[Blindtlk] Article shows we still have a ways to go, especially in other countries.

Tue Oct 31 09:43:13 CST 2006

Seems to me a little talk with a state legislator might prove most effective 
in this case. You'd be surprised what inquiries by those with budgetary 
control can do!

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at crc.in.gov>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 4:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Article shows we still have a ways to go,especially 
in other countries.

Hi guys,

Just thought I would chime in here with an observation to kind of
underline everything that has already been said.

I think it is amazing how much emphasis is placed on sight as opposed to
the other senses which, if trained properly can do just as much or more.

For instance, I work for the state of Indiana, and for the most part,
the insurance benefits are pretty good, and I can't complain too much.
However, there is a major flaw which clearly illustrates my point about
sight being the be all and end all for the sighted.

We, of course do have a vision care program, which is fine, although it
does me no good. (smile)  I, on the other hand have a significant
hearing deficit in addition to my blindness and use hearing aids.  These
are extremely important in mobility and communication and interaction
with coworkers and clients on my job.

Up to now, VR has purchased these, but due to a change in policy, they
will no longer pay for the replacement aids.  I have one which has
ceased to function altogether, and I have fears that the other one is on
the way out.  And of course, you guessed, it, our health insurance plans
won't pay for them either. Not even in part. I have inquired and they
are not willing to make any exceptions due to the fact that there is a
dual sensory impairment.

Anyway, it is jus incomprehensible to me.  They are going to make sure
that their sight is taken care of, because everyone knows that to be
without sight or to not have your sight maximized would just be the end
of the world. (dripping with sarcasm)  But to heck with the other
senses.  Everyone knows we can get by without those.
As long as you got that sight functioning it's all good.

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

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-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Ray Foret Jr.
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 5:36 PM
To: kamillhoff at gdoe.net; NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Article shows we still have a ways to
go,especially in other countries.

The sun shines on the blind and the sighted alike; but, I guess these
dumb
sightlings haven't figured that out yet.  It sometimes still amazes me
just
how utterly brainless the sighted can be; uh, well, some of them anyhow.

Granted, not all sighted people are that way, but, here lately, I've run
in
to more than my fair share of them.

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: "Kathleen A. Millhoff" <kamillhoff at gdoe.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 3:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Article shows we still have a ways to
go,especially
in other countries.

i'm with this message - the connotation of that word suggests attitude
far more than anything else i can think of - nope, it's not dark in
here. happy halloween - kat

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of n7pzr
Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2006 12:12 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Article shows we still have a ways to
go,especially in other countries.

good article. I have one complaint my mother and wife don't live in
darkness. Pardon me while I puke.

Paul Whipple n7pzr
Vice President Inland Empire Chapter
of the National Federation of the Blind
of Wa.
phone 509/362/3148
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Wheeler" <awheeler at neb.rr.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 4:34 AM
Subject: [Blindtlk] Article shows we still have a ways to go,especially
in other countries.

>I guess they were ment to have kids...
>
> The Daily Record, Scotland (UK)
>
> Thursday, October 26, 2006
>
> Blind And Beautiful
>
> By Amanda Keenan
>
> Sharon Murray has six wonderful kids .. three can see perfectly but
> their brothers and sister have been struck by a rare condition
>
> IMAGINE how you would cope if the doctor said your baby was blind.
> Then think how it would feel to get the same harrowing news about
> another of your kids, and then a third.
>
> That's the hand fate has dealt to Scots couple Sharon and Allan
> Murray.
>
> Because of a rare genetic condition, three of their six children,
> Matthew, 14, Jake, eight, and Rosie, two, have little or no sight.
>
> Some families would collapse under the weight of so much heartache.
>
> But Sharon and Allan don't waste their time feeling sorry for
> themselves.
>
> They're too busy taking care of the kids they cherish.
>
> Sharon, 40, said: "We're the only family I'm aware of who have three
> blind children.
>
> "I won't pretend it's not difficult, but they are bright, intelligent
> children and they all have their own talents.
>
> "It's been a learning exercise for all of us.
>
> "Some people say you have a big heart. But you don't know what life is

> going to throw at you and you just have to get on with it."
>
> Sharon and Allan started their family 15 years ago.
>
> Their first child, daughter Lorraine, was born healthy, with good
> eyesight.
>
> And when Matthew arrived, he seemed fine, too.
>
> Sharon, of Motherwell, said: "It may sound unbelievable but I didn't
> notice Matthew's blindness.
>
> "I used to put him in the playpen with his big sister and he would
> play with his toys. And when I shouted his name he would turn towards
> me because his hearing was so good.
>
> "But whenMatthew was four months, we realised he was only responding
> to sound. The health visitor did a test and noticed he was not
> following her finger."
>
> Eventually, Sharon and Allan got the official diagnosis - Matthew
> couldn't see.
>
> "We felt devastated," Sharon said. "It took us a long time to say the
> word 'blind'.
>
> "We felt we were to blame because we never realised what was wrong.
> Coming to terms with it was difficult and the next six months were
> spent taking everything in."
>
> Matthew's blindness was caused by retina aplasia, a condition which
> stopped his optic nerves developing properly.
>
> The problem is related to a faulty gene which runs in the Murray
> family.
>
> Jake and Rosie have variations of the same condition.
>
> Matthew lives in total darkness. And, as if that wasn't enough to deal

> with, he suffers from epilepsy and has learning difficulties.
>
> After Matthew was born, Sharon and Allan decided their family was
> complete.
>
> Allan had a vasectomy. But then Sharon was amazed to be told she was
> pregnant.
>
> Doctors said there was a one-in-four chance of the baby being born
> blind and the odds went against little Jake. He was diagnosed as blind

> at 11 weeks old.
>
> Jake can only see light. But Allan said: "We were able to cope because

> we had learned so much fromMatthew."
>
> Six years after Jake was born, Sharon got pregnant again.
>
> She gave birth to twins, Rosie and Ewan. But while Ewan has perfect
> vision, his sister is blind, although her mum is convinced she can see

> the outlines
> of shapes.
>
> After the twins were born, Sharon went to be sterilised. But again, as

> they had with Allan's vasectomy, the forces of nature got the better
> of medical science.
>
> Sharon became pregnant for a sixth time. And the youngest of theMurray

> clan, baby Sean Ethan, arrived seven weeks ago with excellent
> eyesight.
>
> Despite all she has been through, Sharon has no regrets about any of
> her pregnancies.
>
> She said: "I could quite easily have said, 'I'm not going to have
> these babies.' But I've never had that attitude.
>
> "There is no test for the blindness gene but I never had any tests for

> anything while I was pregnant anyway.
>
> "I've always felt that what would be, would be - and the children
> would still be our children, no matter what conditions they may or may

> not have."
>
> Life in the Murray family home is crowded and sometimes chaotic.
>
> Allan and Sharon can only work part time - he is a computer engineer
> and she is a secretary - because one of them always has to be with the

> children.
>
> The couple haven't had a night out on their own for years. And
> everything they do with the kids must be carefully prepared.
>
> Sharon said: "Even with simple things, like birthday parties, you have

> to plan ahead.
>
> "The first party is always the worst. You think, 'Should I wait in the

> background?'
>
> "But with Jake, everyone has been great, especially the girls at
> parties.
>
> They take him round and keep an eye on him.
>
> "Because his classmates have grown up with him, they have a better
> understanding."
>
> Family days out are difficult because the Murrays don't have a big
> enough car. Social services won't give them a mobility vehicle because

> Matthew, Jake and Rosie can all walk.
>
> The family also have to deal with the ignorance of strangers in the
> street.
>
> Sharon said: "Some folk, particularly older people, will shout at the
> kids as if they don't understand what's being said. It can be
> hurtful."
>
> But the family cope with everything thrown at them. Social services
> give them some help with the housework, and Lorraine is a vital
> support to her mum and dad.
>
> Sharon said: "She has grown up quickly, and lost some of her
> childhood, because she does so much to help out at home."
>
> Jake goes to a mainstream school, with a "sighter" who helps him set
> out his work in Braille. He is confident and outgoing and wants to be
> a car salesman
> when he grows up.
>
> Sharon said: "When he was younger, he didn't realise he couldn't see.
>
> "He taught himself to play the keyboard when he was five. He can pick
> up a tune, adapt it and make up his own lyrics."
>
> Jake likes to play for Matthew while his big brother sings along. It's

> just one example of how the kids help each other, and Sharon is
> confident that they can enjoy a happy future.
>
> She said: "I learned after Matthew to encourage them to be as
> independent as they can. It's important for their future to allow them

> as normal a life as
> possible."
>
>
>
> 180,000 LIVE IN DARKNESS
>
> ABOUT 180,000 people in Scotland - more than three per cent of the
> population - are blind or partially sighted.
>
> And, of those, more than 2000 are children of school age.
>
> A third of the kids affected have additional disabilities, according
> to the Royal National Institute for the Blind's Scottish figures.
>
> More than 70 per cent of blind or partially sighted kids go to
> mainstream schools.
>
> The vast majority of Scots with severe eyesight problems - about 80
> per cent
>
> - are older than 65.
>
> One in six people over 75 will have serious trouble with their sight.
>
> The RNIB say the typical Scots sufferer is a woman in her 70s, who
> lives alone and gets no social services help.
>
>
>
>
>
<http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=blind-and-beautiful-&meth
od=f
> u>
>
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=blind-and-beautiful-&metho
d=fu
>
> ll&objectid=17992204&siteid=66633-name_page.html
>
>
>
> Alan Wheeler
> awheeler at neb.rr.com or alan_wheeler at neb.rr.com
> redwheel1 on skype
> http://alan-wheeler.blogspot.com/
> "Tell the people the truth and the country will be free"  --Abraham
> Lincoln
>
>
>

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