Got this message. I am behind in my mail so this may have already been
posted. Sorry in advance for any duplication.
Steve
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 20:24:33 +0500
From: Harvey Heagy <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: A.C.B. survey (fwd)
I know some of you have probably seen this other places, but I
thought I'd send it to you anyway just in case you might want to
help. This does not constitute an endorsement of the A.C.B. or
any other group.
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 12:56:45 -0400
To: [log in to unmask]
From: Charles Crawford <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Assistive technology survey we need filled out and returned.
The American Council of the Blind is working with the National
Council on disability on the enclosed survey, so that our members
input and opinions may be included in this information being
prepared for Congress.
Please take a few minutes to fill out the following survey and
return it to the ACB National Office, 1155 15th Street NW, Suite
720, Washington, D.C. 20005. Or it can be e-mailed to
[log in to unmask] This survey is available in large print,
WordPerfect 5.1 diskette, cassette, or e-mail. We must receive
your replies no later than October 5, 1999. It is important if
you know another blind person who does not use computers or
email, but does use assistive tech, and share a printed copy of
this with them. Thank you for your assistance in this project.
The National Council on Disability is preparing a report for
Congress. Congress wants to understand the barriers faced by
users of those assistive devices such as volume control phones,
easy grip garden tools, and wheelchairs, that make life easier
called Assistive Technology or AT. Whether you or your family
member use simple low technology devices such as divided pill
boxes, or sophisticated high technology voice-activated computers
or augmentative communication devices, have you run into barriers
finding and paying for the appropriate devices? Please read over
the attached list on Page 3. We need your help in making it a
complete and accurate reflection of the problems everyone
encounters. Take as much space as you need for answers.
NAME: ________________________________________
CITY: _____________________ STATE: ___________
Are these barriers you have encountered?
___No ___Yes
Please tell us your story about how you got around these barriers
as well as any that are missing.
For example; did you
___ Pay for the device you needed out of your own pocket?
___ Make do with something else? What?
___ Find a service group (Lions Club etc.) to provide it?
___ Go without?
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
If you could ask for something to help you or your family member
get the assistive technology you need, what would you ask for?
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
May we phone you for more details?
Phone (_____) _______________
Best time to call--
OPTIONAL: Congress is especially interested in learning if any
groups face additional barriers in accessing AT. For statistical
purposes only, are you or your family member with a disability:
___ African-American
___ Asian-American
___ Caucasian
___ Hispanic-American
___ Native-American
___ Other
___ Low income
___ Rural
___ Inner city
___ Over 65?
Thank you for your help. Your story may help Congress improve
policies and get assistive technology more easily to the people
who need it.
BARRIERS TO ACCESSING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
I. Knowledge
I dont know that I dont know. I just must live with the
effects of my disability, nothing can help, or I dont have a
disability. Im just getting older.
I dont know what works best--assume the old way is the only way.
Hearing aids dont work well in large auditoriums, so Im out of
luck in attending large conferences.
My doctor (therapist, audiologist, counselor, independent living
specialist, medical equipment retailer) doesnt know of anything
that will help. I trust him/her completely. If she doesnt
know about it, it doesnt exist.
I cant find anyone knowledgeable about cognitive impairments;
they only understand physical problems.
I dont know where to get help in evaluating my needs or trying
out and comparing devices. I tried a magnifier once, those
dont work for me.
II. Funding
I cant afford it.
I cant even afford the evaluation to find out what would work
best for my child or myself.
My family insurance (private or public including Medicare or
Medicaid) wont pay for either evaluation or devices. The
benefits clearly dont match my needs or those of my family
member.
Medicare only pays for yesterdays technology, not the newest,
best performing devices.
No other sources of payment exist--private charity, state or
federal program, employer, and school.
My childs school says my insurance must pay, my insurance says
the school must pay. In the meantime, my child has nothing.
Government says technology must be provided, but doesnt fund
their mandates.
III. Rights and Policy
My childs school doesnt provide it.
My insurance company wont provide it--they only provide
wheelchairs, not hearing aids and communications aids. Plus they
wont provide other equipment for use in my home.
My employer wont provide it--If I cant do the same job duties,
the same way as all other employees, I wont have a job.
State agencies wont provide it and wont work together--I cant
go to the State University because they teach undergraduate
classes in big auditoriums. They wont provide real-time
captioning or video discription, saying Voc.Rehabilitation must
provide it, but VR wont provide it saying that the University is
responsible.
Federal employers dont provide it--I dont have civil rights.
Im a civilian working for the military. Unless the program
primarily serves people with disabilities, the government doesnt
abide by the same rules as private businesses do.
So what if I have rights, no one will enforce them. Plus rights
are interpreted differently in different states. No one is
accountable and no one coordinates the system.
IV. Progress
I could use my old washing machine, microwave, dishwasher and
stove by feeling the position of the pointers as I turned the
dials. But these new touch panels have no reference point for
blind users.
I used to love the Internet when it was a purely text medium, but
now many sites are no longer speech-user friendly, so I cant
access them. Why does everything new have to create new
problems?
The assistive technology market is so specialized and small,
there is not enough profit so no one tries to meet my needs.
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