FCB OFFICERS, 2002 - 2004
President:
Robert Miller
2201 Limerick Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32309
(850) 906-9821
E-mail: easytalk@earthlink.net
First Vice President:
Jesus Garcia
5955 W. 16th Lane
Hialeah, FL. 33012
(305) 471-0441 EXT (444)
E-mail: JesusGar@bellsouth.net
Second Vice President:
Dan Spoone
3924 Lake Mirage Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32817
(407) 678-4163
E-mail: dan.spoone@siemens.com
Treasurer:
Patti Davis
6933 Alpert Drive
Orlando, FL 32810
(407) 767-8616
E-mail: pattianne1@cfl.rr.com
Membership Secretary:
Linda Jacobson
2815 Circle Ridge Dr.
Orange Park, FL 32065
(9604) 272-8405
E-mail: jacobsli@concentric.net
Recording Secretary:
Sharon Youngs
237 Maple Avenue
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
(727) 937-8631
E-mail: sky11@tampabay.rr.com
Immediate Past President:
Carl McCoy
2069 Dellwood Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32303
(850) 553-9490
E-mail: cmcoy@earthlink.net
Editors of White Cane Bulletin:
Bill and Bobbie Probst
11721 Dunes Way Dr. N.
Jacksonville, FL 32225-1888
(904) 641-0709
FAX (904) 998-9012
E-Mail: wantom_1@juno.com
Editors' Reminder: Everyone has an article
hiding inside their consciousness, dig deep and come up with an interesting
story to share and/or inspire others, and send them to the editors. Also, pass
on news about our community or interesting facts you think might interest others.
Of course we reserve the right to edit articles. We would like to have you send
us chapter news. Designate someone in your chapter to accomplish this job each
month and send it to us, email, by letter or by phone. We look forward to receiving
your contributions.
Articles published in The White Cane Bulletin are in compliance with Public
Law No. 104197, Copyright Law Amendment of 1996. This law allows authorized
entities to distribute copies of previously published non-dramatic literary
works in specialized formats, including Braille, audio or digital text that
are exclusively for use by Blind people or those with disabilities. Any further
distributing of such articles in another than a specialized format is an infringement
of copyright.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mark Your Calendar
President's Message - Robert Miller
E-Mail Announcement - Elizabeth Bowden
Are You Moving - Linda Jacobson
Restoring Sight for Cornea Diseases (Information from The Clark
Howard Radio Show) The Boston Scleral Lens
Expectation and Empowerment - Paul Edwards
The ACB Quilt - by Sila Miller
Awards - Diane Bobrowski
Noah's Ark Problems - Submitted by Linda Lynch
Access Loans from DCU - submitted by Doug Hall Mobility Vehicle
Loans Also Available
Senior Conversations - Submitted by Sila Miller
TV Selling with Senses & Sensibilities - Submitted by Rosanna
Lippen
Blindness Poetry by the Blind - Elizabeth Fiorite, O.P.
Just Bananas??? - Submitted by Patricia Lipovsky
Cruising With Accessibility - Jackie Hull
Visual Aid For Sale Optelec ClearView 17" Screen
Handy Telephone Numbers
Chapter Liaisons
Upcoming Events:
Outta Sight Travel Cruise - October 30,
2003
(Braille Proof Reading Cruise)
FCB Board Meeting, Orlando - (Sheraton) November 2003
FCB Convention June 3 & 4, 2004 - Doubletree, Tampa
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I would like to start by bringing you all up to date on several
events since my last message. It has certainly been a busy summer and promises
to continue through the fall season.
At the national convention, Florida took possession of the ACB quilt for the
next year. Fred Scheigert was the lucky winner of the quilt drawing. Thanks
to Fred, many of you will get to see and touch the quilt at our next convention
in Tampa. We are working on getting the quilt entered in some local quilting
shows and hope to add to its history.
The national convention was certainly busy and interesting. There were several
constitutional amendments and bylaws presented during the business meetings.
I'm sure you will be reading about several of them in the Braille Forum. As
I stated in my last message, Our Florida resolution pertaining to having ACB
set a policy regarding issues in which a state affiliate and the national board
disagreed did not pass. It was changed quite a bit by the ACB Constitution and
Bylaws Committee and certainly lost the "punch" it had in it's original state.
Guide Dog Users Inc. also presented a resolution which mandated that ACB support
GDUI by signing on to the Stephanie Dohman case which passed. During the Election
process, all of the Original ACB officers retained their positions.
I have been appointed to a working group/committee that has been tasked with
making a recommendation to the State of Florida pertaining to service delivery
and privatization of the Division Of Blind Services. We just started our work
about 3 weeks ago and are in the process of gathering information such as state
statutes and statistical information from DBS. Our hope is to have a recommendation
back to DBS by April 2004. If any of you have any suggestions or recommendations
just let me know. You can send them to me at easytalk@earthlink.net
The State of Florida has passed the necessary legislation to receive federal
funds for accessible voting under the HAVA act. It is my understanding that
this will not be in place until 2006. Although we had hoped for a more expeditious
resolution, it is my personal opinion that suing the State of Florida wouldn't
be very productive since accessible voting should be in place before we could
have our case heard. We also haven't had much luck getting a commitment from
other advocacy groups. I'll be "keeping my bad eye on this one" for awhile.
I have also heard of studies that challenge the security of the electronic voting
systems, so we're definitely not out of the dark on this one yet.
As many of you know, we have battled with transportation issues for years. Recently,
it has become all too clear that we still have major problems. Locally, here
in Tallahassee and in the Ocala area, blind citizens are being denied services
if they state on their application they are able to ride the bus. If you can
ride a Para-transit service or use TDC vans then you can ride a bus. Yes, physically,
most blind people can ride a bus but, can they get to and from the bus safely.
In Tallahassee many of the bus stops aren't accessible. It is difficult to find
the stops and crossing the street is unsafe. It seems here in Tallahassee, that
the transit coordinators are more interested in rejecting applications rather
than providing a service that is so vital to our everyday lives. For some reason,
application reviewers have taken a statement in the ADA (which pertains to para-transit
systems only) regarding not abusing the system purely for convenience to extremes.
The Transportation Disadvantaged Commission has a new director, John Stanley
who I will be meeting with in the next couple of weeks to discuss some issues
I feel need immediate attention. The transportation is similar to the voting
situation in Florida. Each county is doing their own thing so there is no uniformity
through out the state. Each county you desire to travel in requires you to go
through a certification process. Sighted people don't have to get permission
to drive in different counties once they have passed the driver's license test.
Why should we as blind people have to be treated like second-class citizens
just because we want to travel like every one else? It even gets worse. If you
have a paratransit system and TDC services in your county and a single coordinator
things get really confusing. Not to mention, you have to fill out 2 different
applications just to travel in the county/city you live in. I am also working
on getting a meeting with Senator Wise who was the original author of the TDC
bill in Florida. I think as tax payers, we need to put our foot down and stand
up for our right to travel through out our community and state like every one
else.
Until next time, take care and I look forward to seeing all our board Reps in
November.
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If you would like your subscription options
changed to E-mail, please send an e-mail message to: esbowden@nettally.com
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If you are moving please notify me of your new
address so you will continue to receive your White Cane Bulletin. Also if you
know of anyone interested in joining FCB and would like to receive the White
Cane Bulletin and the Braille Forum please contact me at (904) 272-8405 or E-mail:
jacobsli@bellsouth.net
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The Boston Scleral Lens
Patients come to the Boston Foundation for Sight, desperate for relief from
devastating corneal disorders, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, keratoconus,
distorted corneal transplants, corneal degenerations and dystrophies, corneal
scars, disabling dry eye disorders and eyelid abnormalities that cause severe
eye damage. For many suffering from corneal dystrophies and degenerations, our
lenses can replace the need for corneal transplant surgery with its potential
for serious complications, long healing period and uncertain visual outcome
and can recover vision when a corneal transplant fails to heal properly.
Unfortunately we cannot help patients with glaucoma, cataracts, optic atrophy
or retina problems such as macular degeneration, Retinitis Pigmentosa, or vision
problems related to Diabetes. If you are looking for help with Macular Degeneration,
please visit the following sites:
http://www.eri.harvard.edu/wehtf/summaryforprinter.html
http://www.eri.harvard.edu/htmlfiles/newsreleases/
http://www.blindness.org
Dr. Perry Rosenthal, an ophthalmologist and President of the Boston Foundation
for Sight, said he designed the oversized contact lens to help sight-impaired
people who have problems with the cornea. It fits on the white of the eye under
the lid and provides a "liquid bandage" that smoothes the surface of the cornea.
This is done so that when light passes through the lens it doesn't scar the
cornea. In the U.S. alone, Rosenthal said 50,000 to 60,000 people could benefit
from the product. Rosenthal pointed out that there are many diseased corneas
that can't handle the lens on the eye. He also said the contact lens wasn't
his original idea. Others had tried it with glass and plastic but it didn't
work. So, he tried it with another product. Of the people who have cornea problems,
about 90 percent are eligible for the product. Rosenthal said people who were
using walkers and Seeing Eye dogs are now able to see because of the device.
It costs about $7,600 to fit two eyes and Rosenthal said the center subsidizes
half of the patients. The lenses should be available in 2004 and there will
probably be six to eight centers throughout the country. For more information,
go to: http://www.bostonsight.org.
Dr. Perry Rosenthal was inducted into the community of Tech Lauriets by the
Tech Museum of Innovation at a formal ceremony in San Jose on November 7, 2002.
The development of the Boston Scleral Lens was selected by a panel of international
judges from a field of 460 outstanding candidates, representing 59 countries.
These awards honor innovators and visionaries from around the world who are
applying technology to profoundly improve the human condition. The purpose of
the Tech Awards is to inspire future scientists, technologists, and dreamers
to harness the incredible power and promise of technology to solve the challenges
that confront us at the dawn of the 21st Century.
*** The average human heart beats 100,000 times a day. Make those beats count.
***
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Be sure to read your Braille Forum. Paul Edwards,
past president of ACB, and member of FCB, will have a series of articles on
this subject which undoubtedly will be very informative. The first article appears
in the July - August, 2003 issue: Part 1: "In The Beginning." Excerpt: "Everywhere
the rights of people with disabilities are being narrowed by court decisions,
by legislatures and by the media. What is happening today differs very little
from what happened in the decade after the passage of Section 504 of the Rehab
Act. I began to ask myself why history is repeating itself. Is there something
inherently threatening about disability rights that causes society to appear
to take one step forward and two steps back in a sinister dance toward and away
from the brink of empowerment?"
Editors Note: This appears to be happening to the general population as well,
which is inclusive of the blind community. The Patriot Act was passed in congress
before it was even printed, which is fundamentally an unlawful act by congress.
It would appear to behoove each one of us to "get involved" , at this time,
and follow what is going on, and become active with helping the legislative
committee of FCB and ACB to advocate for our rights and freedom.
Quote: (All it takes for bad things to happen is for good people to stand by
and do nothing.)
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Brenda Dillon, a longtime ACB member came up
with the idea for the quilt back in 1998. She sent letters to every state and
special interest affiliate president urging them to participate in the project.
They would be provided a quilt square on which they could do whatever logo or
message they wanted to represent their affiliate on the quilt. In cases where
they had no one to do the hand work for them, Tennie Dietsch, a visually impaired
member of the Mid-Tennessee Council of the Blind who is a talented seamstress
offered to do their square for them at no charge.
There was much support and cooperation from the ACB affiliates. In addition
to being a beautiful work of art to represent the various groups making up the
ACB, there is also a fund-raising aspect. Each year at convention, chances are
sold at a dollar each or six for five dollars. It is the responsibility of the
current affiliate possessing the quilt to oversee this effort. In turn, that
affiliate gets to keep one-third of the amount raised. The ACB national office
gets one-third, and the Mid-Tennessee Council of the Blind, as the originators,
gets the final third.
An excellent place to sell chances in the future would be at the ACB Store booth
in the exhibit hall. The person indicates which affiliate they are purchasing
a chance for. The winning ticket is drawn at the ACB annual banquet and that
affiliate gets possession of the quilt until the next convention. They can showcase
it in any way they would like. There is a scrapbook with pictures and newspaper
articles about all the places and people the quilt is shown to that accompanies
the quilt.
Brenda Dillon and her former husband, Dave Trevino, wrote the ACB Song, which
is featured in the middle of the quilt. Other squares include the Tennessee
square which has a musical button that plays "Rocky Top", the Florida square
ironically has palm trees and water and the GDUI square of course, features
a dog guide.
This is a beautiful peace of "blind art" and we are very grateful to Fred Scheigert,
a former member of FCB for purchasing the winning ticket.
Our plan is to keep the quilt in Tallahassee for a few months and then pass
it to one of our active chapters for showcasing and have them pass it along
as well. It will, of course be showcased at our state convention so that everyone
will have an opportunity to enjoy its beauty and uniqueness!
***Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open - Elmer
G. Leterman ***
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It is time to honor those who have shown outstanding
efforts in the past year. Please look at those in your community and take time
to nominate them for one of the following FCB awards.
AWARDS CRITERIA
An award is a recognition of excellence, which
the recipient ought to be able to treasure. It is better not to give an award
than to give it to someone who does not embody the spirit of the award. Since
the standard of excellence is so high each award may not necessarily be given
every year.
R. HENRY P. JOHNSON AWARD
The R. Henry P. Johnson Award will be presented
to a legally blind person who has through his/her work and through service to
their community, demonstrated the kind of pioneering spirit and exemplary adjustment
that Mr. Johnson demonstrated. Individuals who are likely to be considered for
this award must succeed far beyond the average visually impaired person.
DOLLY GAMBLE AWARD
The recipient of the Dolly Gamble Award must
have demonstrated a commitment to and success with the extension of services
for the blind and visually impaired people of this state. The recipient may
be blind or sighted but should in general, represent a high level of expertise
and commitment to serving blind individuals.
W. A. OUZTS AWARD
While no one could replace W.A., a recipient
of this award would display many of the superb qualities exhibited by W.A.,
including dedication to FCB, responsibility and effectiveness. The individual
must have taken a leadership role in numerous FCB projects and actively participated
in the organization for a minimum of ten years. This award would only be given
to an outstanding FCB member, and individual we would all wish to emulate.
LEGISLATIVE
The purpose of this award is to honor a Florida
elected official who through his/her statewide and/or federal legislative efforts
must have made a significant and positive impact on the welfare of blind and
visually impaired people in Florida.
COOKE CHAPTER PRESIDENT'S AWARD
Each chapter may nominate a chapter president
from the previous year to receive this award. The following accomplishments
will be considered when selecting a recipient for this award: regularity of
meetings, effective programs, increases in membership, cooperation in local
and state projects, participation in community organizations. Overall leadership
skills, including innovation and cooperation with neighboring chapters, as well
as the state organization, will be considered when assessing the performance
of the nominee.
OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AWARD
This award is intended to honor a legally blind high school senior in Florida, who in academics, school and community has performed better than all his/her peers. The award may consist of a plaque and a fifty dollar cash award. At the time of graduation, the student will be presented the plaque. Should the student choose to attend FCB's Annual Convention, FCB will offer to pay the student's expenses and a $50.00 cash award.
CRITERIA - The name and address of the school,
as well as the names of the principal and teachers must accompany the narrative
nomination. Evidence of superior scores on the SAT, ACT, College Boards or an
equivalent instrument shall be presented with the nomination. The narrative
should include details of the student's involvement in extra-curricular activities,
student government and community service. Supporting letters from teachers,
employers, etc. would be helpful.
MOBILITY AWARD
This award is intended to honor a high school senior at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind who has demonstrated the most improvement in orientation and mobility while at school. Two nominations will be solicited from the head of the mobility department. The FCB Awards Committee will make the final selection. The award consists of a plaque to be presented to the student at graduation. FCB shall pay the student's expenses and a $50.00 cash award if the student chooses to attend FCB's Annual Convention.
CRITERIA - This award is intended to honor
the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind senior who has made the most improvement
and succeeded in overcoming greater than usual barriers to effective mobility.
The mobility department should consider such factors as multiple impairments,
perseverance and attitude as well as excellence of orientation and mobility
skills.
CHAPTER AWARD
Each chapter or special interest affiliate may submit the name of a person they wish to honor. The criteria for selection is up to the chapter submitting the name. Chapter Awards are printed on paper certificates, unless the chapter wishes to purchase a plaque for $32.00 All awards will cover the period from January 1 Through December 31st of the year prior to the one in which it is being presented. Family members of persons serving on the Awards committee are not eligible for a state award during the committee member's tenure.
Please submit the award nomination in one of
the following formats:
* Taped on a standard 2 track cassette at 1 and 7/8 speed and no longer than
5 minutes.
* Typed double-spaced (or single spaced if at least 16 point or larger) and
no longer than 2 pages.
* Brailled no longer than 5 pages.
* By E-mail.
Each nomination (with the exception of the
Chapter Award) must contain the following:
* Name of the award.
* Name of the nominee (spelled as you wish it to appear on the plaque.
* Name of group/person(s) making the nomination.
* Reason the nomination meets the criteria of the award.
Nominations are to be mailed or E-mailed to
the Florida Council of the Blind's Awards Committee Chairperson no later than
February 1, 2004 to:
Diane Bobrowski
8350 Savannah Terrace Circle #304
Tampa, FL 33615
Phone (813) 885-77805
E-mail: dmbfl@netzero.net
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It is the year 2002 and Noah lives in the United
States. The Lord speaks to Noah and says: "In one year I am going to make it
rain and cover the whole earth with water until all is destroyed. But I want
you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on the
earth. Therefore, I am commanding you to build an Ark." In a flash of lightning,
God delivered the specifications for an Ark. Fearful and trembling, Noah took
the plans and agreed to build the Ark. "Remember," said the Lord, "You must
complete the Ark and bring everything aboard in one year."
Exactly one year later, a fierce storm cloud covered the earth and all the seas
of the earth went into a tumult. The Lord saw Noah sitting in his front yard
weeping. "Noah." He shouted, "Where is the Ark?" "Lord please forgive me!" cried
Noah. "I did my best but there were big problems. First, I had to get a permit
for construction and your plans did not comply with the codes. I had to hire
an engineering firm and redraw the plans." "Then I got into a fight with OSHA
over whether or not the Ark needed a fire sprinkler system and floatation devices.
Then my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building
the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning
commission." "I had problems getting enough wood for the Ark, because there
was a ban on cutting trees to protect the Spotted Owl. I finally convinced the
U.S. Forest Service that I needed the wood to save the owls. However, the Fish
and Wild life Service won't let me catch any owls. So, no owls." "The carpenters
formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with
the National Labor Union. Now I have 16 carpenters on the Ark, but still no
owls." "When I started rounding up the other animals, I got sued by an animal
rights group. They objected to me only taking two of each kind aboard. Just
when I got the suit dismissed, the EPA notified me that I could not complete
the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood.
They didn't take very kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over
the conduct of the Creator of the universe." "Then the Army Corp of Engineers
demanded a map of the proposed new flood plain. I sent them a globe." "Right
now, I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking godless, unbelieving
people aboard!" "The IRS has seized all my assets, claiming that I'm building
the Ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes. I just got
a notice from the State that I owe some kind of user tax and failed to register
the Ark as a recreational water craft." "Finally the ACLU got the courts to
issue an injunction against further construction of the Ark, saying that since
God is flooding the earth, it is a religious event and therefore unconstitutional."
"I really don't think I can finish the Ark for another 5 or 6 years!" Noah wailed.
The sky began to clear, the sun began to shine and the seas began to calm. A
rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up hopefully. "You mean you are not
going to destroy the earth, Lord?" "No," said the Lord sadly. "The government
already has."
*** Follow the grain in your own wood - Howard Thurman ***
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Diane DeAngelis, AAPD's Director of Marketing
and Member Services, E-mail: dianedeangelis@earthlink.net,
shares the following information: Members of the American Association of People
with Disabilities (AAPD) can join the Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) to
take advantage of this new loan product. Access Loans are now available for
any product, device, or building modification designed to assist someone with
a disability. Borrow from $1,500 to $25,000 or more for up to 72 months with
no down payment required. The borrower need not be the beneficiary of the purchase.
Qualified purchases include, but are not limited to:
* Powered-non-vehicle transportation such as
scooters, power wheelchairs, stair-climbing power chairs, all-terrain wheelchairs.
* Manual transportation such as standard manual wheelchairs, custom sport wheelchairs,
and specialized hand cycles.
* Adaptive computer and communications equipment such as air tube systems for
spinal cord injuries, voice systems for the blind, educational and rehabilitation
systems for children and adults.
* Durable medical equipment such as slings for lifting paraplegics and quadriplegics,
breathing systems, specialized beds.
* Rehabilitative equipment such as motorized equipment that exercises muscles
and limbs.
* Accessible building modifications such as bathroom and kitchen accessibility,
ramp installation and widening doorways.
Mobility Vehicle Loans Also Available From DCU If you have a disability, there
are several types of modified vehicles on the market to help you get around.
Unfortunately, lift-equipped vans, vehicles with hand controls, and other modifications
can be very expensive. DCU can help make them more affordable by spreading the
cost over time. The borrower need not be the beneficiary of the purchase. You
may open a Mobility Vehicle Loan from $5,000 to $100,000 and take up to 120
months to repay. DCU offers convenient repayment methods, including electronically,
at a DCU ATM, at any DCU branch, or by mail with a loan payment coupon. If you
direct deposit your net pay, Social Security, or pension into your DCU Checking
Account and make electronic payments for the full term of your loan, your interest
rate will be 1/2% below that for other payment methods. Rates are also based
on your personal credit history.
Join AAPD so you can take advantage of DCU's financial benefits. There is no
fee to join the credit union; all you have to do is open a savings or checking
account for as little as $5.00. If you are already an AAPD member, or if you
would like to join AAPD and DCU at the same time, you can call DCU directly
for further information and an application at 800-328-8797 (800-395-5146 TTY).
Or visit DCU's website at http://www.dcu.org for further
information and applications.
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A group of seniors were sitting around talking
about all their ailments. My arms have gotten so weak I can hardly lift this
cup of coffee," said one "Yes, I know," said another. "My cataracts are so bad
I can't even see my coffee." "I couldn't even mark an 'X' at election time,
my hands are so crippled, "volunteered a third. What? Speak up! What? I can't
hear you! said a fourth. "I can't turn my head because of the arthritis in my
neck," said a fifth, to which several nodded weakly in agreement. "My blood
pressure pills make me so dizzy I can hardly walk!" exclaimed another. "I forget
where I am, and where I'm going," said an elderly gent. "I guess that's the
price we pay for getting old," winced an old man as he slowly shook his head.
The others nodded in agreement. "Well, count your blessings," said one woman
cheerfully, "thank God we can all still drive."...
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Ads are incorporating depiction's of blind people in the effort to move merchandise.
Is this inclusion?
By Bettijane Levine - LA Times Staff Writer - July 22, 2003
Guy and girl enjoying themselves at a party. They're good looking, hot, in their
20s. Guy excuses himself and makes his way through the crowd. Oh, but wait.
He's got a white cane; he must be blind. As he begins to wash his hands in the
bathroom, he gently feels around the sink and faucet. Back with his date, he
tells her, "You should see the bathroom." That's a 30-second TV commercial for
Kohler, which, it would seem, makes bathroom fixtures so unusual you don't need
to see them to appreciate them.
Kohler is not alone. With little precedent, TV seems suddenly populated with
blind people. And not in regular programming. Three current commercials for
major corporations feature visually impaired characters as central figures.
What's more, the ads show these people in the social swim - looking good, in
control, even exceedingly hip. It's what spokespersons for the visually impaired
have been seeking from the media for years: inclusion. Yet it's difficult to
imagine the ads were created solely as a bow to social consciousness. Advertising
is, above all else, about selling products and making money. So why would a
faucet company, a car maker (Pontiac) and a liquor brand (Crown Royal) all suddenly
decide that blind people are the way to capture viewers' attention?
The answer, in part, is that the first order of every day at an ad agency is
to find unique ways to purvey its clients' wares. By using a blind person -
someone not commonly seen on TV - the agency would be pushing the boundaries
of conventional advertising, making the product stand out from all others. (Little
did each realize that two other agencies were tapping the same premise.) As
it turns out, in each of these cases creative minds were also trying to illustrate
the exquisite sensory pleasures provided by the
product - pleasures that go beyond the visual.
Jonah Bloom, executive editor of the industry magazine Advertising Age, thinks
the ads are right on target. "A blind person in an ad is a useful vehicle forgetting
a message across. You are immediately telling the viewer that there are other
senses involved, other pleasures to be derived that aren't visual. How else
can you so easily convey that message?"
Sanjay Sood, assistant professor of marketing at the Anderson School of UCLA,
says he can't remember another time when blind people have been featured so
prominently. And even if it's not a conscious attempt to break down barriers,
he says, the results are just as beneficial. The barriers fall, to some degree,
just by knowing blind people in the mainstream of life, instead of showing them
as stereotypes. "Maybe it even adds to the credibility of the product," says
Sood. "It used to be an unwritten rule to only show the exact types of people
you're targeting, and to idealize them - so that viewers never saw anything
that wasn't ideally happy, ideally beautiful, ideally perfect. But in the quest
for attention, advertisers are willing to push the envelope much more than they
used to."
That said, the result of these ads has been exhilarating to some who are sight-impaired.
Their representation in the media has been so dismal and unrealistic for so
long, they say, that many are thankful to finally be portrayed more accurately,
even if only to sell a product. In fact, the American Federation for the Blind
presented its 2003 Access Award to the Kohler company "for cleverly offering
a realistic and positive portrayal of a blind person in its television commercial,"
even though the winning ad did not use an actual blind actor. Kohler did, however,
appear to have its finger on the pulse of today's young generation of blind
people. The ad shows blind people as folks who can party, dance the night away,
even look "hot" and "cool" if they choose to.
Blindness precludes none of that, of course -although the media still tends
to portray blind people as isolated, fearful, helpless, imprisoned in an endless
night. Think of Al Pacino in "Scent of a Woman": an older guy who sits alone
in his room, mad about being blind. The ads are a step forward, but far from
enough, says Tom Sullivan, a blind actor, author and musician who is also an
avid skier and golfer. People with visual disabilities, he says, have been almost
totally excluded from film and TV. When they are hired, he says, it is to play
roles in which their blindness is the focus of the plot. "The real breakthrough
will come when a show like 'The Practice' hires me to play an attorney and my
blindness is never mentioned," he says.
"It's all so ridiculous and antiquated," agrees blind actor Rick Boggs, who
was a television spokesman for Airtouch Cellular for two years. Among his gripes
are that blind men are usually presented as bland, strait-laced, naive and not
very masculine. Boggs says he isn't wildly enthusiastic about the new commercials,
especially the two that didn't use blind actors. At the Airtouch auditions,
he says, "they interviewed about 150 blind actors before choosing me. So don't
tell me there's no pool of talent."
David Crawford, senior vice president of GSD&M, in Austin, Texas, which created
the Kohler ad, says he would have used a blind actor, but the spot was done
in a whirlwind during the last commercial actors strike. "We had to film in
Canada, we had a lot of last-minute logistics to take care of. Casting a blind
actor was seriously discussed" but not implemented.
How did they come up with the idea? "We dreamed up dozens of ideas to pitch
to them, each one playing off the company's motto: 'The bold look of Kohler.'
" One of the team members thought it would be "neat" to show that the design
is so individual, you can tell it's a Kohler just by touching it, Crawford says.
Graham Button, creative director at Grey Global advertising in New York, says
that when blind actor Peter Seymour auditioned for the Crown Royal commercial,
"he was so obviously right, so handsome, debonair, self-assured - and such a
great actor, we would have given him the job whether he was sighted or not."
The ad, which takes place in a bar, features Seymour - a blind guy so cool,
so perceptive and so hip that he's an object of envy as other guys watch him
order and sip Crown Royal while he "observes" the action. Somehow, he knows
that two great-looking women are admiring him and he says, "I think the one
on the left likes me."
Button says the ad is successful because it uses a person with heightened sensory
awareness to convey the exquisite pleasures offered by the product: the taste,
the smell, the tingle as it's swallowed. And in somewhat the same vein, Chemistry,
the marketing firm that does Pontiac car ads, used an actor playing a blind
person to illustrate the particular joys of driving a Grand Prix. Brian Durocher,
senior vice president at Chemistri, explains: "We asked ourselves, how do we
illustrate the sheer pleasureful impact of driving this car. How do we illustrate
the Pontiac tag line: 'Fuel for the Soul?' "
Their solution: A commercial filmed in the desert, with a man and woman in dark
sunglasses, driving full throttle through the sand. The woman's at the wheel,
obviously enjoying the sensation. She stops the car, opens the door and extends
her cane. That's when you realize the driver is blind. Durocher says the commercial
is successful, he believes, because it initially expresses the joy of driving
that car, then it stops you short when you realize the driver is blind. And
then it hits you again, when you imagine the sensations that driver experienced
that have nothing to do with eyesight: the car's power, its sensitivity, its
strength.
Durocher says he, too, would have used a blind actor - but the driver had to
be able to "make her mark" during the filming, so the car wouldn't stray off
camera. He says he consulted with the Michigan Assn. for the Blind on every
aspect of the commercial. "One of the first things they told us is that driving
was a common fantasy for the visually impaired and blind people. And most of
them have tried it - in safe areas, of course." The association approved the
ad, said it helped shatter stereotypes of the visually impaired, and public
feedback has been positive, Durocher says.
Copyright 2003 The Los Angeles Times
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Blindness,
the silent smothering of my visible world, engulfs me.
In the twilight this shapeless cloud creeps like kudzu
ever closer, shading, changing, shielding.
The fog advances, thickens, roils and rears, unyielding,
it's here, now there; this soundless mockery confounds me.
"Now you see; now you don't."
This kind of unkind magic enkindles mystery.
Where do I turn? Who holds the key?
When the gentle dawn breaks,
When the sun dappled trees take shape,
When revelation replaces frail human hope,
Then my eyes will see, will recognize at once the
One, the Blest, In Whom all beauty, love and understanding rest.
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Just Bananas??? After reading this, you will most probably NEVER look at a Banana
in the same way again!
Home Remedy: If you want a quick fix for flagging energy levels, there is no
better snack than a banana. Containing three natural sugars --sucrose, fructose
and glucose -- combined with fiber a banana gives an instant, sustained and
substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide
enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the
number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. And energy isn't the only
way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial
number of illnesses and conditions. Thus making it a must to add to your daily
diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering
from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. It's because bananas
contain tryptophan, a type of protein the body converts into serotonin known
to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates
blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in
the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet
low in salt making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food
and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official
claims for the fruit! These are its ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure
and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (England) school were helped through
their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch in a bid
to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium packed fruit
can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore
normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana
milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the
help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk both
soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer
from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar
levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito Bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected
area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful
at reducing both swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Over weight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found
pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps.
Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more
likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced
food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high
carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders
because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can
be eaten without distress in over-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity
& reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit which
can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers.
In Thailand, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a
cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they
contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.
Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12
they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the
body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends
oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water-balance. When we are stressed,
our metabolic rate rises, there by reducing our potassium levels. These can
be re-balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in 'The New England Journal of Medicine' eating
bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as
much as 40 %!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that, if you want to kill off
a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow
side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So you see, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. Compared to an
apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the
phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins
and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods
around. So it's time to change that well-known phrase to: "A Banana a day keeps
the doctor away!"
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In December 2002, Gary Metzler, Jackie Hull and Dr. John of Outta Sight Travel
attended the inaugural celebrations of the Holland America ship, "ms Zuiderdam."
The ship is state-of-the-art and prides itself on being accessible. Braille
signage is found throughout the public areas and the ship is very guide dog-friendly.
While reading the signs, Gary noted that there was something unusual and then
realized that the sign was displayed upside down. As we went through the ship,
other signs were also found to be incorrectly displayed. This fact was brought
to the attention of the personnel of the cruise line.
During the FCB convention, we had the privilege to escort six convention attendees
on board the ship for a tour and lunch. Gary once again checked the signs and
discovered that they were not corrected. Once again we reported it to the cruise
line. Shortly after we arrived home from convention a phone call was received
from the special services manager of Holland America. She contacted SATH (the
Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality) and asked them if they would
refer her to someone who would be able to check the signs on the ship because
no one in the cruise line knew Braille. SATH referred her to us. She was unaware
that we were the ones who originally discovered the error.
We were asked if we would be able to go to Fort Lauderdale on a Saturday afternoon
while the ship was in port and check the Braille signs. We agreed. The following
Monday we received another call asking if it would be possible to sail with
the ship for a week because they didn't feel that the work could be completed
in just a few hours. We agreed. A date was set, we got all the correct papers
in order for Dr. John to travel out of the country and on July 19th, we set
sail for the Eastern Caribbean. We located all the incorrectly displayed signs,
compared Braille menus with the printed versions, we discussed accessibility
issues with various staff and crew, and most of all we enjoyed a wonderful cruise
on a beautiful ship. Holland America's onboard entertainment was excellent -
even the magician and juggler had so much comic relief that they were not visually
limited, the food and service were phenomenal, Dr. John's relief area was roomy
and comfortable for him and all in all we had a great week.
Cruising is a great vacation opportunity for all. The prices this season are
remarkably low, you get to go to several destinations yet need to pack and unpack
just one time and the on board staff are extremely accommodating. The ships
that leave from US ports are guide dog friendly (although some ports of call
may not be). For general questions concerning travel information for the blind
community, call anytime:
Jackie Hull, Gary Metzler and Dr. John (woof)
OUTTA SIGHT TRAVEL, Inc.
(772) 336-8747
Toll free: 1-866-338-8747
E-mail: drtravel@bellsouth.net
*** Nobody will believe in you unless you believe in yourself - Liberace ***
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17-inch screen. Bright adjustable image. Black and white enlargement. One year old. Original cost $2000, sell for $1,000. No shipping charge. Call (561) 395-1929.
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Bobbie Probst: Clay, Alachua, Halifax, PSLCB (904) 641-0709
Robert Miller: Tallahassee, Pinellas County (850) 906-9821
Lee Stallworth: Pensacola, Port Charlotte, FABS - (850) 433-5663
Patti Davis: Mid Florida, Tampa, RSVF - (407) 767-8616
Carl McCoy: Brevard, Palm Beach County, Polk - (850) 553-9490
Nancy Folsom: Ocala, Greater Tampa, FCCLV (850) 893-8650
Sharon Youngs: Plant City, Sarasota, Venice, Englewood - (727) 937-8631
Jesus Garcia: Miami Metro, Broward - (305) 654-8329
Jim Warth: Greater Miami,
Jacksonville - (813) 251-8469
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