Monroe County Council of the Blind

The following was submitted by a MCCB member. The views and opinions are those solely of the author and may not reflect those of The Monroe County Council of the Blind.

I work Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in an office, that’s routine enough. Well, how I get there and back is not so routine. Three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday I travel to work and back with the Pocono Pony, specifically the Program for Persons with Disabilities (PWD).

On Mondays and Thursdays I have to wing it inasmuch as finding a way to work is concerned. Well it would appear that the MCTA is using a new computer system to schedule runs, without having worked out all of the bugs. First let me say that things had been going along fine for more than 6 months with a regular driver, a very nice and considerate driver at that. So, back to the new system.

On Tuesday morning I had just halled myself out of bed, it was 6:25 a.m. and was just about to make a pot of coffee when my daughter informs me that the shared-ride vehicle was in the drive way. My normal pick-up time is 7:40 or thereabouts. So, right away you see the problem. There I am, still in my night clothes, not showered, in no way able to leave for work. I opened my window to address the driver who had stepped out of the vehicle for a cigarette and this is how the conversation went.

(me) Morning, you know you’re an hour and ten minutes early

(him) so?

(me) So? What do you mean so? I can’t go with you now, I just got out of bed.

(him) Well, I can’t come back.

(Me) Well, I’ll go call dispatch.

(him) yeah, well I’ll call too)

(me) Well fine!

After some back and forth on the phone with a dispatcher who expected she could take her frustration regarding the new system out on me, we established that the driver would be back in an hour. You know, it just seems that getting to work should not be so difficult, it should not leave one without his or her dignity. Obviously the driver got to work as did the dispatcher, shouldn’t it be just as routine for me?

- Mary Ann Alexander

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Filed under: Member Editorial, Transportation

The following was submitted by a MCCB member. The views and opinions are those solely of the author and do not reflect those of The Monroe County Council of the Blind.

In my last entry, when talking about getting to the MCCB meeting, I said, I will get there. Well this is how I got there, but first, I must give some background .
A few days before the March 13 meeting I sent the  previous blog entry out to our list serve so that the members can know what happened to me. I got many responses, but most of them were basically. a version of "Ask your wife to bring you, or Why don’t you just call VIABL" I kindly and simply said no. But one of the comments stood out.It went like this:
Hi Mike,
        I feel for you Mike.  Have you tried to call VIABL?  That would be the only other option I can see for you.
(sender withheld)
I sent the following response:
No I have not. I am sure that is not the only option blind people have. If it is, that is what is Truly sad. I will get to the meeting, but what if while I am out, I  get hungry  and want to go to a fast food restaurant, or should want to run some errands or need a haircut or need to go to a printer or gallery, or want to stop at Staples or need to go to Home Depot or Lowes or I have to bring a video back to the library. Maybe my daughter needs me to stop something over to her school. Maybe I want to get my beautiful wife some flowers just because, or maybe I want to sit in a park so I can think, or maybe I want to go to a gym, or want to stop at a local farm to get some fresh fruit, Maybe they let you pick them yourself, or go to a bank, or just what if.  You understand.
I have nothing personal against VIABL or anyone for that matter. I just want to be independent!
(end)
Well, I chose to utilize our public transportation system, or in other words, "the bus". In Preparation for our 10:00am Friday meeting, I called the bus company (MCTA)in order to ask them about the pick up and drop-off places and times, Which had recently changed. (Now pay close attention ’cause this part gets a little complicated)I was told that I had to catch the orange route bus at the Monroe Plaza at 6:55 a.m., get a transfer, and it would arrive at the Stroud Mall at 7:20  a.m.  Then to get on the red route bus at 7:35 a.m. and that it would arrive at my destination at 7:55 a.m. (Grace Park Senior living facility) where the meeting was to be held.   Now, if this worked out this way, although it is a time consuming effort , and way too much time, a person with a Visual disability could maintain his/her dignity and keep  some form of  independence.
Wanting to make sure that I had all of my information correct, I called the bus company two additional times.  I went to bed early, with anticipation of the next days events.
My trip started Friday morning with my wife agreeing to drive me to  Monroe Plaza bus stop at 6:40 a.m.   I waited patiently with my cane and backpack att the sign. it was  cold, 23 degree whether, but, I maintained a smile on my face. My wife decided to wait until the bus arrived, I assured her that I was OK but she continued to wait anyway. She commented about the speed in which the Route 209 traffic was traveling."be careful, they are going about 60mph".  I must have been no more than two feet away from the traffic. Precisely at 6:55 a.m. She yelled to me from where she waited "the bus is coming , wave your hand" I did that . The bus approached at the same speed as the other cars. It continued pass me as if my 250 lbs did not matter. It did not stop! My wife said the sign on the bus read "Route changed" How prophetic, . How was I to know the the change would be my own. I called the company.After listening to some recorded phone prompts I spoke to a dispatch person named Sheri. She called the bus driver. I could hear him( you know we have super sonic hearing) as He said "I approached the stop, I slowed down and there was no one there" that’s just  an untruth.  She however did quickly dispatch a shared ride van to pick me up. Sheri said he would be there in about a half of an hour.  I told my wife to go on back home.            I left a complaint on  the Supervisor, Walter’s answering machine.
The Driver drove in to Stroudsburg about 8: 00 a.m. Being to early to go in to Grace  Park, I asked him to drop me off at the Perkins restaurant, which was about three blocks and across the street from the meeting place. 
Well I had a great Breakfast.     Shortly after 9:00 a.m. I went over to the meeting place. I Got there!    For me this kind of experience has repeated itself far too many times. I like the thought of being free. Free to make choices.
My trip home had adventures of it’s own. Now many may say, this is much ado about nothing , but I for one am tired of the transportation issue playing such a large part of our lives. I plan to be instrumental in changing this for us . If this is what it has to be, in order for me to get around, than so be it.

- Michael Bryant

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Filed under: Member Editorial, Transportation

An organization in NYC is working to provide audio description  for Broadway shows.

Similar to the process used in movies and television, the narrators describe the scenes without dialog.

From the article:

"I try to be very specific about the details I describe," Day said. "Because you could talk forever, blah blah blah, but then they would miss the play."

read the article from 7 online.com – A Broadway experience for the blind

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Filed under: Audio Description

So, it’s finally the big day!  It was the culmination of at least two months
of preparing in an effort to become familiar with the issues concluding with
the Legislative Seminar. 

There are 19 representatives serving the interests of Pennsylvania
residents, two senators and 17 congressmen and women.  The 19
representatives were divided among the four groups which attended
representing the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind.  Most fabulous this year
is that I had the honor of meeting with two congressmen personally.  I met
with both Representatives Paul Kanjorski and Chris Carney.  The experience
with both was tremendous, though I must tell you that my visit with Paul
Kanjorski was exhilarating in so much as he was clearly interested not only
in the two imperatives he was asked to consider, but in issues concerning
blindness in general.  He asked informative questions and was thoroughly
impressed with the work being done by the American Council of the Blind and
its affiliates.  Of course and as always, he will support any legislation
which furthers independence of people who are blind or visually impaired.
Congressmen Carney also asked informative questions, showed a genuine
interest in the issues being presented and indicated that he would add his
name to the more than sixty co-sponsors of H.R.734, the Pedestrian Safety
Enhancement Act.  He also offered to contact Congressman Markey to inquire
as to the status of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility
Act.  My third appointment was in Congressman Tim Holden’s office where I
met with his Legislative Aid, Courtney Williams.  She had clearly researched
the issues and was extremely well informed.  Her comments centered on the
fact that both imperatives seemed to be common sense to her. Yes, quite
refreshing!

All in all, it was a wonderfully productive day and as I’ve said dozens of
times before, the face-to-face contact made a huge difference in promoting
our agenda.  Moreover, I truly believe that our presence in and of itself
educates in a way that a phone call or email cannot possibly do.

So, let’s sit back now and watch the fruits of our labor flourish.  I will
be endeavoring in the next weeks and months to establish an email dialogue
with each office that I visited as a follow-up and to keep our local
representatives mindful of our concerns.

- Mary Ann Alexander

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Filed under: ACB Seminar, Accessibility, Advocacy, Affiliate Organizations, Quiet Cars, Telecommunications, Transportation

Hello again from Arlington Virginia, across the Potomac from Washington
D.C. where we have been hard at work acquiring information on the American
Council of the Blind’s Imperative issues for 2009 along with other very
important and interesting topics which are of significant concern to
persons who are blind or visually impaired.

The morning began with a grim discussion on unemployment among persons with
disabilities which has risen to 77%.  It is estimated that only 33% of
persons who are blind or visually impaired are currently in the work force.
This led to our discussion on the importance of preserving the Randolph
Sheppard Program so that it remains exclusive to the blind population.  As
a result of our efforts two years ago, those efforts made by attendees of
the 2007 legislative Seminar and all of the coalition of organizations
advocating for this program, Randolph Sheppard remains exclusive to people
who are blind or visually impaired.

Perhaps one of the most fascinating topics of discussion for the morning
was presented by speaker Mark richert, Director of Public Policy of the
American Foundation for the Blind on healthcare issues.  The Center for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is responsible for deciding which
kinds of durable medical equipment will or will not be paid for by Medicare
and/or Medicaid.  For example, Medicare and Medicaid can pay for a
prosthetic arm or leg. However, you will be quite surprised to learn that
durable medical device does not apply to a closed circuit television so
that a blind or visually impaired person can read print that he or she
could otherwise not access.  The same would apply for a low vision pair of
glasses or a monocular for seeing long distances. Why is this you ask?
Well, the CMS ruled that no device which utilizes a lens shall be
considered a durable medical device.  Appalling right?  Other important
issues in healthcare are of a technical nature. For example, the blind
community needs to advocate for access to prescription labels, needs to
encourage industry to offer accessible devices for management of diabetes
and high blood pressure and other such ailments.  In addition, consider how
inaccessible your own medical record is and that we should encourage
legislators to mandate that this type of information be made readily
available to everyone, including persons who are blind or visually
impaired.

The afternoon was dedicated to reviewing and being certain that all were
well versed in their understanding of the two imperative issues currently
at the forefront of legislation.  We first discussed H.R.734, the
pedestrian Safety Enhancement act which now has 63 co-sponsors on both
sides of the isle, that is, this bill is supported by both democrats and
republicans.  The bill requires that within two years the Department of
Transportation will have researched methods of implementing sound emissions
in Hybrid or quiet cars as they have come to be called in the blind
community.  After the research is completed, the process would be utilized
in all newly manufactured vehicles. 

Our discussion for the day concluded with the 21st Century Communications
and Video Accessibility Act.  This legislation would address how to make
such technologies as on-screen menus, on-screen programming, cell phones,
DVD and DVR devices and wireless interface accessible to persons who are
blind or who have limited vision.
I must sign off for now as our esteemed President, George Holliday has
decided that a planning session over pizza would be beneficial for all.  We
in the Pennsylvania contingency plan to make a very good impression with
our representatives on Capitol Hill.

- Mary Ann Alexander

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Filed under: ACB Seminar, Accessibility, Advocacy, Affiliate Organizations, Quiet Cars, Telecommunications