Dazed & Delirious

How Do You Use The Internet (& Tumblr) If You’re Blind?

I use NVDA, which is a screenreader, when on Windows. When using other people’s computers, have a version of it on a USB key.. or if I’m unable to do that, I use SATOGO (browser-based screenreader)

Also, I loathe JAWS, its overpriced bloatware IMO, I will never install it or zoomtext ever again.

As for Tumblr, everything you see that I reblog that is a picture has been described to me by a friend or family member, 99% of the text posts have been read or written by me using NVDA. Everything else I do online is completely autonomous.

If you’re curious, you can try my screenreader here

Thanks for the questions! If you have anything you’d like to ask me, drop a note! http://blindbombshell.tumblr.com/ask

Personal Post of Text Wall-ness

Almost four years ago, I started losing my vision. At first, I thought I needed glasses, but by January of 2010, I was no longer driving my car or working. Visiting doctors began & I applied for Disability, started working with my local blind services. Fast-forward to 2011, I’m at BLIND, Inc in Minneapolis - even though the government hasn’t allowed me Disability, the local services thinks my case is strong enough that they will be compensated for sending me to blindness rehabilitation. 

I learn as much as I can &, feeling suicidal over my vision loss, I return home. I’m denied again for Disability. My lawyer appeals, nothing happens - every time I call to check on the status, I’m brushed off by Social Security. Frustrated, I begin to work with Senator Thune’s office - they manage to move my court appointment up by an entire year and everything goes swimmingly….

 The court asks for & is awarded an entire month to review my case - my lawyer is upbeat & certain everything is going to work-out, now. Meanwhile, I cannot receive any assistance for my blindness - as I am not declared Disabled by the government: I cannot get books in Braille unless I buy them; I cannot take tests (such as the SATs or ACTs) in Braille; I cannot get any further assistance from Services Of The Blind until I’m declared Disabled. 

All this is a continuing theme - my life is on hold until I am declared Disabled.

Today, my lawyer informs me that I have been denied… Again. That we will appeal - again. That this process may take YEARS more. And I’m just frustrated & sad & I don’t know what to do to make anything better. No one wants to hire the uneducated blind girl for anything, insurance worries & all that, & I haven’t had a paying job in almost three years. I can’t see the doctor because I can’t afford $15 for even the “free” clinic.

This is ridiculous - I can’t work menial jobs, can’t read print, can’t drive - this whole process is taking way longer than it needs to. Way to be, America - if I was crazy or a drug-addict, I’d already have assistance. 

College/Disability Rant

Blah blah blah, my needs.

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Tumblr knows we’re lazy

you-should-let-malik-you:

-Press J to scroll down per post
-Press K to scroll up per post 
-Press L to like a post
-Press Alt and the REBLOG button to reblog automatically 
-Press CTRL and the REBLOG button to open the post you want to reblog, in a new tab
-Press TAB to scroll back to the top of the dashboard

Tumblr knows there are blind/visually-impaired people who use their services and appreciate the ability to navigate quickly through posts and their pages… But sure, go lazy people, too.

(Source: ohnoitstrixia, via temperanceseeley)

robbiestarch:

[Image is a black and white photo of a young woman who is making a face at the camera, she’s holding a solo cup and a…

WHY DO PEOPLE DO THIS OMG I HATE

IF WE DON’T HAVE EYES TO SEE A PICTURE WE DON’T HAVE EYES TO READ A FUCKING DESCRIPTION

(Source: gornstars)

So, there’s this girl…

Jade Salero. She’s going blind & has made a bucket list of things to see before it happens. Must be nice to have a rich family & advanced notice of what’s going to happen to you. 

The thing is, it’s not a Bucket List, okay? A bucket list implies her life is ending - it’s not ending. She’s simply losing her sight. That’s it. Life goes on. Her time would be better spent learning alternative techniques and Braille immediately than hopping on a plane for the Grand Canyon or whatever. If she learns that, she can be on the road exploring even when her vision starts to fade. She won’t have to rely on anyone and can spend more of her time experiencing the world than if she goes on this trip and loses her sight when she’s on it. What will happen then? She’ll be completely reliant on the people around her and be insecure about herself and her blindness.

Everyone is patting this girl on the back & giving her pity, these people need a reality check. Hell, she even got an article about her published here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2138218/Jade-Salero-wants-beautiful-places-goes-blind.html She’s not unique or special - this type of stuff happens all the damn time. 

Trust me, I know.

Disabled parents fight to keep newborn at home

samslave:

A disabled couple in Mississauga are fighting to keep their newborn son after social workers threatened to take the boy away unless he receives round-the-clock care from an “able-bodied attendant.”

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The fuq? Damn ableist bastards. How is this even okay? They should observe the couple with the child before threatening to remove the child from the home. What’s next? If I get pregnant, are they going to force me abort it because it might be blind or would they tell me I have to get married because a single blind woman cannot raise a child on her own?

Sometimes, People Get Mad At Me for Not Being a “Voice” for the Blind On My Tumblr

And I just laugh & laugh.