[Blindtlk] Fw: [blind-family] More research new

Mon Mar 5 13:35:13 CST 2007

Steve,

I completely agree with you.  I'd just like to add,...The researchers are 
trying to do something which they believe is a good thing and will be 
helpful to "poor blind people".  But, the researchers really have no concept 
of what it's like to be blind and they believe that sight is the cure all, 
no matter how little vision is produced.

So, like you, I wouldn't jump at the chance.  This has been discussed for 
years and, like the laser cane, it has just never gone anywhere.

Cindy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fw: [blind-family] More research new

Kathy and others,

Please humor me just a bit.  Let's take a practical look at this.  If there 
were no risks and no costs, and there were no complications, I would 
consider such a
procedure even though I have always been blind.  However, that's not what 
the choice will likely be.  I would not, for instance, strap myself 
financially for the rest of
my life for the kind of vision that might allow me to read headlines or see 
some movement.  If I can't pay for it and since I have already been working 
and paying my
own way for thirty years, is there a benefit to society to pay to have my 
vision restored?  What happens to my kids if something goes wrong and I am 
no longer able
to work after the surgery, infection or other complications for example. 
There may be honest differences of opinions as to what vision restoration is 
worth, but some
of the difference is whether one is truly looking at the impact.  Would one 
pay a million dollars to get their vision back?  Probably, until one starts 
thinking about the
payments one would have to make for the rest of their lives and the impact 
it might have on one's family.  In most cases, getting one's vision back 
won't increase
one's earning power enough to make the payments.

I think that researchers often don't put a price on this type of thing and 
can't understand it when a lot of us don't just jump up and down with joy at 
the prospect of
getting ones vision back, but when you start thinking about it and you start 
to read about the limitations that might exist, then one begins to think 
about the pros and
cons.

Another caveat to this whole thing that needs to be kept in mind is that 
some of us have been hearing about miraculous procedures for thirty years, 
and we start to
get to the point where seeing is believing, if you will forgive the play on 
words.  Don't be too hard on those of us who might be both a little 
skeptical and also realistic.
Also don't misunderstand me, there is progress being made and some sort of 
artificial vision is probably closer now than it was thirty years ago, but 
the idea of driving
down a freeway at 60 miles per hour totally depending upon an electronic 
circuit that might be overloaded by something like a radar beam from a 
police car scares
me.  I just don't think we'll see it happen real soon.

Discussing what it might be worth to get vision and the complications 
associated with it is interesting.  I would be curious to reactions to the 
above.

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:46:05 -0500, Kathy Davis wrote:

>The point is that if medical advances are such that blind people can see 
>again, each person has the option to go for it or not. Personally, I would 
>go for it in an
instant...How great it would be just to pop my key in to the ignition and 
just drive where ever I want whenever I want to do so. It would be great to 
see the faces of
my grandchildren. Like most of you, I totally accept my blindness and am not 
one bit ashamed of it. It is a royal pain in the behind at times though. If 
you had a spinal
cord injury and could take advantage of scientific advances that would allow 
you to walk again, would you just say..."I am perfectly happy not walking or 
standing
so I want to stay this way?" I don't think so! If your blind child could 
undergo a procedure that would allow your little one to see, would you 
say..."no, it is respectable
to be blind so I want my child to stay that way?"

>Just some food for thought.

>Kathy

>>>> "Laurie Porter" <freespirit1 at tds.net> Thursday, March 01, 2007 10:28 PM 
>>>>  >>>
>I'm sure you'll agree that there will be lots of medical advances using
>implants and other technologies. I find it an arrogant assumption on Ray's
>part to assume that the only reason people would take advantage of  the
>opportunity to restore vision is because they aren't comfortable with their
>blindness. There is nothing wrong with desiring to see again. I lost my
>remaining sight somewhat recently, and I do imagine what it is like to see
>agaiNI was blindd before and my attitude toward blindness has been and is
>positive. In fact, it made me more prepared. I realized that I had proved 
>to
>myself that my complete loss of sight is not a tragedy, but merely
>inconvenient at times. I had quite a bit of usable vision, but I've always
>considered myself blind. I used alternative techniques even when I could
>see. I read braille and always used my skills together with my vision. I've
>never been ashamed of blindness, and I have never been ashamed of my sight.

>Now, for me, a rhetnal implant sounds pretty grizzly indeed and I wouldn't
>consider it until it's been around for at least a decade or so. I wouldn't
>subject myself to invasive procedures that can be too risky. As for the
>sighted public being uncomfortable being blind, I still assert that you can
>learn to be comfortable with your blindness and still  have the desire to
>see again.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bonnie M Ainsworth" <cedarwoman1965 at neb.rr.com>
>To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 2:03 PM
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fw: [blind-family] More research new

>> Actually, I can understand why Ray said what he did.  What about the
>people
>> who have never seen in their lives?  I don't know how I would deal with
>the
>> idea of being thrown into a world in which I'd have to adjust to a whole
>new
>> lifestyle.  I do have partial vision, but the thought of seeing fully
>scares
>> me.  In all honesty, I feel more comfortable with the possibility of
>losing
>> my sight totally than seeing fully.  I hope this makes sense.  *SMILE*
>>
>> Bonnie Ainsworth
>> Lincoln, NE USA
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Paul" <n7pzr at icehouse.net>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 8:48 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fw: [blind-family] More research new
>>
>>
>> Pardon me while I retch. What a stupid idea.
>> Paul Whipple n7pzr
>> Vice President Inland Empire Chapter
>> of the National Federation of the Blind
>> of Wa.
>> phone 509/362/3148
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ray Foret Jr." <rforetjr at bellsouth.net>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 9:01 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fw: [blind-family] More research new
>>
>>
>> No way!!!  I don't want nor will have anything to do with such as
>electronic
>> eyes and things of that sort.  To my way of thinking, these
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
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