcom to give immediate recognition of the recorded card. The professional kit has a plastic carrying case that contains all these things, in addition to markings for the appliances and a 20/20 pin, plus "Access to Information for the Blind, The Vision Aide Manual." The professional kit sells for $199.95. It can be purchased from MaxiAids at 800-522-6294.

I wrote "Access to Information for the Blind, The Vision Aide Manual," which a college in Daytona Beach is using to teach "Assisting Persons with Limited Vision" to certified nurses' assistants and occupational therapists. When the ophthalmologist or optometrist writes a prescription for a limited number of hours of in-home training from an occupational therapist, it may be covered by Medicare or Medicaid. The occupational therapist would: identify and label food, medicine, clothing and other items; shop; drive; and install a method of filing and retrieving information. After the occupational therapist has finished, then the person with vision problems could employ a trained aide for a few hours a week or month, depending on finances and support in the home. If individuals cannot afford this service, then Blind Services should subsidize an aide.