Can RFB&D membership work too? The only real trouble when you're blind is
knowing where to sign, I think with something online that required paper
signature once, I just signed the bottom of the sheet and faxed it in.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Handiham" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2004 8:20 PM
Subject: Re: new handiham paperwork


> We don't have any choice but to be part of Courage Center, so that is a
moot
> point, but when you think about it, we do serve people who might have to
> qualify for services by proving what might be a sensitive medical issue
for
> them. It would simply not do for a staff member to tell someone else about
> that member's condition without permission. Also, we serve people directly
> at our Radio Camps and have to take care of their personal care needs,
like
> toileting.  Although no one on our staff would ever tell someone who has
no
> business knowing that someone else uses a catheter or some such thing, the
> law does go to somewhat ridiculous lengths in what it considers
"private" -
> even just a name in some cases.  This has led to odd problems in other
> health care related activities, like hospitals refusing to let visitors
from
> a patient's church even know they are there when they might welcome a
visit,
> or not being allowed to mention someone's name in the doctor's waiting
room.
> Since we often need to connect hams who need help with an Elmer who can do
> something like set up a radio or run wires, we ask that the member sign
off
> on the privacy forms. But we still ask the member even then if they want
us
> to do so. It helps to be able to tell a potential helper that so-and-so
> needs to have some screenreader help and he is used to using screen
> enlargement, but wants to try JAWS, etc., etc.
>
> The electronic forms thing is interesting, but not yet applicable to this
> HIPAA deal. We do also have to look for proof of disability, so that we
know
> we are truly serving the people we are meant to serve, much like the
Library
> of Congress.  I wish the electronic filing could be further developed, as
it
> shows greater promise of accessibility to everyone.  I just took my son
> Will, KC0LJL, in for his driver's permit and you wouldn't believe the
paper
> forms necessary, including two forms of paper identification!  If you are
> blind and go in for an I.D., it's the same deal.  If you get a
prescription
> at the drug store or go to the dentist you still have to sign paper for
> HIPAA, with the possible exception of those places that collect signatures
> from digital writing screens, but that's tied directly to their computer
> system right in the store, so it is hardly a great leap forward in digital
> documentation or accessibility.
>
> Anyway, the Handiham process is quite simple if one just fills out just
the
> main member form. Nancy will fill it out on the phone and send you a
filled
> out copy to sign. You can still get many services, but just not those that
> require us to share your name (such as if you go to Radio Camp, because we
> have a class photo and an address list campers get to share with each
> other.) We accept things like NFB and ACB memberships as proof of
blindness
> - very simple.
>
> Regards,
>
> Patrick Tice
> [log in to unmask]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> <snip>
>