X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]
Approved-By:  Bill McGarry <wtm@SHELDEV.SHEL.ISC-BR.COM>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.l-hcap
Date:         Fri, 10 Apr 1992 02:00:26 EDT
Reply-To:     Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
From:         Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
Subject:      Handicap Digest # 2569
X-To:         LHCAP <l-hcap@VM1.NODAK.EDU>

                          THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                               Issue # 2569

                           Friday, April 10, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******


               New-fangled solution to ADA accessibility regs
                        Re: Wilder To Sign Most Advan
                         Marijuana and the Disabled
                               Re: lipreading
        I am still attempting to establish the newsgroup "alt.autism"
                              Re: Why Big Blue?
                              Request for Info.


                                ******


To subscribe to the Handicap Digest mailing list or have your
thoughts in the next issue, please send electronic mail to
Bill McGarry at any of the following addresses:


UUCP:       {oliveb, isc-br, decvax}!bunker!wtm
INTERNET:   wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com
BITNET:     l-hcap@ndsuvm1.bitnet
Fidonet:    The Handicap News BBS (141/420)   1-203-337-1607
	    (300/1200/2400 baud, 24 hours)
Compuserve: 73170,1064

                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 337-1518



------



Subject: New-fangled solution to ADA accessibility regs
From: 34AEJ7D%CMUVM.BITNET@VM1.nodak.edu (Bill Gorman)

At least one business which I patronize has come up with a really
"new, different and innovative" solution to serving clients who
may have mobility, and thus access, difficulties...


They do house calls!


Sez me,

W. K. (Bill) Gorman




------




Subject: Re: Wilder To Sign Most Advan
From: covici@ccs.covici.com (John Covici)
Organization: Covici Computer Systems

Chris.Gunn@f1008.n202.z1.fidonet.org (Chris Gunn FidoNet node
1:202/1008 - BIZynet BBS, San Diego CA) once wrote....
|Index Number: 20824
|
|JC> ....     Mr. Wilder is expected to
|JC> sign a bill that would allow the
|JC> outright murder of mentally and
|JC> physically handicapped individuals,
|JC> including wards of the state, by the
|JC> same doctors, guardians, and committees
|JC> who are charged with protecting them.
|
|Interesting shift in wording to change the reaction to the law.  There's a
|big difference between "physically handicapped" and 'totally physically
|unresponsive' the law actually deals with.  Equating it with Hitler's
|attempt to eliminate all 'defective' persons from the German race as an
|emotional tactic to block passage of the law I find very unprofessional
|for a reporter.


That's how Hitler's program did start -- very narrow then the
criteria kept broadening.

|
|I feel it's extremely cruel to force continued pain on someone who can't
|even express how much pain they are enduring and has no chance of recovery.

I can never figure out how supporters of this type of legislation can
say "no chance".  How dare you deprive those people of what life they
have!

|
|As there is in any law or license to practice, there are opportunities for
|abuse.  I would be interested in knowing what provisions are written into
|the law for dealing with those individuals that would apply the law to
|those still able to communicate their own choices.

Happened already in other States -- that's just the problem.


----
Please respond by e-mail as I get very far behind in reading this
newsgroup.

         John Covici
          covici@ccs.covici.com





------



Subject: Marijuana and the Disabled
From: pkemp@byron.u.washington.edu (Paul Kemp)
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle


For information on the medical uses of Marijuana in the reduction of
muscle spasms and chronic pain contact:

Paralyzed Americans for Legal Medical Marijuana

PALM
P.O. Box 21210
Washington, DC  20009

202-483-8595  or  813-684-1031






------



Subject: Re: lipreading
From: arielle@taronga.com (Stephanie da Silva)
Organization: Taronga Park BBS

In article <20777@handicap.news>, Karen.Keil@f71.n343.z1.fidonet.org (Karen
 Keil) writes:
>
> When lipreading, the face is taken into account for cues, not just
> the lips.  I've found that something is lost when someone puts on
> sunglasses and then talks to me.

My sister lipreads so well that quite often she knows what I'm going
to say before I say it because she picks up on the word just from the
shape of my lips/mouth as I start forming it.

She was also very pleased because I finally went out and bought a book
on signing so we can hold private conversations.  I learned a few
sentences and greeted her with it but had to apologize for signing
a word wrong.  She told me I didn't sign it wrong, just crooked....
(It was kind of cute...)

--
Stephanie da Silva                        Taronga Park * Houston, Texas
arielle@taronga.com                           568-0480   568-1032
"For such an absurd child, only an abstract will do!" -- Splatter Phoenix




------



Subject: I am still attempting to establish the newsgroup "alt.autism"
From: lexier@sfu.ca (Lyle Lexier)
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada

I am still trying to create the newsgroup "alt.autism" if
possible.  But so far without any luck.  If any of you have read
the alt.config newsgroup, then you will know what I mean.  Anyways,
it would be great to have a newsgroup exclusively for discussing
issues relating to autism and autistics.

Talk to you later,
Lyle




------



Subject: Re: Why Big Blue?
From: vlb@MAGIC.AUX.APPLE.COM (Vicki Brown)

[Note from Bill McGarry: This came across the DEAF-L mailing list]

>These various programs for ASL and fingerspelling sound terrific, but I
>am sitting in front of a friendly Mac, not an IBM or clone thereof.
>Anything for the likes of me? (other than ASL font, which I already
>have)

I second the question!
I've got info on some for-sale (for $$$) programs, but no info on shareware
or freeware.  Maybe someone else does.

This information is as of Jan 23, 1992.
The following retail programs are all sold by
	E&IS SignWare
	PO Box 521; Cedar Falls, IA  50613
	319-266-7800 (phone or fax)


Elementary Signer

  o  Introduces elementary level hearing or hearing-impaired students to
     American Sign Language
  o  Macintosh 512K or larger; Macintalk V6 or earlier (for talking version).

  o  Elementary Signer is a software package designed to introduce
     elementary level hearing or hearing-impaired students, who are not
     familiar with sign language, to the American Sign Language (ASL). The
     program contains more than 160 signed words specifically selected for a
     child's world. Elementary Signer is recommended as an educational and
     entertaining instructional tool for general classroom use with either
     hearing or hearing-impaired children.

  o  $79.95 retail; silent version	$99.95 retail; talking version


FingerZoids

  o  Sign language program; modified game program
  o  Macintosh 512K or larger.

  o  FingerZoids is an arcade-type interactive game that teaches the
     American Sign Language (ASL) fingerspelling alphabet. Alien invaders in
     the shape of letters from the ASL alphabet descend from the top of the
     screen. A player shoots them down by pressing the corresponding English
     letter key. The program keeps score and posts high scores.

  o  $39.95 retail


FingerSpeller

  o  Converts Macintosh keyboard to an American Sign Language keyboard
  o  Macintosh 512K or larger; Macintalk V6 or earlier (for talking version).

  o  FingerSpeller is a program that converts the Macintosh keyboard to an
     American Sign Language alphabet keyboard. Any letter or word entered on
     the keyboard is then converted to a hand shape. An instant word
     conversion mode is available to finger spell words of up to 30 letters
     at user-selected speeds. The learning comprehension function allows a
     user to test receptive skills with words selected at random or in
     order. Customized word files can be created to store names of family
     members, cities, states, etc. Words from a user's word file can then be
     used for learning comprehension purposes or finger spelled on cue.

  o  $29.95 retail; silent version 	  $39.95 retail; talking version


CAV-ASL

  o  Computerized animated vocabulary of American Sign Language
  o  Macintosh 512K or larger, except II; dual floppy disk drives
     Macintalk V6 or earlier (for talking version).

  o  CAV-ASL is the acronym for Computerized Animated Vocabulary of American
     Sign Language. It is an interactive educational tool that communicates,
     tests and challenges a user to learn American Sign Language. It
     provides animated graphics and an interactive format for easier
     comprehension. It includes more than 2,600 signed words developed from
     actual photographs of a human signer.  All words are categorized in
     specific groups and are stored on 15 different disks. A talking version
     provides digitized voice output and requires no additional hardware.

  o  $695 retail; silent version
     $995 retail; talking version


    Vicki Brown   A/UX Development Group       Apple Computer, Inc.
    Internet: vlb@apple.com                    MS 35RJ, 20525 Mariani Ave.
    UUCP: {sun,amdahl,decwrl}!apple!vlb        Cupertino, CA  95014 USA




------



Subject: Request for Info.
From: hodges@uwstout.edu (Brad Hodges)

Request for Information.

Stefan Wiankowski is a 25 year old individual who is experiencing
quadraparasis and severe spasticity.

A pain specialist has recently recommended the implantation of a
SynchroMed Infusion system, to deliver morphine for pain relief and
Lioresal.

He has requested that I gather any information about this kind of
system before a final decision is made.

1.  Do any members of this group have first hand knowledge of this
or similar systems.

2.  What have been the up and down sides of this kind of implanted
system.

Please send all responses to me at the following
"hodges@uwstout.bitnet"

Thanks for your help.  Stefan is a great guy who has some difficult
decisions to make in the near future, any help from others who have
been there is appreciated.

Brad Hodges




------






                                ******

             End of Issue # 2569 of the Handicap Digest

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