[Nfbkabs] FW: [nabs-l] Trapped in the Middle

Tue Aug 15 11:00:58 CDT 2006

Hi Scott,
I can relate to the same things.  Zoom Text is a great program and I do use
it for "simple" things like reading email, but over the past few years I
have come to like JAWS for longer computer reading.  Like you, I was raised
on the notion that you should use every ounce of your vision regardless how
painful or unreliable it was.  Now I understand that I can choose to use my
vision when it makes sense and rely on other things when it doesn't.  

Using the cane is another issue for me (and many others I suspect).  It's no
secret that I have sometimes used a cane and sometimes not.  My
indecisiveness is due to several factors, one being the pressure that I get
from friends and family who say that I don't need to use a cane.  Another
reason is that "most" of the time I don't feel as though I need the cane to
travel safely. 

That being said, I also know that when I use my cane I am easily identified
by drives whom I may not see (or you know those times when you're waiting to
cross the street and someone is trying to wave you on only you don't see
them and they then just think you're rude or stupid.) It's much easier to
ask for assistance, because people instantly know that I just can't see and
they're usually more willing to assist.  I also know that there are several
instances (like darkness or in unfamiliar places or unmarked steps) when I
really do rely on the cane to help me travel independently. 

I think that these topics and several others are prime reasons why it's
important for us to have groups like KABS where it's okay to talk openly and
get feedback from one another.  I'd be curious to hear about some of the
rest of your experiences with computer programs and/or the cane.  Do you use
them, why or why not? 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbkabs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbkabs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Scott Spaulding
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 9:15 AM
To: 'Kentucky Association of Blind Students'
Subject: Re: [Nfbkabs] FW: [nabs-l] Trapped in the Middle

I've considered myself more towards the visually impaired side of things
until the last couple years. I am slowly starting to adopt more alternative
techniques for doing things and relying on JAWS to use the computer. I
didn't have any exposure to any of the blindness organizations until 2003
and up until then, I had been encouraged to use what vision I have. I know
Braille, but it is way under used and I wish I could use it in more of my
life than I do, but I haven't really found any ways of doing that currently.
I think what helped me move from using my vision to using something like
jaws is that I was getting increasingly prolonged headaches when using
ZoomText. I still use it to double check things and probably use it more
than I need to now, but I am trying to rely on jaws more. I'd love to hear
others thoughts on this too.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbkabs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbkabs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Melanie Peskoe
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 9:06 AM
To: 'KABS'
Subject: [Nfbkabs] FW: [nabs-l] Trapped in the Middle

I saw this email on the NABS list this morning and I wanted to see if you
all might have any thoughts around this topic?  Have you ever felt trapped
in the middle, not really sighted yet not quite blind?  For those who
consider themselves visually impaired, do you feel that you fit in either
category and why?  Can we reconcile identifying as a Federationist with not
identifying as being "blind"?  What do you all think? I don't want to
suggest that any opinion is right or wrong, but I'd like to see if we can
bring out any interesting discussion on this topic.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Joe Orozco
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 9:58 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] Trapped in the Middle

Dear list:

    How do you explain our philosophy to someone who feels they will never
lose their vision?  I've tried several approaches but none seem successful,
and the truth is that I sometimes find myself agreeing with their points of
argument.  Why use a cane if you can see perfectly fine to get around.  Why
learn Braille if the availability of Braille only fades the farther out you
get from high school.  I speak of JAWS, and the idea seems irrelevant when a

few clicks of the mouse can help enlarge the text across the screen.

    These are some of the examples I seem to encounter while recruiting
certain peers with a great deal of remaining vision.  I pitch a half-hearted

battle, but frankly, I'm not so sure I would think differently if I were in
their shoes.  Maybe this makes me a weaker Federationist, but regardless of
my own position, the fact still stands that there are blind people out there

who are lost in the fray simply because they do not find anyone who can
relate to their situation: To see enough to get along but not enough to
drive, if you will.

    Anyway, I ask because a friend and I got in to it for the umpteenth time

over why they needed to come to terms with their blindness.  I am partially
convinced of their reasoning for why they do not need to learn alternative
techniques, and if I argue with this person at all, it is because they do
not seem to have a problem identifying themselves as blind when it comes to
the check the first of every month.  The former I can deal with, the latter
not so much, but they would largely benefit from our services if brought
around to see our point of view.

    That's where you come in.  Any suggestions?

          Joe Orozco

"Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like
you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not
forget you."--William Arthur Ward 

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