The Coburn Blog

I’m not sure if I mentioned this or not, but I found out from one of my friends in Ft Wayne, that there is a National Federation for the Blind local Chapter in Columbia City, which has really been a wonderful Organization to get involved in. For those who don’t know what the National Federation for the Blind is, here is a podcast from attorney Scott Labarre, out in Colorado, regarding reasons as to why we have an organization called the NFB, as well as his perspective on the 2007 National Convention held in Atlanta, Georgia. Links courtesy of: thruoureyes.org. This is really neat to listen to:

Here is another podcast, with an interview with Ms. Maurie Hill, a product support specialist talking about the Zoomtext software from aisquared. I have spoken to Maurie a couple of times myself, both in email and over the phone. She is visually impaired also, and such a beautiful wonderful lady, and really has been a wonderful spokesperson for technology rights over the years. Check this out:

I should say, the times I wrote to Maurie in email. I had no idea she was female, not that it matters, but I knew she was visually impaired, but had no idea about all the stuff she said in this interview. Was really neat to listen to. Over the last year since this podcase was published, aisquared has been improving on their product a great deal, like with their newly developed Zoomtext USB, which I cannot say enough good things about. I mean, the software isn’t perfect, but like anything else, there’s always room for improvement, and I’m pretty confident that aisquared will continue to improve accessibility in the future as well.

Anyway, for those who don’t have time to listen to these earlier podcasts. The National Federation for the Blind, has been fighting for the rights of Blind and Visually impaired persons, since the 1950’s, including the right for Blind people to work and shop in grocery stores, to employment issues, education issues, and technology issues, which is very interesting.Since Technology is everywhere nowadays, the NFB has been fighting for Blind rights in these areas as well, including accessibility rights for ATM’s, cellphones, and other publically accessible electronic devices, such as credit card swipers at walmart and target for example, and as of November of last year, I am officially a member. Its $9 a year to become a member, and we attend a monthly meeting, for us its held in Columbis City, about a 20 minute drive from where I live unfortunately. They meet the first Thursday of every month. I had to miss last month, and this months meetings (which was today) because unfortunately, their monthly meetings meet the first Thursday of every month, from 10a-12p, and I am not able to get transportation during that time of the day, away from city limits. I talked to our local Lions Club chapter to see if they could find someone to drive me, but they didn’t know of anyone who could take me during that time of the day either. Most people I know work during that time of the day, so I haven’t been able to find anyone to take me these last couple of months. My friend Sue’s daughter took me the last couple of times, and I paid her $10 for gas, which was fair, but she couldn’t take me last 2 months because their having personal issues, but I am hoping in the coming months, I can find someone to take me.

Its a National accredited organization, and they do all sorts of things for the blind. We raise money for disabled awareness in the community, and put on special programs to raise funds for disabled schools and organizations, such as the Indiana School for the Blind, The league for blind and disabled, all sorts of community projects. Its really been a fun thing to be a part of. We also help to support eachother, so like, if I’m having trouble at school, I can always talk to my fellow chapter members. We stand together, so if an employer or college or whatever gives me a hard time, well we stand up for one another, it is really cool, and I’ve really been excited to be a part of it.

Ever since I left the Blind school when I was a kid, I have always felt alone. Even around family, friends, loves ones, so on and so forth, I have always felt alone… but hanging out with these guys, I no longer feel alone anymore, at least not as much as I did. Its really been a wonderful thing. I already talked to them last month about the issues I’ve been haviing with CompTIA and PearsonVUE, and they were just as mad about it as I was. Like they said to me, there is a BIG difference between having 20/20, and totally blind, and until we stand up for ourselves, nobody else is going to, so I really think this is cool. Makes me wish I lived in Colorado though, from what I understand, their states NFB chapter is much larger the ours, and go after companies, like PearsonVUE, who discriminate against us and everything. They have podcasts, radio interviews, the whole bit. really neat stuff. Just goes to show, we can fom our own organization, with members around the globe, to continue sticking up for our rights.