[nfb-talk] [Blindtlk] HumanWare, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, here we go again

Wed Feb 13 16:47:56 CST 2008

Well I saw the first episode in which a home for a blind person was featured 
and well all I can say is I am glad it is not possible for the actors to 
hear the viewers through the tv because I would be in trouble for sure. haha 
I found the entire thing truly insulting right from the carpet on the walls 
so that "he always knows which room he is in," to the 11 year kid they had 
on the show who was his "classmate" in rehab? It is no wonder the public 
views us the way they do, but we shall see.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David" <davidb521 at gmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; 
<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 5:25 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Blindtlk] HumanWare, Extreme Makeover Home 
Edition,here we go again


> Could you tell us who didn't watch the previous shows what these
> accommodations were? Also, it doesn't make sense to buy Trekkor
> when Sendero Gps can go on the Braille Note, and is supposed to
> be superior.
> Regards,
>
>
> David Bouchard
>
>
> Executive Grand Communicator
>
>
> Watonala Lodge, Order of the Arrow
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net
>>To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>Date sent: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:57:59 -0600
>>Subject: [Blindtlk] HumanWare, Extreme Makeover Home Edition,here
> we go again
>
>>Good afternoon everyone,
>
>>    The folks at Extreme Make-Over, Home Edition are at it once
> more.  This
>>time they're going to remodel a home so its more accessible for a
> blind
>>child.  Perhaps I should hold my judgment until I see the show,
> but the
>>previous two episodes of this program have done much to reinforce
> the
>>negative stereotypes of blindness by misleading the viewing
> audience to
>>think we need all kinds of special modifications to the home
> environment so
>>we can live independently.  Now wouldn't it be nice if they
> called upon the
>>services of a blind interior designer to assist in recreating
> this family's
>>new home lay-out.  I believe there's a gentlemen who is blind and
> has a T.V.
>>program on interior design.  I heard the name of this program
> once, but can't
>>remember what it's called.  And wouldn't it be nice if they
> called upon
>>George Wortzel, the brother of Fred Wortzel  and a blind
> carpenter who spoke
>>during the 2006 National Convention to assist in the
> reconstruction of this
>>family's home.  And why not invite the blind host of, "Cooking
> Without
>>Looking" to show this kid how a blind person can cook and use
> kitchen
>>appliances independently after the construction of the new home
> is complete.
>
>>    And when the family finally moves to their new home a blind
> cane travel
>>instructor could be a part of the make-over team to assist this
> kid in
>>learning his new neighborhood, or how to travel more
> independently in the
>>old one.  If this were to happen not only would this family get a
> new home,
>>but this child would be exposed to successful blind roll models
> as would the
>>viewing audience.  Minds could be opened to the possibilities of
> blind
>>individuals and attitudes about blindness changed for the better.
>
>>    I'm sure Humanware did a great thing  by providing this kid
> the
>>technology to give him greater access to information, but like
> the previous
>>two episodes in which new homes were redesigned for blind
> individuals we're
>>in for the same-old same-old.  But then perhaps I'll be wrong
> this time.  I'd
>>like to think so.
>
>>Peter Donahue who had a wonderful time in Baltimore at our
> national center
>>last weekend.
>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "HumanWare" <us.news at humanware.com
>>To: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net
>>Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 1:16 PM
>>Subject: HumanWare Products Star in Extreme Makeover Home Edition
>
>
>>HumanWare
>>PRESS RELEASE
>
>>HumanWare Products Star in Extreme Makeover Home Edition
>
>
>>HumanWare is pleased to announce its appearance on the popular TV
> show
>>Extreme Makeover Home Edition, which will be broadcast on
> February 17 on ABC
>>in the United States.
>
>>In this brand-new episode, the Extreme Makeover Home Edition team
> comes to
>>the rescue of the Hughes family and their son Patrick who is
> blind, whose
>>determination and courage is truly a source of inspiration.
> Patrick has
>>overcome many challenges to become a musician.  Therefore, the
> team will
>>design the Hughes family home layout based on Patrick's specific
> needs so
>>that he can enjoy more autonomy and freedom in his daily life.
>
>>To add to Patrick's new accessible environment, the EMHE team
> called on
>>HumanWare for its renowned assistive technology products for
> people who are
>>blind or visually impaired.  Patrick was provided with products
> courtesy of
>>HumanWare.  These high-quality innovative products included the
> Trekker
>>system, the popular "talking" GPS, a BrailleNote personal
> assistant and the
>>Victor Reader Stream, a pocket-size digital talking book player.
>
>>"The HumanWare team is happy to help make Patrick and his
> family's dream
>>come true," says Gilles Pepin, President of HumanWare.  "Our
> mission is to
>>empower people who are blind or visually impaired, and this
> mission is
>>shared by the EMHE team in this episode."
>
>>Tune into this episode on February 17 on ABC in the United
> States.  Consult
>>your TV guide for local times.
>
>
>>About Extreme Makeover Home Edition
>
>>Put together one very run-down house, a deserving family, several
>>opinionated designers, seven days and what do you get? The answer
> is Extreme
>>Makeover: Home Edition.  Each episode of Extreme Makeover: Home
> Edition is
>>self-contained and features a race against time on a project that
> would
>>ordinarily take at least four months to achieve, involving a team
> of
>>designers, contractors and several hundred workers who have just
> seven days
>>to totally rebuild an entire house -- every single room, plus the
> exterior
>>and landscaping.
>
>>About HumanWare
>>HumanWare (www.humanware.com) is the global leader in assistive
> technologies
>>for the print disabled.  HumanWare provides products to people
> who are blind
>>and have low vision and students with learning disabilities.
> HumanWare
>>offers a collection of innovative products include BrailleNote,
> the leading
>>productivity device for the blind in education, business and for
> personal
>>use; the Victor Reader product line, the world's leading digital
> audiobook
>>players, and SmartView Xtend, the first fully modular and
> upgradeable
>>CCTV-based video magnifier.
>
>
>>For more information:
>>HumanWare
>>800-722-3393
>>us.info at humanware.com
>
>
>
>>If you no longer wish to receive announcements, news, and
> promotions via
>>email, please let us know.  Send an email to
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>>that this message was addressed to, and we will remove your email
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>>from our list.
>
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