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Date:         Thu, 23 Jul 1992 23:13:16 EDT
Reply-To:     Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
From:         Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
Subject:      Handicap Digest # 2814
X-To:         LHCAP <l-hcap@VM1.NODAK.EDU>

                             THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                                 Issue # 2814

                           Thursday, July 23, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******

                           Blink Talk Digest # 658

                          Guide Dog For Deaf-Blind
                        Discover versus discover 386.
                               "Blind Loyalty"
                          WP for Visually Impaired
                                Re: optacons
                 Screen review software for pc Unix system?
                         Re: windows formatted files
                           Re: speech synthesizer
                              Re: acb/nfb feud
               Re: Screen review software for pc Unix system?


                                ******


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Subject: Guide Dog For Deaf-Blind
From: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/168 - Braille Bank BBS, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

You should contact the people at Guiding Eyes For The Blind at
Yorktown Heights New York.  While I was there getting my dog we had
a fellow there with his dog for some refreshing training.  This
fellow was deaf and blind and they had no problem working with him
and his dog.  That was in August 1990 so I am sure that they could
handle getting you paired up with a dog.

        D. T.

--
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Internet: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Discover versus discover 386.
From: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/168 - Braille Bank BBS, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

The discover software and Discover 386 software are considerably
different.  I am not conpletely sure whether or not the ICR card
you are using will work with the Discover 386 software or not, but
have gotten the impression from the Kurzweil dealor I have talked
to that it does not.  It is my impression that the Discover 386
software does not depend upon the ICR card and that decause it
doesn't that it would be necessary to buy a scanner interface card
for the scanner.  You will also want to check with Xerox as to
whether or not the Discover 386 software will support your
scanner.  I own the PC KPR model 25 and Discover 386 does not
support that scanner.  So, that is not a viable option for me, even
though it is my understanding that the Discover 386 software may
actually be considerably better in many respects than the Kurzweil
2.0 or Discover software packages.  By the way, Perhaps you can
answer a question for me.  I have not been able to get the Discover
software to use the flatbed scanner. It seems that it only wants to
work with the document feeder.  Any idea what I might be doing
wrong?
D. T.

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Internet: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: "Blind Loyalty"
From: Jamal.Mazrui@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jamal Mazrui)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi David!  Let me say for the record that I don't think Jernigan
could have made a finer selection than you as sysop of the NFB
board.  You are competent, committed, and articulate.

One statement you made that I think deserves discussion is your
explanation of why you dis-allowed the "Blind Loyalty" article
after it had been uploaded to NFB-NET.  You told Tim Cumings
something to the effect that members' hard-earned money would not
go to supporting a forum of attack against the NFB.  The critical
forum part I think you meant.  Bringing members' money into it was
I think insincere.  Given the hardware resources of that board, the
volume of traffic, and the nearly 10 million NFB annual budget, the
financial cost of posting that article is clearly negligible.  The
exceptional act of dis-allowing a mainstream article about
blindness for undoubtedly interested users of the board to read is
more sincerely explained, I think, by what I heard Mike Freeman
essentially state.  NFB-Net exists to promote the NFB and its
philosophy.  Therefore posting material that may raise questions
about this in the minds of readers is counterproductive to the
purpose of that board.

Perhaps you now defend your action with this line of reasoning and
keep claims of monetary burden out of it.  Your original
explanation reminded me of the rational Jernigan gave last summer
for not allowing me to publicly defend myself on the floor of the
convention against my expulsion by the national board.  He gave a
long-winded analysis of how much it would cost members per minute
of their time if I were allowed to speak.  He then proceeded to
attack me and Stevie Wonder who had sent a supportive written
statement on my behalf.  The amount of time he spent in this one-
sided attack on me, the amount of time he takes for whimsical
stories he wishes to tell the convention, the amount of time spent
drawing door prizes and giving repetitious PAC, DIG, and Associate
reports all belie the sincerity of his rationale for preventing my
case to come to the floor.  The real reason, which he could not
admit because it contradicts the NFB constitution, is that the
convention podium exists to promote the NFB and its leadership.

Therefore allowing someone to speak who might raise questions in
the minds of members about the integrity or wisdom of that
leadership is counterproductive to the purpose of that podium.

David, as long as you do not claim that NFB-Net is an open forum
for discussing blindness issues, you can selectively determine what
users of the board are to consider.  The fact that Jernigan and the
NFB constitution speak of the convention as a democratic forum for
the membership to make decisions expose the hypocrisy of his
actions last summer.  This was clearly a case of censorship in a
matter of organizational significance:  the right of a member to
appeal the retraction of his membership by the national board.  I
think you can understand why those actions by Jernigan and the NFB
board are difficult for me to forgive.  To make a simple,
emotionally charged analogy, it would be like Jews forgiving
Hitler.  Let me be clear that I am not suggesting and do not
believe that Jernigan has perpetrated physical violence on anyone.
He has committed psychological violence, however, and assured the
extermination of memberships of thousands of blind people over the
years--memberships which were to many of them not simply paper
associations but political, social, and spiritual bonds to fellow
blind brothers and sisters in the organized blind movement.

Once again, David, let me be clear that for what I have seen in
you, I respect your work and humanity.  I hope that someday I can
know you again without your being subject to the reprisals any NFB
staff member faces for hints of disloyalty to the administration.

Regards,

Jamal

--
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Internet: Jamal.Mazrui@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: WP for Visually Impaired
From: HAG@celio.uvm.edu

[This was forwarded from the WordPerfect Corporation Products
 Discussion List by Patt Bromberger.]

By the way, there is an article in this month's WordPerfect magazine
(August 1991) that discusses speech synthesis ("hearing" your
documents instead of seeing them), large print processing, braille
printing, and adaptive technology for the deaf and motor-disabled. It
describes the necessary hardware/software and provides a list of
vendor names and addresses.

Also, some time ago WordPerfect offered it's manual on disk so that
it could be used with speech synthesis hardware/software-- in effect
providing a manual for the blind. I'm sure it's still available.

- Hope Greenberg (HAG at uvmvm.uvm.edu)





------



Subject: Re: optacons
From: gcampbel@ecst.csuchico.edu (Gary Campbell)
Organization: California State University, Chico

In article <22845@handicap.news> dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil
(Jude DaShiell) writes:
>The one nice thing about optacons as opposed
>even with its slowness is that
>the optacon allows you to use your own
>intelligence in deciphering whats on the page.

Yes!  I think that's one of the most important strengths of the Optacon.
You can figure out how to read things noone else thought of when making
the Optacon.

>This really becomes critical when you're reading old photocopied
>computer manuals that were made from other old photocopies.

I think that requires more endurence and skill with the threshhold
control than intelligence :-).




------



Subject: Screen review software for pc Unix system?
From: walt@mce.com (Walt Grueninger)


I am also looking for some advice.  The primary computer here at
work is a Sun system running Sun's Unix (Solaris).  I access this
system through a pc running Articvision screen review software and
Procomm terminal emulator.  I should like to set up a system in my
home but don't want to have to set up a double system there (Sun
plus pc).  Is there any screen review software that will run
directly on a Sun computer?  Is it possible to run any screen
review software on a pc Unix system.  I would appreciate any
suggestions.


					walt@mce.com



------



Subject: Re: windows formatted files
From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)

If anyone can come up with the file construction information on
these unreadable files specifically how these files are written
and addresses of text within the files it migght be time to give the
power C compiler a spin and write a utility that'll make readable files
from the unreadable files.

jude



------



Subject: Re: speech synthesizer
From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)

If you mean telecommunications program you want to get mskermit
3.11.  It comes up talking and can go on line and dial numbers for
the user.  The vt100 configuration is best for serial.

jude <dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil>




------



Subject: Re: acb/nfb feud
From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)

Either I didn't explain my position adequately or it was
somewhat misunderstood.

The only agreement I am interested in having between the ACB and
NFB is on what are accepted as common goals and common approaches
to those goals.  Where differences exist I don't expect them to be
submerged.

My reason for an interest in getting such agreement is so that the
two organizations can form a front.  Fronts are put together so
that where organizations have common issues and common approaches
to those goals the legislatures won't be able to claim there's
disagreement in the blind community on all issues.  Because the
front would be in their way and prevent that kind of
misinformation.

In reality such a front is likely to accomplish very little if the
points of contention are so frequent but I think it would be nice
to be able to spike at least one legislative misinformation
campaign before it's all over.

Such a front if built might make it necessary for organizations
which haven't thought out clear positions on issues to do some
thinking communicating and work towards these goals.

jude <dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil>




------



Subject: Re: Screen review software for pc Unix system?
From: martin@datacomm.ucc.okstate.edu (Martin McCormick)
Organization: Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK


Maybe I am misunderstanding the problem.  The Sun work station
should have no trouble in providing a remote connection.  What is
needed is a modem connected to one of the serial ports so as to
support a dial-up serial connection.  The home computer need only
be outfitted with a speech synthesizer, screen-reading program,
telecommunications program, and modem to make it ready to connect
with the work system or any other system.  My favorite
telecommunications program is "Kermit" because the terminal
emulator is so good and it is also free, but "Procomm" will also
work.

Martin McCormick WB5AGZ   Stillwater, OK
O.S.U. Computer Center Data Communications Group




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                  End of Issue # 2814 of the Handicap Digest

                                ******
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU