[Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert

Constance Canode satin-bear at sbcglobal.net
Sat Dec 2 13:41:13 CST 2006 

We have the so-called talking buses here in Madison and they really 
work well.  At first, there were a few complaints from people in 
certain neighborhoods with residents saying that they were too noisy, 
but like so many other things in life, they will get used to it.  The 
law says here that the buses have to have the audio features turned 
on, and once that happens, the drivers have no control over 
them.  They don't call out all of the streets, but they do call the 
major ones and we are working on them to add more routes and more 
streets.  Madison Metro has been very cooperative.  Also, there are 
no advertisements.  They have the audio features on the buses in 
Milwaukee as well, but the volume is not very loud and you really 
have to listen and also get through all of the 
advertisements.  Madison's system is much better.

Connie Canode
At 12:47 PM 12/2/2006, you wrote:
>That's what happened in Lancaster.  Now, I don't know if we have any of the
>busses which had this feature.  When I inquired about the announcements on
>the busses, I was usually told that they didn't work.
>
>Cindy
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Chris Danielsen" <cdanielsen1 at comcast.net>
>To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2006 12:26 PM
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert
>
>
>Technology isn't a panacea for the problem of drivers not announcing stops.
>In Baltimore buses are equipped with GPS-based systems that announce each
>stop as it is approached.  Some drivers apparently find this annoying and
>switch the devices off.  Why they were equipped with an off switch I have no
>idea, since their reason for being is supposedly ADA compliance ...
>
>Chris
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at crc.in.gov>
>To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 12:50 PM
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert
>
>
> > Hi Again Ray,
> >
> > I forgot to mention.  Yes the ADA does require drivers to announce the
> > major bus stops.  Here again there is technology available to do this
> > automatically so they can continue to do whatever it is they deem more
> > important. Talking on cell phones or flirting with other riders or
> > whatever.  But the city doesn't' want to spend the money.
> >
> > Well... If you aren't going to spend the money, then there is a very
> > simple solution. Insist that your drivers open their mouths and do their
> > jobs.  There are aspects of my job that I don't enjoy either, but I have
> > to do them.
> >
> > Here again, we have the right to the same information as our sighted
> > counterparts.  We have the right to be in control of our own schedules
> > and not at the mercy of a driver's memory.
> >
> > Diane Graves
> > Civil Rights Specialist
> > Indiana Civil Rights Commission
> > Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
> > 317-232-2647
> >
> >
> >
> > "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."--Winston
> > Churchill
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Confidentiality Notice: This E-mail transmission may contain
> > confidential and/or legally privileged information intended only for the
> > individual or entity(ies) named in the E-mail address. If you are not
> > the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized disclosure,
> > copying, distribution, or acting in reliance upon the contents of this
> > E-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail
> > transmission in error, please reply to sender to arrange for the return
> > and proper delivery of the transmission. Subsequently, delete the
> > message from your system immediately.
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> > On Behalf Of Ray Foret Jr.
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 12:00 PM
> > To: NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert
> >
> >
> > Wait!  Do you mean to tell me that the ADA requires bus drivers to
> > announce
> > at each major stop?  This I did not know.
> >
> >    As I was shaving just now, your message came back to me with a bit
> > of a
> > question.  Let me explain.  ON this coming Friday, I'm going to open an
> > account at Chase bank.  I'm doing this not just for the free $100.00
> > they
> > offered me, I'm doing it for the accaccessibility; Braille bank
> > statements,
> > talking ATMs' and the fact that they check their site using both JAWS
> > and
> > Window-Eyes.  Now, I can just hear you saying, "Wait a second here.  You
> > say
> > you don't like the change in the money thing; yet, you switch banks for
> > reasons of greater accessibility?  What's up with that?  Haven't you
> > been
> > banking successfully all these years at your current bank (which does
> > not
> > have and may never have Braille bank statements or talking ATMS'?
> > Doesn't
> > that make you inconsistent?"
> >
> >    My answer is yes, I have been dealing successfully with my current
> > bank
> > since late 1999 without either Braille bank statements or talking ATMS'.
> >
> > So, if that's the case, how come the switch?  In the final analysis, it
> > comes right down to what you yourself said earlier; "more independence.
> > Ah,
> > but, the question again.  Why not just keep my account over at Whitney
> > rather than go through all that switching?  After all, you get along
> > pretty
> > well with things as they are.  So, again, the question.  Why switch?
> > Once
> > again, your original answer, plus one other thing.
> > independence+privacy.  I
> > think we would all agree that a Braille bank statement is much more
> > private
> > than even a statement scanned via OCR.  Mostly, I think, because with
> > the
> > Braille, at least I can understand it.  Print bank statements (at least
> > in
> > my experience) tend not to scan so accurately.  For the record, I've
> > tried
> > using Text Cloner Pro and Omnipage SE.
> >
> > Sincerely yours,
> > The Constantly Barefooted,
> > Ray
> > Home phone and fax:
> > (985)853-0139
> > E-mail:
> > rforetjr at bellsouth.net
> > Skype Name:
> > barefootedray
> > Blog:
> > www.raysworld.blogs.com
> > Podcast .rss Feed:
> > http://feeds.feedburner.com/worldofray
> >
> > God bless President George W. Bush!
> > God bless our troops!
> > and God bless America
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at crc.IN.gov>
> > To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 9:49 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert
> >
> >
> > HI,
> >
> > I understand what you are saying Ray.  I don't' want anyone feeling
> > sorry for me either. (At least, not as a result of blindness  LOL.) I do
> > want to be as absolutely independent of sighted assistance and as much
> > on an equal footing as I can be. The way I see it currency that I can
> > identify completely devoid of sighted assistance will be another small
> > step in this direction.
> >
> > Unfortunately you will always have the "poor me" blind folks, and the
> > "whatever you do or say is amazing Honey" sighted folks.  Believe me,
> > they make my skin crawl too.
> >
> > But it really is a matter of perspective.  This step up could really
> > provide us with more independence and greater security.  As I say, I do
> > have much bigger band wagons to jump on, and the alternative techniques
> > that I have employed are working fine for me now, but I don't' want to
> > stand in the way of progress either.
> >
> > In an apparently similar situation, we have been having a time for the
> > last several years here in Indianapolis, with getting the city bus
> > drivers to announce the major bus stops as required under the ADA.  They
> > simply do not want to do it, and the company refuses to take any action
> > to enforce it. I think we may be looking at a class action suit before
> > it is all over.
> >
> > Now we are not fighting for this because we are "poor blind people" who
> > need to be taken care of.  Quite the contrary. We are fighting for this
> > because we are blind people who want to be in control of when and where
> > we disembark from the bus, and not at the mercy of some driver who
> > "forgets" because he/she is overwhelmed in traffic or is gabbing with
> > other riders, or gets busy on his/her cell phone.
> >
> > We need them to know that our work and family schedules are every bit as
> > important as those of the sighted, and we need to be in independent
> > control of getting ourselves where we need to be on time.  Believe me, I
> > have had them assure me that they would let me know, when we arrived at
> > my destination and then ended up having to ride around for another hour
> > because they didn't.
> >
> > Anyway, you can look at it as the glass being half empty or full.  But
> > it is independence and equality that I am after, not a pity party at
> > all.  I don't' like that spin on things either.  Unfortunately, there
> > will always be those that approach things that way.
> >
> >
> > Diane Graves
> > Civil Rights Specialist
> > Indiana Civil Rights Commission
> > Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
> > 317-232-2647
> >
> >
> >
> > "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."--Winston
> > Churchill
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Confidentiality Notice: This E-mail transmission may contain
> > confidential and/or legally privileged information intended only for the
> > individual or entity(ies) named in the E-mail address. If you are not
> > the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized disclosure,
> > copying, distribution, or acting in reliance upon the contents of this
> > E-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail
> > transmission in error, please reply to sender to arrange for the return
> > and proper delivery of the transmission. Subsequently, delete the
> > message from your system immediately.
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> > On Behalf Of Ray Foret Jr.
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 10:22 AM
> > To: NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert
> >
> >
> > Morning Diane,
> >
> >    As usual, your messages are thought provoking.  Let me make one
> > thing very clear.  I do not oppose the idea of the US treasury modifying
> > our bills in such a way that we would be able to tactily identify our
> > money; so long as blindness is not the reason for the change.  The fact
> > that the ACB is
> >
> > behind this has emotional reactionism plastered all over it.  They're
> > appealing to the pity of the federal courts; and, I dare say, the
> > American people.  "Aw, look at us poor blind people.", this story and
> > action seem to say, "we're so smart.  It's a wonder how we know so many
> > things and are so wonderful; and yet, can't even manage to get our own
> > pants on in the morning or tell apart our money...tisk tisk tisk...".
> >    IF they're going to change the money, let it be for the reasons you
> > stated; consistency with the rest of the world in adopting a tactile
> > money system, better security ETC.  But, please!!!  Not blindness!!!!!
> > As for
> >
> > knocking progress, if that so-called progress gets in the way of our
> > normal lives especially to the point where it uses emotions of pity to
> > appeal for change, than I say it deserves to be knocked right back where
> > it came from. However, if the change comes for the right reasons;
> > progress for us in ways which will make us more independent, and without
> > appealing to emotional pity, I'm all for it.
> >
> > Sincerely yours,
> > The Constantly Barefooted,
> > Ray
> > Home phone and fax:
> > (985)853-0139
> > E-mail:
> > rforetjr at bellsouth.net
> > Skype Name:
> > barefootedray
> > Blog:
> > www.raysworld.blogs.com
> > Podcast .rss Feed:
> > http://feeds.feedburner.com/worldofray
> >
> > God bless President George W. Bush!
> > God bless our troops!
> > and God bless America
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at crc.IN.gov>
> > To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 7:03 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert
> >
> >
> > Good Morning To All,
> >
> > My viewpoint is pretty much in line with yours Sherri.  I mean, PLEASE
> > do not get me wrong.  We have MANY much more important issues in need of
> > attention from our legislators and legal system than this one.
> >
> > I too have a method of folding my money, and it generally has proven to
> > be quite effective.  For many years I didn't even fold it.  What I would
> > do is keep the larger bills on the outside of the role or stack of bills
> > and the smaller ones in the middle, and then just remember what I had.
> > But alas, I am growing older, and my memory is growing weaker.  So
> > several years ago I began to fold the bills for identification purposes.
> >
> > But, it is a fact that, in order to get our money folded in the first
> > place we do have to depend on the honesty/accuracy of a merchant, a bank
> > teller, a family member and so on.  That is, if we don't' have that $400
> > identifier.  Most of the time this method of initial identification
> > works fine, but I have been known to be on the other side of that coin.
> > It doesn't happen regularly or often, but it has happened.
> >
> > Like Sherri, I don't spend a great deal of time fretting about this
> > issue, but the rest of the world is going to a completely tactilely
> > identifiable monitory system, and I don't see why we need to be
> > different just to prove that there are alternative techniques.
> >
> > After all, progress is progress.  I mean, prior to the days of
> > wide-spread computer use, and scanners and Kurzweil and the whole bit,
> > blind people hired and used readers and sometimes had to call on others
> > to proof read there typed work and so on.  This worked out fine for them
> > then.  It was an alternative technique and it worked well.  But would
> > you rather have stayed back there?  Aren't you thankful, glad and
> > elated, that you can now take care of your bills, mail and other
> > business totally independently for the most part?
> >
> > I know I am.  The alternative techniques worked fine for their time, but
> > I for one, am grateful to be increasingly more independent of sighted
> > assistance.
> >
> > And now we even have the Kurzweil/NFB handheld reader which will
> > increase that independence even more as it can be carried with us.  I
> > can't wait to get my hands on one of those.  I am folding my money and
> > putting it away (when I can) in anticipation of that grand purchase.
> >
> > I do understand that it seems absurd to spend time on the little things
> > when there are so many major problems, but don't knock progress guys!
> > Every little piece of independence we achieve is precious.  At least it
> > is to me.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Diane Graves
> > Civil Rights Specialist
> > Indiana Civil Rights Commission
> > Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
> > 317-232-2647
> >
> >
> >
> > "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."--Winston
> > Churchill
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Confidentiality Notice: This E-mail transmission may contain
> > confidential and/or legally privileged information intended only for the
> > individual or entity(ies) named in the E-mail address. If you are not
> > the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized disclosure,
> > copying, distribution, or acting in reliance upon the contents of this
> > E-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail
> > transmission in error, please reply to sender to arrange for the return
> > and proper delivery of the transmission. Subsequently, delete the
> > message from your system immediately.
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> > On Behalf Of Sherri
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 2:26 AM
> > To: NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert
> >
> >
> > This is probably an unpopular viewpoint and though I manage pretty well
> > without it and am much more concerned about obtaining more money than I
> > am about having some tactile way to tell bills apart other than folding,
> > I guess I don't understand why we don't just catch up with the rest of
> > the
> >
> > world and make our money identifiable? If we have to change it anyway
> > because of counterfeit bills, why not just make the other changes too?
> > However, I don't stay up nights thinking about this issue. Really, it
> > isn't that important in the scheme of things. (smile)
> >
> > Sherri
> >
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