Blog
Giving The Visually Impaired a Voice
The Cost of Accessibility
Access isn’t cheap. Accessible technology allows the disabled contact to a whole new world of learning, employment and entertainment that otherwise wouldn’t be possible; however, accessibility comes with a price tag. Access to a computer using a screen reader can cost...
Summer Mix and Mingle
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have a support system that encouraged my participation in summer fun despite my blindness. For as long as I can remember, I attended summer camp and training programs, and even a summer college course. These camps were both...
Let’s Celebrate
This will be a celebration of those who define their circumstances. They do not allow their circumstances define them. I want to emphasize the word “celebration” in this article. I am celebrating those who have taken what they’ve been handed and, instead of allowing...
Painting the Image Unseen
I paint the world in my own image, Pictures of my own making Colors seen through, Object associations. Drawn from within, Truly the mind’s eye Without the influence, From the outside. A voice can paint a picture, Whether fact or fiction The image is mine to hold, My...
Encouraging Vs. Expecting Accessibility
I would like to discuss encouraging accessibility versus expecting accessibility. Over the years, I’ve had visually impaired friends and acquaintances who express the attitude of, “why is this or that not accessible? How dare they!” While we as blind people should...
Louisiana Association for the Blind Acquires Hilburn Printing
SHREVEPORT – June 25, 2019 – Today, Louisiana Association for the Blind (L.A.B.) announced that it has acquired Hilburn Printing. This acquisition is part of a multi-year strategy to improve employment opportunities within targeted industries for Louisianans with...
Happy Birthday ADA!
This month marks the 28th anniversary of the signing of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). This law protects individuals with disabilities from being discriminated against because of their disability. Under the law, a person cannot be denied access to...
Let’s Talk Employment!
The visually impaired have a diamond in their employment portfolio. It is the Randolph Sheppard program, also known as the Business Enterprise Program (BEP). This employment option gives an individual who is blind the experience of being self-employed and earning a...
Convenience For Some, Accessibility For Others
There is one way the world is becoming more disability friendly without that being its intent. How is this, you ask? It’s in the form of food and grocery delivery, and ridesharing services. With so much inaccessibility still to conquer, these services seemed to be...
Social security: The Monster We Hate, or The Teddy Bear We Love?
Perhaps it’s a combination of the two. For most of us with disabilities, I suspect this is the case. Whether you are on Social Security Insurance (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), I am sure you have felt a conflict of emotions. We benefit from...
The Bark of the Underdog
A recent class assignment inspired the following thoughts. Will the disabled ever not be the underdog? Will we ever have equal access to employment, information, recreational activities, etc.? The pessimistic, yet realistic answer would be no. This does not mean we...
A Vacation Wrapped in Networking
June is the official beginning of summer. For those of us who are blind, it’s also the season of national conventions. There are two large conventions that are of most note during the summer: the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Convention, and the American...