arizona. and they have exclusive contracts with MS and FS. they require that I justify a need for an apple product (even when it would save tons of taxpayer money). the process here is so adversarial that you stand almost chance of getting what you need.
I might get this changed while up in colorado. -eric On Mar 26, 2012, at 8:38 PM, David Tanner wrote: > What state do you live in? > > Remember that not all states do things the same. In Minnesota we purchase > Apple computers, iPads, iTouch and (occasionally) an iPhone. And, the > reason we don't purchase many iPhones has nothing to do with policy of our > agency, The purchasing policies of the state in general make purchasing an > iPhone very complicated and difficult unless it is being purchased for use by > a state employee, and that employee must have a very good justification if > they want the state to buy them for use at work. It will usually require > fileing a "Reasonable Accomidation Request". > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Oyen" <eric.o...@gmail.com> > To: <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> > Sent: Monday, March 26, 2012 6:45 AM > Subject: Re: iPad, iPhone, Mac for the blind > > > second reply. > > understand that all the other groups want in on this. some of them actually > have more resources they can draw on that we do not have. > > I tried to petition the state here to allow me to continue my computer skills > training with a mac and was told they won't support that, even though a > number of fortune 500 companies use macs in house as their platform of choice > (EbAY, Yelp, and a few others). I have also been told that the contracts the > state has with freedom scientific precludes them from getting > hardware/software from any other vendor. so? this means I am being forced to > start training on a system that has some huge issues, doesn't work well and > generally gets crappier with each release. anyone try calling FS lately? half > their calls are routed to Mumbai, India. Don't even have me go into all the > problems that windows has (I am well experienced with windows and its design > flaws). > > I want a system that is stable and "just works" and macs are as close to that > as anyone can ever get. all the downtime paid for by the state for windows > issues represents a non-trivial expenditure every year. last I checked with a > IT friend of mine in eBAY, their downtime with the mac hardware was only > about 2 days out of the entire year. hell, the windows VM's failed far more > often. > > so here we are. I want something that will pay for itself in taxpayer savings > and less downtime and they want to justify their useless jobs. > > guess I am getting punchy. haven't slept in 3 days. > > -eric > > On Mar 26, 2012, at 4:00 AM, Ricardo Walker wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> The problem with what you say is, its not just blind people fighting for >> that assistance. You have those with develop mental disabilities, emotional >> disorders, motor disabilities, and the list goes on. And they all want >> there share of the pie. So the same congressman you have wear a blind fold >> for a year, will also be asked to sit in a wheel chair for a year. Wear ear >> pluges for a year, etc. >> >> Ricardo Walker >> rica...@appletothecore.info >> Twitter:@apple2thecore >> www.appletothecore.info >> >> On Mar 26, 2012, at 6:53 AM, Eric Oyen <eric.o...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> at least you had stuff to sell. I don't even have that. I would get about >>> $100 for this machine on the used market. the linux laptop even less. I own >>> very little, so having capital to work with just isn't happening. >>> >>> I, too, have run into the bureaucratic quagmire of dealing with various >>> charities just to get assistance on some critical needs (medications, etc). >>> I would like very much to meet the lawyers that made this situation and >>> have them wear a blindfold for 1 year (you cannot take it off for >>> anything). have all the members of congress setup this way, all the upper >>> management of the US Government and all the lawyers for all the charities. >>> 1 year of blindness and there would certainly be a boatload of changes for >>> the better (such as public education, better accessibility, better job >>> training and a vastly more streamlined system of getting things done. >>> >>> I would congress read the 70,000 pages of regulations currently on the >>> books... IN BRAILLE. I think even reading the entire text of the affordable >>> care act in braille would scare the whole lot of them off the hill. >>> >>> hehe nice pipedream but it gives you an idea of just how much frustration I >>> go through EVERY DAY. >>> >>> -eric >>> >>> On Mar 26, 2012, at 2:39 AM, Lewis Alexander wrote: >>> >>>> Hi Eric, >>>> >>>> yep I completely agree with you and understand your plite. >>>> >>>> I was forced to close down the project due to two major factors. Lack of >>>> support regarding supply of equipment and a poorly run charities >>>> commission stating different rulings and then telling me that my project >>>> does not warrant Commission status, thus failing to grant registered >>>> numbers, etc. >>>> >>>> This project has helped a very small number of users (8 in all) and it's >>>> left me in a very serious situation which I've now resolved. >>>> >>>> The problem also exists wherever you are in the world. Funding for >>>> accessible equipment for the blind is non existant. Why? well from my >>>> years of experience in this matter, various charities set up conflicting >>>> guidelines and rulings which do not help the individual in need of the >>>> support. For over 12 years since I lost my sight completely, I had to >>>> apply for various grants. within 10 years, every grant (500+ in total) >>>> were rejected, all because of different factors by their own rulings, >>>> offerings of £100 to £250 towards a product and then not being able to >>>> apply to X amount of other charities (connected to the associated charity >>>> in question) due to ridiculous clauses. >>>> >>>> I use my iphone 3GS and macbook pro. the only reason I have these is >>>> through having to sell everything I owned including my old music gear from >>>> years ago to raise the funds for the kit needed, from there it's been a >>>> thing of taking on a few projects to raise cash for equipment I still have >>>> to rely on. >>>> >>>> internationally, we need to change the system and yes APPLE needs to help >>>> us out on this. They have developed products which openly and directly >>>> support blind and disabled users and yet we have to pay an absolute >>>> premium, as rightly said here, over 85% of blind people in the USA are out >>>> of work and cannot afford the equipment and services needed, the same here >>>> in the UK even though disability living allowance and other components >>>> aren't enough to cover costs of equipment. You're lucky if you get into a >>>> university to receive grants for equipment you need. In my case, through >>>> my education, the equipment I had to use failed me all the time, the wrong >>>> software, wrong hardware and operating systems which by their own >>>> admission were poorly managed and had huge issues. hence me taking on the >>>> matters in person and resolving them. a battle I don't want to entertain >>>> ever again. >>>> >>>> It's at this point where we as a nation of blind and visually impaired >>>> people make a stand and a change for the better. >>>> >>>> lew >>>> >>>> On 26 Mar 2012, at 10:22, Eric Oyen wrote: >>>> >>>>> I really wish there was a financing program for the blind when it comes >>>>> to mac hardware (laptops, desktops, iPad, iPhone). given that I (and a >>>>> great many others) am living on a disability income (more than 85% of the >>>>> blind in the US are), I find it nearly impossible to save up for any >>>>> equipment. Hell, I had to make my own Hackintosh and load it with a store >>>>> purchased copy of snow leopard. It cost me $30 for the OS and about $400 >>>>> to assemble the machine. at minimum, I would have to spend nearly twice >>>>> that much for a comparably equipped mac mini and almost $1500 or more for >>>>> a reasonably powerful macbook pro/air. given that I have to spend my >>>>> money on medications, rent and food, there is no way I can even save up >>>>> for one at all. >>>>> >>>>> there used to be a "free macs for the blind" charity in Great Britain, >>>>> but the person running that organization was forced to give it up as >>>>> there were too many problems involved. We need something like that here >>>>> in North America, but I just don't see that happening. I tried to query >>>>> Apple about doing something like this and was given the polite brush off >>>>> (thats nice kid, here is a soda. now go over in the corner.). hell, they >>>>> have $115 Billion in CASH laying around they are not using. they could >>>>> earn themselves a lot of good publicity if they offered some macs to the >>>>> blind at a vastly discounted rate. it would also give them an in to a >>>>> market they don't currently have. >>>>> >>>>> anyway, time for me to climb down off the soapbox. >>>>> >>>>> -eric >>>>> >>>>> On Mar 26, 2012, at 1:38 AM, Neil Barnfather - TalkNav wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> one thing that I can note that is not seeming to be mentioned is the >>>>>> fact that there ar certain Apps which are not available on iPhone / iPod >>>>>> Touch, yet, that are found on the iPad. >>>>>> >>>>>> The iPad from my prespective is purely for consumption, and I use it for >>>>>> news papers, which 4 of which are not found on the iPhone, and 5 are on >>>>>> the iPhone, but, only as reduced versions. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Regards, >>>>>> >>>>>> Neil Barnfather >>>>>> >>>>>> Talks List Administrator >>>>>> Twitter @neilbarnfather >>>>>> >>>>>> TalkNav is a Nuance, Code Factory and Sendero dealer, as well as an >>>>>> Apple iOS, Macintosh and Android accessibility specialist. For all your >>>>>> accessible phone, PDA and GPS related enquiries visit www.talknav.com >>>>>> >>>>>> URL: - www.talknav.com >>>>>> e-mail: - serv...@talknav.com >>>>>> Phone: - +44 844 999 4199 >>>>>> >>>>>> On 24 Mar 2012, at 08:43, David Hole wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> hi folks. >>>>>>> I just wonder, and many here have asked, so I thought I'd ask you in >>>>>>> this group. >>>>>>> What's the benefit for blind people to have an iPad instead of an >>>>>>> iPhone? >>>>>>> I mean, as far as I can see, the difference is only the screen size... >>>>>>> Am I right? >>>>>>> Actually I'd like to have one myself, but I can't find any good >>>>>>> reasons to have it, since I have both an iPhone and a Mac. >>>>>>> Hope someone here can give me reasons to get one :p >>>>>>> Best regards David >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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