The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for content, style and space available. Opinions expressed are those of the authors, not those of the American Council of the Blind, its staff or elected officials. "The Braille Forum" is not responsible for the opinions expressed herein. We will not print letters unless you sign your name and give us your address.
Thank you
I want to personally thank the ACB and Charles Hodge for the eloquent and beautiful "In Memoriam" message about my mother, Marie Boring, in the January issue of "The Braille Forum." As a child, I did not fully recognize her strengths as a person or her many accomplishments in life. As I grew up, I began to realize that she was truly a remarkable person. She will be deeply missed by all her friends and family. She was so proud of her work with the ACB and was delighted to be recognized at your national convention last summer. Thank God she left so many hand- and footprints for posterity. Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
-- Bob Boring, Coldspring, Texas
Travel tips from two readers
Since the events of September 11, we have taken six flights and have reached some conclusions that might be of interest to your readers. Although most of these ideas are probably not new, we believe the increase in security and other changes that have been implemented may add relevance to our conclusions.
1. We prefer to deal with travel agents when buying airline tickets. They will not only inform the airline of your special needs, but will also obtain paper tickets which will speed the process of check-in.
2. Call the airline the day before you travel and remind them of your specific needs. Double-check your flight schedule, since many flights are being changed on short notice.
3. We recommend that partially sighted people carry a cane. The cane identifies you as a person who may need assistance, and you can avoid lengthy, time-wasting explanations.
4. Be gracious when you are offered more help than you really need. A short ride in a wheelchair won't kill you.
5. Place a printed label on all luggage showing the complete address and telephone number. This can improve your chances of having any lost luggage returned to you.
6. Have your ID card readily available. You will need to show it several times.
7. When you have completed the check-in process, remind the gate attendant if you will need assistance retrieving checked luggage at your destination.
8. It is best not to lock your luggage. The airline has the right to search it. Keep all valuables with you.
9. Have some dollar bills available for tipping skycaps and other ground personnel who assist you. This simple kindness is remembered and appreciated.
10. Whatever your views on the use of a rigid cane, we find it helpful to use a folding cane during the flight.
Air travel has become more of a hassle during recent months. We think these tips will help your readers have a more pleasant trip.
-- Larry and Betty Hutson, Park Forest, Ill.
Reader would like to hear from others
Recently I was diagnosed with at least two herniated disks in my back, and a serious injury to my left shoulder. I was forced to give up my guide dog, and I probably won't be physically able to work a dog again, even after the injuries heal.
I am having a hard time dealing with additional disabilities -- blindness is enough for me! Now I've lost my independence, probably for good. At this time, a cane is not an option because of the strain the repetitive back-and-forth motion puts on muscles and nerves.
I would be interested in hearing from others or about others who have found their blindness complicated by additional disabilities. How do you handle the loss of independence and dignity, the boredom, the well-meaning remarks from non- disabled people, and the uncertainty of not knowing when or if the additional disability will heal, and what functioning will be possible, or what restrictions will be forever? I am not coping well, and I am not getting the right kind of support. Please contact me at 1232 E. 6th St., Apartment #7, Loveland, CO 80537.
-- Peggy Deegan, Loveland, Colo.
A letter to share
I have enjoyed reading "The Braille Forum" in large print the last couple months, and hope it keeps coming regularly.
I did not know how much a proper donation was to keep receiving the news, so I am enclosing a check for $25 to start. Please let me know if this is not sufficient. I plan on making more donations, but money is a little tight where I live at the moment. Although I cannot make any conferences or local meetings, I still hope to be a part of the ACB. As an example, I have written to a gentleman in West Africa as a result of seeing it in "The Braille Forum." That sort of a tidbit would be a good thing to do every issue. There are always people in need who genuinely need the help.
Thanks again for the great publication. Keep up the good work!
-- Gregg L. Bartholomay, Moose Lake, Minn.
A letter from John De Witt
Dear ACB Members:
Christopher Gray's presidential message in January's "Braille Forum" has prompted 22 ACB members to call or write me at De Witt & Associates concerning our Internet portal, EnableLink.com. Most have felt that our company has, as Mr. Gray put it, "chosen to discriminate specifically and directly against the American Council of the Blind." EnableLink.com and De Witt & Associates has always and always will serve all people who are blind and visually impaired regardless of whether or not they are members of any organization.
We never said to Mr. Gray or Mr. Crawford that we would never include the ACB or its members as participants on our site. We did tell him that we had embarked upon a limited scope, short- term market test and that when and if our idea of developing a donation program seemed practical that we would let Messrs. Crawford and Gray know. Mr. Gray's presidential message did not mention those aspects of our conversation with him. Therefore, I understand why members of the ACB feel they are being excluded. I accept that you feel slighted and am sorry for that impression.
It is not in my personal character to offend. In the 24 years that I, as a blind person, have worked professionally in the blindness field, not once has anyone ever complained of my motives or actions as being discriminatory.
Each month over 1,900 people log on to www.enablelink.com and read the articles specifically written for us, many by blind authors. Many also shop using our carefully designed easy-to-use shopping cart for products useful to us as blind people.
I appreciate the opportunity offered by your editor to publish this letter and trust that past mistakes or hurt feelings are just that: past. Thank you for reading this and rest assured that all blind and visually impaired people are important to me personally and to our company.
-- John De Witt, President, De Witt & Associates,
700 Godwin Avenue,
Suite 110, Midland Park, NJ 07432;
phone (877) 447-6500;
e-mail [email protected]
A Response from ACB
(Editor's Note: Chris Gray asked us to include the following letter in response to the letter above.)
Both in this response and in other communications with ACB members, Mr. De Witt emphasizes that his company's contribution program, which exclusively benefits the National Federation of the Blind, is a test or pilot program to determine whether such a contribution plan will prove economically viable and beneficial for his company and NFB. Yet, when this contributions program was announced and promoted on various e-mail lists, there was no mention of the program's being a test or pilot. Only after ACB leadership contacted Mr. De Witt and requested an opportunity for equal participation in the program did Mr. De Witt put forward his pilot program explanation.
Even accepting the pilot program explanation at face value, we must point out that Mr. De Witt has never indicated the time frame within which the pilot program will be assessed and evaluated, nor has he revealed under what standards or criteria the success or failure of the alleged pilot program will be judged.
In addition, in his replies to other ACB members, Mr. De Witt has argued that he is well aware of the conflicts between NFB and ACB, and that he values both organizations and their supporters. Then he goes on to contend that by suggesting ACB be included in his company's contribution program on an equal basis with the NFB, our members are forcing him to choose sides in a conflict between NFB and ACB. Nothing could be further from the truth. By excluding ACB from this program and making NFB the sole and exclusive participant in and beneficiary of that program, Mr. De Witt has already dramatically demonstrated his choice of sides in whatever conflict he perceives to exist between these organizations.
The explanations and rationalizations advanced here and elsewhere appear to be a form of artful dodging and a clever attempt to construct an artifice to mask or cover an ongoing set of discriminatory, entrepreneurial tracks. In conclusion, I urge ACB members and friends to continue to contact Mr. De Witt to hold his proverbial feet to the fire with respect to his asserted pilot contribution program, and I am still in hopes -- albeit fading hopes -- that Mr. De Witt will see that including all national organizations of blind people is a far more sensible and business-like manner with which to approach our community as a whole.
-- Christopher Gray, San Francisco, Calif.
More on $50 computers
I am writing to thank you for helping to make our computer offer known. It was an overwhelming success. We have had more requests than we can handle. We are taking every step to get the computers and training to those who want them.
We did not get some telephone calls that were made with messages placed in voice mail, and some computer material was lost or damaged in the mail.
Therefore, I am writing to ask those who are waiting for something from me: Please contact me to get what you need. Contact the Texas Center for the Physically Impaired, 11330 Quail Run, Dallas, Texas 75238; phone (214) 340-6328.
--Robert Langford, President, Texas Center for the Physically Impaired, Dallas, Texas