Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Not to drag this into a political debate, but there's a very good reason that closed-captioning gained acceptance so easily while doing anything that services the blindness sector has not. Unity. The deaf community spoke with one voice and all of them were in one basic accord on their need to be communicated to. On the other hand, the blindness community has two camps that have fought each other for years, one group that says it's the official voice of the blind says we don't need such enhancements, while the other group says we do. This has only served to make us look like a confused bunch of people who don't really know what we need, and so the powers-that-be throw their hands up saying " well, if they don't know what they want, neither do we. " Until the quibbling ever stops, it's going to be awfully hard to move forward. OK, now I'm off the soapbox. I only submitted this as a thought on why we're being shut out, not to get any arguments going. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Hi , First, you're welcome! Second, actually it's the narrow minded CNIB who cannot think past their noses or outside the box who were consulted by the CRTC who came up with one channel. Just like the library services, they like to separate us from mainstream like we are lepers or something. No wonder we get nowhere! Ruth From: blind-diabetics [mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 9:25 PM To: blind-diabetics Subject: Re: off topic I would also like to echo the others' thank yous here - it means a lot that someone is willing and able to advocate for all of us. As for mainstreaming on all channels for TV programming - I believe it would be quite the mental challenge for our dear bureaucrats. I imagine it is mommy CRTC protecting us from... well... I don't know what. First Health Canada feels it needs to protect us from the talking meters and the CRTC protects us from descriptive and easily accessible TV programming? *sigh* No, they don't get it, but for some reason they do get the closed captioning concept. I also notice that more and more, shows are going silent here, and more and more commercials are relying exlusively on visual and unrelated music to give the messaging. I think because it's the bottom line, and to have voiceovers in both official languages is expensive, so companies who are advertising whatever, will cheap out by giving the message visually. A perfect example are the recent Canada Bond commercials... from our very Canadian government that supposedly promotes accessibility. Whatever! Just another thing that I will choose to describe to Larry - or not - as the case may be. Not that I want or need commercials to be described or anything - it is an interesting trend though. Re: off topic Thank you , we had no idea this was launched, and we're right near where it launched, but apparently with all that is going on here with our government debaucle that is going on, it even wasn't noticed. I did call our cable provider (which happens to be the largest provider in Canada), and they didn't have a clue about it... well, maybe one day hopefully. It apparently includes some Canadian programming, but It's unfortunate that mainstream programming isn't available yet. Hopefully it will expand as time moves on. I do appreciate the fact that outstanding Canadian programming is at least made available. In the meantime, we'll be content to have some outstanding Canadian shows, such as Little Mosque on the Prairie, which is at least a current show. Interesting though they've decided to include a 20 year old Canadian series, such as Road to Avonlea... but neglect to include my own personal favourites such as Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty, but I digress... however I do challenge them to bring in some more programming that's from this paticular century, and I challenge them to include a visually described Dancing with the Stars - now that's a challenge for ya! As much as we appreciate their effort, it would be nice to have programming that is available to all. And even more importantly, to be actually offered by our cable programming departments. According to their website, they will have: CBC shows: This is Wonderland Heartland Little Mosque on the Prairie This Hour has 22 Minutes - along with a collection of Canadian documentaries and movies Also will feature original CTV programming, including series such as Road To Avonlea Alice I Think Whistler and original movies such as Shades of Black Lives of the Saints additional programming from CTV include specialty channels including MuchMusic, Discovery Channel and Travel+Escape. Murdoch Mysteries Less than a Kind Survivorman Mantracker OMNI documentaries and biographies from The Biography channel. Like I said, it's a start, and I'm looking forward to seeing more made available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Hi , First, you're welcome! Second, actually it's the narrow minded CNIB who cannot think past their noses or outside the box who were consulted by the CRTC who came up with one channel. Just like the library services, they like to separate us from mainstream like we are lepers or something. No wonder we get nowhere! Ruth From: blind-diabetics [mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 9:25 PM To: blind-diabetics Subject: Re: off topic I would also like to echo the others' thank yous here - it means a lot that someone is willing and able to advocate for all of us. As for mainstreaming on all channels for TV programming - I believe it would be quite the mental challenge for our dear bureaucrats. I imagine it is mommy CRTC protecting us from... well... I don't know what. First Health Canada feels it needs to protect us from the talking meters and the CRTC protects us from descriptive and easily accessible TV programming? *sigh* No, they don't get it, but for some reason they do get the closed captioning concept. I also notice that more and more, shows are going silent here, and more and more commercials are relying exlusively on visual and unrelated music to give the messaging. I think because it's the bottom line, and to have voiceovers in both official languages is expensive, so companies who are advertising whatever, will cheap out by giving the message visually. A perfect example are the recent Canada Bond commercials... from our very Canadian government that supposedly promotes accessibility. Whatever! Just another thing that I will choose to describe to Larry - or not - as the case may be. Not that I want or need commercials to be described or anything - it is an interesting trend though. Re: off topic Thank you , we had no idea this was launched, and we're right near where it launched, but apparently with all that is going on here with our government debaucle that is going on, it even wasn't noticed. I did call our cable provider (which happens to be the largest provider in Canada), and they didn't have a clue about it... well, maybe one day hopefully. It apparently includes some Canadian programming, but It's unfortunate that mainstream programming isn't available yet. Hopefully it will expand as time moves on. I do appreciate the fact that outstanding Canadian programming is at least made available. In the meantime, we'll be content to have some outstanding Canadian shows, such as Little Mosque on the Prairie, which is at least a current show. Interesting though they've decided to include a 20 year old Canadian series, such as Road to Avonlea... but neglect to include my own personal favourites such as Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty, but I digress... however I do challenge them to bring in some more programming that's from this paticular century, and I challenge them to include a visually described Dancing with the Stars - now that's a challenge for ya! As much as we appreciate their effort, it would be nice to have programming that is available to all. And even more importantly, to be actually offered by our cable programming departments. According to their website, they will have: CBC shows: This is Wonderland Heartland Little Mosque on the Prairie This Hour has 22 Minutes - along with a collection of Canadian documentaries and movies Also will feature original CTV programming, including series such as Road To Avonlea Alice I Think Whistler and original movies such as Shades of Black Lives of the Saints additional programming from CTV include specialty channels including MuchMusic, Discovery Channel and Travel+Escape. Murdoch Mysteries Less than a Kind Survivorman Mantracker OMNI documentaries and biographies from The Biography channel. Like I said, it's a start, and I'm looking forward to seeing more made available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Hi , First, you're welcome! Second, actually it's the narrow minded CNIB who cannot think past their noses or outside the box who were consulted by the CRTC who came up with one channel. Just like the library services, they like to separate us from mainstream like we are lepers or something. No wonder we get nowhere! Ruth From: blind-diabetics [mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 9:25 PM To: blind-diabetics Subject: Re: off topic I would also like to echo the others' thank yous here - it means a lot that someone is willing and able to advocate for all of us. As for mainstreaming on all channels for TV programming - I believe it would be quite the mental challenge for our dear bureaucrats. I imagine it is mommy CRTC protecting us from... well... I don't know what. First Health Canada feels it needs to protect us from the talking meters and the CRTC protects us from descriptive and easily accessible TV programming? *sigh* No, they don't get it, but for some reason they do get the closed captioning concept. I also notice that more and more, shows are going silent here, and more and more commercials are relying exlusively on visual and unrelated music to give the messaging. I think because it's the bottom line, and to have voiceovers in both official languages is expensive, so companies who are advertising whatever, will cheap out by giving the message visually. A perfect example are the recent Canada Bond commercials... from our very Canadian government that supposedly promotes accessibility. Whatever! Just another thing that I will choose to describe to Larry - or not - as the case may be. Not that I want or need commercials to be described or anything - it is an interesting trend though. Re: off topic Thank you , we had no idea this was launched, and we're right near where it launched, but apparently with all that is going on here with our government debaucle that is going on, it even wasn't noticed. I did call our cable provider (which happens to be the largest provider in Canada), and they didn't have a clue about it... well, maybe one day hopefully. It apparently includes some Canadian programming, but It's unfortunate that mainstream programming isn't available yet. Hopefully it will expand as time moves on. I do appreciate the fact that outstanding Canadian programming is at least made available. In the meantime, we'll be content to have some outstanding Canadian shows, such as Little Mosque on the Prairie, which is at least a current show. Interesting though they've decided to include a 20 year old Canadian series, such as Road to Avonlea... but neglect to include my own personal favourites such as Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty, but I digress... however I do challenge them to bring in some more programming that's from this paticular century, and I challenge them to include a visually described Dancing with the Stars - now that's a challenge for ya! As much as we appreciate their effort, it would be nice to have programming that is available to all. And even more importantly, to be actually offered by our cable programming departments. According to their website, they will have: CBC shows: This is Wonderland Heartland Little Mosque on the Prairie This Hour has 22 Minutes - along with a collection of Canadian documentaries and movies Also will feature original CTV programming, including series such as Road To Avonlea Alice I Think Whistler and original movies such as Shades of Black Lives of the Saints additional programming from CTV include specialty channels including MuchMusic, Discovery Channel and Travel+Escape. Murdoch Mysteries Less than a Kind Survivorman Mantracker OMNI documentaries and biographies from The Biography channel. Like I said, it's a start, and I'm looking forward to seeing more made available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Hi Bill, You guys have only two? Up here it's every man/woman for him or herself. Not only that, big Daddy CNIB is the only one that gets consulted. Up here it is the Canadian National Institute for the blind not of the blind which has been changed recently, but it's the same old thing and by the time all is said and done, the blind consumer has no voice. Ruth From: blind-diabetics [mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of Bill Powers Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 10:01 PM To: blind-diabetics Subject: RE: off topic Not to drag this into a political debate, but there's a very good reason that closed-captioning gained acceptance so easily while doing anything that services the blindness sector has not. Unity. The deaf community spoke with one voice and all of them were in one basic accord on their need to be communicated to. On the other hand, the blindness community has two camps that have fought each other for years, one group that says it's the official voice of the blind says we don't need such enhancements, while the other group says we do. This has only served to make us look like a confused bunch of people who don't really know what we need, and so the powers-that-be throw their hands up saying " well, if they don't know what they want, neither do we. " Until the quibbling ever stops, it's going to be awfully hard to move forward. OK, now I'm off the soapbox. I only submitted this as a thought on why we're being shut out, not to get any arguments going. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Hi Bill, You guys have only two? Up here it's every man/woman for him or herself. Not only that, big Daddy CNIB is the only one that gets consulted. Up here it is the Canadian National Institute for the blind not of the blind which has been changed recently, but it's the same old thing and by the time all is said and done, the blind consumer has no voice. Ruth From: blind-diabetics [mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of Bill Powers Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 10:01 PM To: blind-diabetics Subject: RE: off topic Not to drag this into a political debate, but there's a very good reason that closed-captioning gained acceptance so easily while doing anything that services the blindness sector has not. Unity. The deaf community spoke with one voice and all of them were in one basic accord on their need to be communicated to. On the other hand, the blindness community has two camps that have fought each other for years, one group that says it's the official voice of the blind says we don't need such enhancements, while the other group says we do. This has only served to make us look like a confused bunch of people who don't really know what we need, and so the powers-that-be throw their hands up saying " well, if they don't know what they want, neither do we. " Until the quibbling ever stops, it's going to be awfully hard to move forward. OK, now I'm off the soapbox. I only submitted this as a thought on why we're being shut out, not to get any arguments going. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Ruth, There are actually more than two groups that deal with blindness issues here in the states, but for the sake of a national voice, the only normally recognized voices are the NFB (National Federation of the Blind) and the ACB (American Council of the Blind.) There are other organizations and agencies, but the strongest voices are the ones I mentinoed. How I wish it were possible they could get on the same page, but that's wishful thinking. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Ruth, There are actually more than two groups that deal with blindness issues here in the states, but for the sake of a national voice, the only normally recognized voices are the NFB (National Federation of the Blind) and the ACB (American Council of the Blind.) There are other organizations and agencies, but the strongest voices are the ones I mentinoed. How I wish it were possible they could get on the same page, but that's wishful thinking. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Ruth, There are actually more than two groups that deal with blindness issues here in the states, but for the sake of a national voice, the only normally recognized voices are the NFB (National Federation of the Blind) and the ACB (American Council of the Blind.) There are other organizations and agencies, but the strongest voices are the ones I mentinoed. How I wish it were possible they could get on the same page, but that's wishful thinking. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Hi Bill, Well then, I guess we should start wishing huh?! We are just as frustrated up here. Ruth From: blind-diabetics [mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of Bill Powers Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 12:59 AM To: blind-diabetics Subject: RE: off topic Ruth, There are actually more than two groups that deal with blindness issues here in the states, but for the sake of a national voice, the only normally recognized voices are the NFB (National Federation of the Blind) and the ACB (American Council of the Blind.) There are other organizations and agencies, but the strongest voices are the ones I mentinoed. How I wish it were possible they could get on the same page, but that's wishful thinking. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 But what you say is absolutely true. RE: off topic Not to drag this into a political debate, but there's a very good reason that closed-captioning gained acceptance so easily while doing anything that services the blindness sector has not. Unity. The deaf community spoke with one voice and all of them were in one basic accord on their need to be communicated to. On the other hand, the blindness community has two camps that have fought each other for years, one group that says it's the official voice of the blind says we don't need such enhancements, while the other group says we do. This has only served to make us look like a confused bunch of people who don't really know what we need, and so the powers-that-be throw their hands up saying " well, if they don't know what they want, neither do we. " Until the quibbling ever stops, it's going to be awfully hard to move forward. OK, now I'm off the soapbox. I only submitted this as a thought on why we're being shut out, not to get any arguments going. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Hello Ruth. I first want to congradulate you on the work you have started. I am not sure if you are aware of the AEBC (Advocates for equality for blind, deaf blind, and visually impaired). We are a national advocacy organization and work with government to fight for equality in everything. This also means accessible items, Medicare equality and so much more. I hope this helps, and the CNIB is not the only organization. Take care. Cherryl RE: off topic Ruth, There are actually more than two groups that deal with blindness issues here in the states, but for the sake of a national voice, the only normally recognized voices are the NFB (National Federation of the Blind) and the ACB (American Council of the Blind.) There are other organizations and agencies, but the strongest voices are the ones I mentinoed. How I wish it were possible they could get on the same page, but that's wishful thinking. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Do you also advocate the prodigy voice glucose meter? RE: off topic Ruth, There are actually more than two groups that deal with blindness issues here in the states, but for the sake of a national voice, the only normally recognized voices are the NFB (National Federation of the Blind) and the ACB (American Council of the Blind.) There are other organizations and agencies, but the strongest voices are the ones I mentinoed. How I wish it were possible they could get on the same page, but that's wishful thinking. Bill Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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