[misc.handicap] Censored NFB BBS proposal

Jamal.Mazrui@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Jamal Mazrui) (06/28/91)

Index Number: 16517

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Since David Andrews has announced plans to operate an electronic
bulletin board system officially sponsored by the National Federation
of the Blind, I thought BlinkTalkers might be interested that two and a
half years ago, while I was a hardworking Federationist, I proposed
such a system in a written document which I sent to President Marc
Maurer, Curtis Chong, President of the NFB in Computer Science, Jim
Willows, Chair of the NFB Committee on the Evaluation of Technology,
and Tim Cranmer, Chair of the NFB Research and Development Committee.
Mr. Maurer was unresponsive, not even returning a reply to the proposal
I had obviously spent some time and effort in preparing.  Mr. Chong
said he would print it in the newsletter of the NFB in Computer
Science, but then never did and never gave me an explanation for the
change of mind.  I don't know if Mr. Andrews actually read the
proposal, but I talked with him about it by phone and net mail and he
was supportive.

At that time, I did not know of the BlinkLink BBS.  If it had started,
I think that at least the BlinkTalk echo had not or was young (perhaps
our moderator can remind us of the beginning dates).  Since learning of
BlinkLink and then the BlinkTalk echo, I stopped pushing the proposal
because it seemed that that much of the benefits would be realized by
these developments and the committment I saw to these ideals in the
founder and moderator, Willie Wilson.  The VIBUG BBS has always been a
solid contribution, I am speaking as Don Breda, our local sysop does,
of the tremdndous committment of time, energy, and spirit our friend
Willie has given to telecommunications for blind people on a national
and international scale.

I am glad that the NFB national office has finally recognized the
significance of this medium of information and communication for blind
people.  I believe that David Andrews will be a capable sysop and
encourage him to participate with that BBS in the free spirit of blind
people exchanging information, opinions, and experiences in their own
voices.  After the BBS joins BlinkTalk as undoubtedly it would in this
telecommunications spirit, perhaps we may then speak directly with Mr.
Maurer and Dr. Jernigan over the network.

Wither the moderator's permission, the following five messages post the
censored proposal exactly as it was wrtten in January 1989.

--Jamal Mazrui--

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William.Wilson@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (William Wilson) (06/28/91)

Index Number: 16520

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 JM> supportive. At that time, I did not know of the BlinkLink BBS.
 JM> If it had started, I think that at least the BlinkTalk echo had
 JM> not or was young (perhaps our moderator can remind us of the
 JM> beginning dates).

Jamal,
    BlinkLink became a member of FidoNet in October of 1988.  BlinkTalk,
at least in the technical aspects of the word, became an echo in I
believe late November of the same year, although this was primarily just
because Stu Turk and Gary Petraccaro picked it up for their boards,
    A few months later, Don Breda of VIBug, Eric and the guys at COPH,
and Tony Young of Dynamic Duo started picking it up for their boards,
and it shortly after spread to the Moose's Den in Texas, Site in
Oklahoma, the Braille Bank, then in St. Louis, and so on and so on.
    Things really started flying when Gary and I, upon prompting by Stu,
tossed the echo on the backbone about a year and a half ago.  Since
then, we've grown to over 200 boards world-wide.

 JM> voices.  After the BBS joins BlinkTalk as undoubtedly it would
 JM> in this telecommunications spirit, perhaps we may then speak
 JM> directly with Mr. Maurer and Dr. Jernigan over the network.

Yes, it seems almost inconceivable that an organization of the blind,
and in fact one that proports to be "the voice of the blind", would
recognize the benefits of this electronic means of communication, and
not handle the echo devoted to topics related to visual disabilities
distributed via the network of which they are a part, doesn't it?  Add
to this the fact that this echo is restricted to nobody, it is a voice
of the opinions of blind people in general, not the reflections of
any particular blind individual or group, and since no control of the
name given the echo by boards handling it is exerted, one
might justifibly question the motives should the NFB board not handle
BlinkTalk, wouldn't you say?
                                                   Willie

... BlinkTalk, Dr. Deb and Silver in Pittsburgh!

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Gary.Petraccaro@p0.f90.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Petraccaro) (06/28/91)

Index Number: 16590

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 > JD: Will you be carrying an NFB echo if available? <he inquires with

 > JD: a puzzled look on his face>

     Why wouldn't we.  Hey, we'll even post in that echo just as
we welcome debate from all sides, we expect them to do the same.
I think there users would settle for nothing less.  I certainly
hope that they don't name the echo BLINDTALK, though.  That might
be a tad on the excessively annoying side to many sysops who have
enough to do to keep their boards running smoothly besides having
to cope with such exceedingly close names.  Of course, if it's an
NFB policy echo--for members only, then sysops would be stuck
setting up keys and locks (security codes) and it might get
interesting having to check out the users who ask for access.

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