HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: thurlow@convex.com (Robert Thurlow)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: National Amputee Connection BBS, (214) 238-0928
Keywords: amputee support disabilities
Date: 23 Nov 92 20:14:05 GMT
Reply-To: thurlow@convex.com (Robert Thurlow)
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Fidonet: Amputee Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25797

I run the National Amputee Connection BBS, located in Dallas, TX. The
BBS operates 24 hours a day at (214) 238-0928; use 8 data bits, 1 stop
bit and no parity at either 1200 or 2400 baud.  It is affiliated with
the North Texas Amputee Support Group.

The BBS has a large collection of files of interest to amputees and
other disabled people, and carries several of the national Fidonet
disability related echoes, including the AMPUTEE echo.  "National"
means just that - you can meet people from all over the country on
those echoes.  The BBS itself has a user base of some 200 users from
all over; we get more long distance callers than local.

The BBS has recently undergone a "brain transplant" to move it from a
4.77 MHz 8088 to a 12 MHz 80286, which makes it worlds faster.  It is
currently running Opus software, but I plan to move to Maximus software
soon.  I'd love to upgrade the service in a lot of ways, but for now
the costs are all borne by me alone. The BBS runs well, perhaps because
it's a labour of love.

Please give us a call!  Comments on the service are welcome.

Rob T, sysop
--
Rob Thurlow, thurlow@convex.com
"I get so tickled debunking bad personal philosophy." - Milquetoast
From: Margaret.Overath@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org (Margaret Overath)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Thanks jack!
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:26:54 GMT
Reply-To: Margaret.Overath@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:279/14 - Project Enable, Dunbar WV
X-Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25735

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Reading your message makes me feel good!  You are right about the
general population not fully understanding the subuties (sorry can't
spell today, and never well haha) of terms related to deafness.  As a
psychologist, I had a hard time writing the labels on some of the deaf
and hard of hearing kids.  The deaf community is adamant about the term
"Hearing Impaired" but these kids in the public schools view themselves
as HI instead of "Deaf" or whatever other term they feel comfortable
with.  I always though "Hard Of Hearing" is a odd term even though I
called myself that when I was growing up, I never meet other deaf people
until I went to Gally, where I learn more about what is Deaf culture and
all that Jazz.

I wonder how Blind people handle it, I mean those who have usable sight
even though they are legally blind, do they call themselves partially
sighted? What? Why give more terms to the general public to make it more
confusing? Why be just simple, Blind or DEAF?!

Referring back to psychological reports, I been trying to be creative in
writing terms regarding the student's abilities and so on.  I been
saying "this so so is hearing impaired, wears hearing aids to assist in
communicatining...."  I just don't feel comfortable saying that, I
rather say Deaf but some of these kids don't view themselves that, so
recently I decided to just say the child has a hearing loss in whatever
range ...say for example ...has a bilateral sensineural hearing loss in
the severe to profound range. I don't bother put in numbers usually
people have no idea what that really means.

Anyway, My hat of to you Jack O'Keefe! :-)

Margie O!

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Internet: Margaret.Overath@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org
From: Jeffrey.Vandyke@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org (Jeffrey Vandyke)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Parking
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:32:55 GMT
Reply-To: Jeffrey.Vandyke@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:279/14 - Project Enable, Dunbar WV
X-Fidonet: Spinal Injury Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25772

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

PN> JV> May I add my observation as a 20 yr electric wheelchair user? I
PN> JV> did used to walk, before my MD got this bad, and I feel that if
PN> JV> there is only one spot left and it's a big parking lot, if a
PN> JV> person in your condition and one like me were both needing a
PN> JV> spot, I think you would need it more.  I could always park in
PN> JV> Lower Mongolia, and wheel it in. That's not much effort in an
PN> JV> electric (unless it's cold or snowy, and I'll fight you for the
PN> JV> spot then! <g>). It _is_ a considerable effort, however, to walk
PN> JV> that extra distance, as you can attest! It can even be an outing
PN> JV> cancelling event!

PN>   I think most power chair users are considerate that way. Of course you not

  I'm not so sure, myself. ;-(  I've met some real turkeys.

PN> We put a rear mount lift to give us more options in parking and have still
PN>found fools that find away to block your lift.

PN>                                            Pandora

  It sure gives you more options in parking, but I like the lift
in the side a _tiny_ bit better, because we can haul much more
cargo without having to unload the whole truck each time I get
out.

-- Jeff

 * SLMR 2.1a * Member, Off-Road Wheelchair Association

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Internet: Jeffrey.Vandyke@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org
From: jvirts@unlinfo.unl.edu (Jacquelyn Virts)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Petting Guide Dogs
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:04:16 GMT
Reply-To: jvirts@unlinfo.unl.edu (Jacquelyn Virts)
Organization: University of Nebraska--Lincoln
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25690

Last Christmas I presented my husband with a sign I had made (velcro
attachments) for his dog's harness.  It simply states "Please do not
pet me, I'm working."  So far it's been fairly successful.  At least
most people ask before petting.  Women and children seem to be the
            ^^^
worse offenders.

Alas, Davey has so much personality he just seems to draw people to
him.  It's probably always going to be a problem, I suppose.

Jacque
From: sferguso@vdoe386.vak12ed.edu (Steve Ferguson)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: VH IN BIO-SCI AND WILDLIFE...
Date: 16 Nov 92 22:10:39 GMT
Reply-To: sferguso@vdoe386.vak12ed.edu (Steve Ferguson)
Organization: Virginia's Public Education Network (Richmond)
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25620

Greeting All:
  I am posting this for a friend (Mark) who is not on line at
the moment.
  Mark is a blind community college freshman who is interested
in going into wild life studies or the biological studies as a
career.  Mark is an avid outdoors man who fishes any chance he
gets.  Are there any blind bio/forestry/wildlife types who
might like to encourage this individual professionally?  Mark
is interested in getting a 4 year degree or further.  I pass on
any names/addressses etc.  Thanks...Steve Ferguson
From: John.Linko@p0.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (John Linko)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Fall Pa. AgBell Conference
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:25:26 GMT
Reply-To: John.Linko@p0.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26.0 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA
X-Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25725

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

I attended the fall conference of the Pennsylvania (Marian Quick)
chapter of AGBell this past weekend. The topic this month was
"When They Grow Up". The featured speaker was Judy Simser, a speech
therapist at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.
The focus of Ms. Simser's talk was the potential difficulties
that deaf children may have in developing educational and social
skills, and how parents can best address them. The audience was
composed mostly of parents, with some teachers and therapists as
well.

The basic message of the presentation was that deaf children must
be treated THE SAME in terms of their personal and educational
goals in order to succeed. Ms. Simser discussed dealing with
a child's own responsibilities, whether they range from sports
to getting notes and homework journals reviewed or updated, to
college and career decision-making. In short, if you do everything
for a deaf child, he/she will never learn to do it themselves.
Sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it?

Ms. Simser's message seemed to be reinforced by a panel of three
deaf adults that answered questions from the audience for most
of the afternoon. The questions ranged from acceptance by hearing
peers to dating and social interaction. What struck me about the
answers were how applicable they can be to anyone's formative
years. About acceptance: "The way I looked at it was, 'If they can't
accept me just because I can't hear, then I don't need them as
friends'". It's the same way I looked at other kids who couldn't
accept me as a friend because I was overweight.

The message I got from the panel discussion was this: Parents are
so overwhelmed by the "stigma" of deafness in their children that
they overlook the simple solutions to the same problems that
the child would have if he/she were hearing.
The biggest message I got was a couple of sentences on a sheet of
paper, which I will give on a separate post. JL

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26.0!John.Linko
Internet: John.Linko@p0.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org
From: Bill.Wise@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Wise)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Spelling prediction progr
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:31:57 GMT
Reply-To: Bill.Wise@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:157/3 - Nerd's Nook, Rocky River OH
X-Fidonet: Spinal Injury Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25765

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

PC> On 02-Nov-92, Bill Wise wrote to Mark O'Brien:

>There is a shareware program called Mind Reader that is a word processor
>which includes word prediction.  It is available from Brown Bag Software I
>have a copy around somewere that I could make available for you.  It also
>has a calculator & address book and will do mail merges.  If you are
>typing less
>than 5 WPN (30char/min) this program should help.  If you are typing over
>5WPM then this might not be much help.  This program is also compatible
>with one finger & access DOS.

PC> Hi, Bill!  Do you recall if Mind Reader also has word substitution
PC>and/or  abbreviation expansion (or something that would allow
PC>creating personalized  dictionaries?)  I also am on the lookout
PC>for such shareware programs for a   friend with arthritis.  Is
PC>this the only word substitution-type shareware  you've seen?

Mind Reader does not have abbreviation expansion as such, but you
can edit the dictionaries as needed.  The program is mildly smart,
in that it counts your word usage and presents word choices based
on this word count.  It has a fairly powerful search & replace
function which would allow you to do your own abbrev. exp.
manually.  This is the only shareware progran that I've used with
these features, but I'm sure that there are others around.

Bill \\'ise
===
 * DeLuxe 1.1 #8809 * Murphy was an optimist!

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Internet: Bill.Wise@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org
From: sigrun@clyde.ICS.UCI.EDU (Sigrun Gunnarsdottir)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Interface between blind users and "talking computers"
Keywords: blind, voice
Date: 23 Nov 92 20:06:45 GMT
Reply-To: sigrun@clyde.ICS.UCI.EDU (Sigrun Gunnarsdottir)
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25792

Hi there!

  I'm doing a study on user interfaces between blind users and "talking
computers".  This is for a graduate course in Human Computer Interaction
at UCI in information and computer science.

I was hoping that you could help my with my study by answering following
questions.

1. What voice synthesizer do you use ?
2. What screen reader do you use ?
3. What equipment would you prefer if price was of no
   object?
4. What keyboard configuration do you like ?
  A. Mnemonic (e.g. U for up, D for down)
  B. Numeric keypad (like Jaws, 8 for up, 2 for down)
  C. Configurable (you decide)
  D. Stand alone keyboard (a special piece of hardware)
  E. Spatial (e.g. i for up, j for left, l for right and m for down)
  F. Other

Thank you  for your time and assistance, I would appreciate if you send the
answers to :
Sigrun@ics.uci.edu or amilota@ics.uci.edu
From: John.Grant@p0.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (John Grant)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: New User!!!!!!!!
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:24:30 GMT
Reply-To: John.Grant@p0.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26.0 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA
X-Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25719

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Greeting to you all, I would like to come on and say a big HELLO
and hope you guys will welcome me into this echo! I am deaf, was
born deaf since my parents are deaf also. I have grew up in Western
Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. I dropped out of W.P.S.D.  and
took up G.E.D. and passed. I went to a hearing college for my
psychology studies. Guess what?   Yup I dropped out.  It's too hard
for me to go thru in hearing college. Perhap if I went to a deaf
college or something like that, it would be easier??? I dont know.
Oh well Let me tell you something about myself so you can get to
know me <grin>

I am 21 years old, 6 feet tall, reddish hair, 190, blue and brown
eyes (coming from family's hereditary), Know sign language well. I
have to know sign language since my parents are deaf HA HA HA

I have some other deaf member in my family too, My grandparents are
deaf.  So I am the third generation of the deaf family. It would be
interesting when its time for me to have my own kids, would they be
deaf????   probably so! Anyway I have been blabbling too much
already. So Its good to see everyone on this echo. I have download
your messages so I can read it later off line.  This is my long
distance call. I am from Worthington PA.   just about 45 minutes
north of Pittsburgh PA     (Hey Stu, I know I didnt inform you that
I moved. I did....Sorry)

So I guess I better go.....Will be talking to you guys later!!!!!!

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26.0!John.Grant
Internet: John.Grant@p0.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org
From: Gordon.Gillesby@hnews.fidonet.org (Gordon Gillesby)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Project Access
Date: 23 Nov 92 22:12:25 GMT
Reply-To: Gordon.Gillesby@hnews.fidonet.org
Organization: The Handicap News, Shelton CT (203) 337-1607
X-Fidonet: Abled Athlete Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25840

[This is from the Abled Athlete Conference]

This message was from JACKIE ALFONSO to ALL,
originally in conference General
and was forwarded to you by GORDON GILLESBY.
                    -------------------------
The National Park Service and Indiana University announce an access
training course, PROJECT ACCESS, regarding accessibility for disabled
persons in park and recreation environments.  Application deadline is
Dec.2 for the session to be held Jan.12-15, Tucson Hilton, Tucson,
Arizona.  Tuition is $500 non-park service, or $250 park service.
For application and/or more information, contact:
National Center on Accessibility
Bradford Woods/Indiana University
5040 State Road 67 N.
Martinsville, Indiana 46151
(317) 342-2915 (no TDD inf.)

 * OLX 2.2 * We're sorry, our taglines are out of order.

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!Gordon.Gillesby
Internet: Gordon.Gillesby@hnews.fidonet.org
From: gcampbel@ecst.csuchico.edu (Gary Campbell)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Braille printers and ? plotters;how do blind people 'see' drawings?
Date: 23 Nov 92 20:17:17 GMT
Reply-To: gcampbel@ecst.csuchico.edu (Gary Campbell)
Organization: California State University, Chico
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25802

Many braille printers have a "graphics" capability.  There is also a
raised line drawing device which is a piece of rubber over which a sheet
of acetate(??)  is placed.  You can then draw on it with a pen and the
lines raise on the side you are drawing on, not the back, which is one
of the advantages of the device.  It is tricky to draw corners in
particular as I remember, and I didn't like it much.

It is difficult to get a lot of detail in a diagram of a manageable
size.  Some books from Recording for the Blind that I used when I
studied electrical engineering came with accompanying raised diagrams.
These diagrams were produced on a machine used for copying braille
called a Thermoform machine.  It uses suction to mold a heated plastic
sheet over the dots of a braille page something like the Vacuform toy
(if they still make the things-- I haven't seen one in 25 years!)  RFB
provides verbal descriptions of the diagrams so that the raised line
diagrams are not the only access I had to the information, and I
sometimes found them helpful as an aid to follow the description, but
not as the primary information source.  (Oh yes, one can produce raised
line drawings on the thermoform by placing wire and such on the machine
to make the drawings I think, although I haven't been involved in the
production end.)

I saw a map of the University of Washington produced by Dr.  Sherman of
the U.  W.  Geography department about 20 years ago.  It was pretty
good, but it was successful because it subdivided areas to very small
sections, I think about a scale of 50ft/in on 11-1/2 x 11in paper at the
most detailed level.  The thing was huge!

For electronic schematics I prefer verbal descriptions to raised line
drawings.  I think you will probably find varied preferences about this
here.  I was always frustrated because people always wanted to come up
with raised line drawings in place of the verbal descriptions I found
most useful.  I remember one Mechanical Engineering student who I
believe used a glue gun to make raised line drawings.

Hope this helps.
From: Alan.Hess@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Alan Hess)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: sugar for wounds
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:31:10 GMT
Reply-To: Alan.Hess@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:261/1000 - Nerve Center, Pikesville MD
X-Fidonet: Spinal Injury Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25760

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

 * Original from Alan Hess to all at 1:261/1000 in "MEDCENTER"
 * Forwarded Mon Nov 09 92 by Alan Hess at 1:261/1000

I am currently treating a decubitus (pressure sore) by cleaning it
with peroxide, placing ordinary table sugar on the area, and
covering it with duoderm.  It's working very well.  Sugar
apparently is quite helpful in healing open wounds - maybe it
should be used more often following surgery, or for burn victims,
or other open areas.  *adh*

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Internet: Alan.Hess@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org
From: Bill.Koppelmann@p0.f809.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Koppelmann)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Editorial Feelings
Date: 23 Nov 92 21:53:29 GMT
Reply-To: Bill.Koppelmann@p0.f809.n104.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:104/809.0 - Fantasy Mountain, Golden CO
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25833

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 CA> around, but I really didn't want to be bothered, so I just hurried on.
 CA> But she ran up and stopped me anyway.  I turned reluctantly to her,
 CA> and she said "Can we talk to your animal?"  I said "no" somewhat
 CA> tersely, and went on my way.
You know, I often wonder why it is that some folks think that we
blinks couldn't possibly be in a hurry?

 DH> I have a sign on my dog's harness that says "Do not pet me, I'm a
 DH> working guide dog."
 CA> Where did you get that sign?  I want one!!
And when you find out keep me posted as well please.

                        Bill K.

... Don't ask me, I'm making this up as I go.

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Internet: Bill.Koppelmann@p0.f809.n104.z1.fidonet.org
From: John.Linko@p0.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (John Linko)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Defining the upper case D
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:25:36 GMT
Reply-To: John.Linko@p0.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26.0 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA
X-Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference
Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com

Index Number: 25726

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

At the fall conference of the Pa. chapter of AGBell, an organization
called "Creative Access" distributed a flyer encouraging interested
persons contact their group regarding an initiative to encourage
movie theaters to open-caption first run films.

Creative Access is "an organization created to assure visibility,
accessibility, opportunity, and inclusion of Deaf* people in arts
and culture". They can be reached at 2014 Fitzwater Street,
Philadelphia PA 19146, or at 215-735-5851 TDD/Voice.

The greatest thing about the flyer, however, was a three-sentence
explanation for their use of the upper case D in "Deaf". It goes
like this:

"Use of upper case "D" signifies membership in a unique minority
culture reflected by its own language and rich history. At no time
and in no way does this imply exclusion of any group. All events
and programs welcome deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people of
all ethnic and racial backgrounds. Knowledge of sign language is
never a requirement for enjoyment and participation."

In short, one does not have to belong to a string band to enjoy
watching the Mummers' Parade. A culture is inclusionary, not
exclusionary. Folks like Harlan Lane and James Womack should
pay more attention to this kind of thinking. We would all get
along better. JL

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