Terri and All:
Whether or not the show is lackluster, and whether or not it is next
to Disneyland next year, I believe these concerns are a coherent
discussion for this list and they are certainly a trend that I have
noticed and been distressed and excluded by recently.
I will address these concerns one by one below after each question and
answer that Terri so kindly organized for us all. I asked these
questions with follow up in mind realizing, as Tony Schwartz pointed
out that Braille is not a low or high tech system or solution. It is
simply a reading and writing system that provides a solution for
people who are blind and deaf-blind.
Q. Were there braille displays being shown at CSUN?
A. Absolutely, numerous different Braille displays were being shown in the
Exhibit Hall.
--My response to this is that braille is apparently a relevant item
for discussion and demonstration at CSUN. That being the case, I
believe it is a reasonable expectation and accommodation to make
braille available to those who need it.
Q. Also, was the web site populated with a program, an agenda, an
exhibitors' list and the like?
A. Not only the website, but print materials were handed out to all who
registered.
--My response here is that if the website was populated with the
information it may have been the expectation of the organizers that
"all" blind and visually impaired people will just use the website."
However, if printed information was handed out, that expectation is
different than the expectation for sighted folks using print. That is
discrimination.
Q. This used to be a production of the State University system in
California, is that still true?
A. Yes, it is still hosted and organized by Cal. State University
Northridge.
--My response here is an opinion: Many colleges and universities are
still having trouble understanding and meeting the needs of people
with disabilities in classes, literature requirements, online
productions, live presentations and conferences. It is important for
all of us to move forward with persistent and very aggressive tactics
to make sure these educational outlets understand our issues. The
graduates of these institutions are learning by action of their alma
mater that accessibility might not be very important after all.
I recently needed to remind a professor at the University of Maine
that their website calendar offering "Diversity Week" events needed
accessibility fixes. I mean, this professor was in charge of diversity
studies----those studies include discussion of people with
disabilities.
We have a long way to go; we must still work hard and together to make strides.
Thank you Terri for speaking up and bringing this issue to our attention.
Steve Hoad
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve Hoad
> Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2018 8:42 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] My complaint about CSUN Conference On Disability that
> I posted on both my and the CSUN Conference Facebook page
>
> Not sure about percentages of braille users or relevance to this discussion
> but, here's a question:
> [T H]
> Were there braille displays being shown at CSUN?
> Also, was the web site populated with a program, an agenda, an exhibitors'
> list and the like?
> This used to be a production of the State University system in California,
> is that still true?
> I've found that accessibility for the totally blind has decreased especially
> in situations where the term "visually impaired" is used instead of or in
> conjunction with the word Blind. Just an opinion...
> Steve Hoad
>
> On 3/28/18, Annemarie Cooke <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> Oh, my yes! Kids born blind coulnotbe literate otherwise. Deaf-blind
>> folks also use braille in their toolkits of information input. Kids
>> with low vision have the right to be taught braille by their service
>> provider.
>>
>> Annemarie Cooke
>>
>> On 3/28/18, Mike Pietruk <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> Curiosity question:
>>>
>>> Is the use of Braille among the blind increasing, decreasing, staying
>>> about the same -- or perhaps no one is tracking this?
>>> It is not whether we personally find Braille useful or not; but I am
>>> wondering is it maintaining an importance in the teaching of newly
>>> blind as well as blind youngsters?
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Annemarie Cooke
>>
>>
>> VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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>
>
> VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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--
Steve Hoad
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