[gui-talk] Fwd: Report from Day Two of the ACB Convention

Thu Jul 9 18:15:12 UTC 2009

Wayne,  I have to half-way apologize, grin.  After my post I read what the
sender of the ACB report had written and I believe it was a bit over the top
with activities specific to the organization.  I didn't consider anyone
would do that.  I can see where product overviews and other information not
specific to the organization would be informative to all of us no matter our
affiliation but there was just too much information not related to the
advancement of knowledge generally.  

-----Original Message-----
From: gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Don Moore
Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 9:46 AM
To: NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Fwd: Report from Day Two of the ACB Convention

Umm, just a guess, but the NFB in the nfb.net designation stands for 
National Federation of the Blind?

Personally although I belong to the ACB and am glad to be graciously 
accepted on this list, I did wonder about the original post.  The link to 
the program is one thing, but the summary?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "albert griffith" <albertgriffith at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 5:41 AM
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Fwd: Report from Day Two of the ACB Convention

First I didn't know this list was an NFB list.  I understood it to be a
place where people could discuss matters relating to products using a
graphical user interface.  NFB isn't in the title and we've discussed suits
and other matters related to the ACB here.  I'd hope that unless a list was
specifically dedicated to events involving the ACB that they'd welcome
information from anywhere.  There are NFB specific lists and cross
organizational posts would be in poor taste but this list doesn't define
itself that way in any of its promotional material or guidelines.  Wayne I
feel you are being particularly nitpicky here.  Would you please set forth
the reasoning you use to determine this to be an NFB list only?  This is
news to me but I may have missed something when I subscribed.  It all seems
more than a little parochial to me.

-----Original Message-----
From: gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Wayne Merritt
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 11:33 PM
To: NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Fwd: Report from Day Two of the ACB Convention

While I can certainly understand being informed about all the goings
ons in the blindness community, and not meaning to seem nit picky
here, but allow me to ask the following question? why is this
information being placed on an NFB list? My intent is not to start a
debate between organizations. But if I want to know what's going on in
Orlando, I'll look to those sources out there that provide such
information. I wonder what the response would be if someone posted of
their experiences at the NFB convention on an ACB list? Again, not
menaing to start a war, but just pointing out the obvious.

Sincerely,
Wayne

On 7/8/09, Steve Pattison <srp at internode.on.net> wrote:
>  From: Ray Campbell ray1530 at wowway.com
> To: ICB Board; Illinois Discussion List
>
> Hello:
>
> Yet another busy day has ended here at the Acb convention in Orlando,
> Florida.  What was it like? Sit back and I'll gladly share.
>
> This morning I went to a program put on by the Blind Information
Technology
> Specialists (BITS) which is one of ACB's Special Interest affiliates.  It
> was called "Clash of the Titans," and this year, they discussed the
various
> Global Positioning Satellite system available out there for people who are
> blind.
> Systems presented were Wayfinder Access for the Symbian cell phones,
Mobile
> Geo, which I personally use, for the Windows Mobile Smart phones, the
> Braille Note GPS for the Braille Note, The Trekker and Trekker Breeze from
> Humanware, the Sense Nav from GW Micro which runs on the Braille Sense and
> Voice Sense note takers, and Street Talk VIP which runs on  Freedom
> Scientific's Pacmate.  Each company was given about 15 minutes or so to
> discuss their product and then answer audience questions.  This is a great
> thing because it allows someone thinking about purchasing a GPS solution
to
> learn about all of the products out there, evaluate their needs and help
> make an informed decision.
>
> I then went to the annual Sports Fanatics luncheon.  We were supposed to
> hear from Mr.  Enrique Oliu who is totally blind and the Spanish language
> color announcer for the Tampa Bay Rays, but he could not attend for
whatever
> reason.  We did hear from Donna Brown, herself a very decorated athlete
who
> is blind and a coach at the West Virginia School for the Blind.  She
shared
> her experiences competing in Paralympic competition and her work coaching
> young athletes who are blind today.
>
> I then attended the Environmental Access Committee meeting.  We spent a
> great deal of time discussing hybrid car's and work which is going on,
> thanks to legislation being introduced in Congress but not passed yet to
> research and develop an appropriate sound standard for these vehicles.
> Janet Barlow discussed some of the research work she is involved in
> including how to make roundabouts safer for pedestrians who are blind.
She
> said roundabouts are here to stay and that we need to make sure they have
> both a way for us to find where to cross streets, and ways for us to do it
> safely.
>
> We also discussed work going on to make what are called Destination
> Elevators more accessible.  These are elevators where you walk up, input
> your desired destination floor on a keyboard, and are then directed to a
> certain elevator to get there.  If you can't see where that elevator is,
how
> are you going to find it?
> Thank god we haven't seen any of these things in Chicago or anywhere else
in
> Illinois yet.
>
> After Environmental Access and dinner, it was time for the opening Plenary
> session of the convention.  The highlight was President Mitch Pomerantz's
> report to the convention.  ACB has been busy, particularly on the
> legislative and structured negotiations front in the last year.  We've
> successfully negotiated settlements with such retail chains as Dollar
> General, Staples, target and others so when we go in, make purchases, and
> choose to use debit cards, we can independently enter our PIN number.  The
> Illinois Council of the Blind's work with Tcf Bank was highlighted, where
> they will soon be installing talking ATMS, providing statements and other
> information in accessible formats and making their website more
accessible.
>
> The report from the consultant hired by the Department of the Treasury on
> accessible currency has just been released and should move us closer to
the
> day when people who are blind will have currency we can independently
> identify.  Thanks again, to ACB.
>
> We've gotten legislation re-introduced into the 111th Congress, HR734,
which
> would require minimal sound standards be researched and developed for
hybrid
> cars.  Because this is out there, the National Highway Transportation
Safety
> Administration (NHTSA) is already beginning to conduct this research.
> Because we, and the NFB have both pushed so hard for this legislation, we
> have 124 co-sponsors on board.  NHTSA wouldn't have moved if they didn't
> feel this legislation could move.
>
>  What about all those lovely set top boxes, new fangled phones and other
> things you can't use? Well ACB has advocated for the 21st Century
> Telecommunications and Video Accessibility Act.
> That bill is HR3101.  It only has a few co-sponsors, but it was just
> introduced.  So, get your member of congress to sign on as a co-sponsor.
>
> ACB is responding to the closure, threatened closure, or threatened
> consolidation of schools for the Blind.  We've created a task force which
I
> have the honor to chair to develop strategies to help our affiliates
respond
> when this issue comes up.
>
> There's a lot more, so I invite you to go to www.acbradio.org and click or
> press enter on the Mainstream link, then select your media player and you
> are on your way.  That, by the way, is where you can go to hear the
> convention sessions live starting tomorrow morning, July 6 at 7:30 a.m.
> central time.
>
> We were entertained by Amy Carroll-Web, who is a Star Florida Folk singer.
> She did about five songs and had everyone singing and clapping along.
After
> that, we were introduced to our two first time Durward K.  McDaniel award
> recipients.  They are Mandy Holly from South Carolina, and Janice Mirand
> from Texas.
>
> Eight ACB Life Memberships were presented tonight as well.  If you want to
> be an ACB Life Member, you pay $1,000 to the ACB National organization and
> never have to pay national dues again.
> It's wonderful to see people making that kind of a commitment to the
> organization.
>
> Finally tonight, we had the first Credentials Committee report and the
roll
> call of affiliates.  We did learn that North Carolina successfully saved
> their Governor Morrehead School for the Blind from being consolidated with
> the School for the Deaf.
>
> That's all for today.  It will be another busy day tomorrow and I'll be
here
> to tell you about it.
>
> Regards Steve
> Email:  srp at internode.on.net
> MSN Messenger:  internetuser383 at hotmail.com
> Skype:  steve1963
>
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-- 
My blog:
http://wayneism.blogspot.com
My websites:
www.wayneism.com
www.whitecaneday.org

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