Looking Back on 2009

In many ways, 2009 was a year of change. For the first time in eight years,
we inaugurated a new President of the United States. Regardless of your
political persuasion, everyone has to admit that it was a significant time
in our nation's history, swearing in of the first President who is
African-American. Changes happened in our nation's and world's economies
that will affect all of us for years to come.

How were we as people who are blind affected by what has happened in 2009?
Certainly, we could not escape the realities of the economic downturn in our
nation. Perhaps some of us lost jobs, perhaps those of us who still are
working experienced cutbacks. Perhaps state rehabilitation services had to
cut back on purchases. Whatever your experience, the economy affected our
lives as it did the rest of the nation.

Many of the major things that happened in 2009 centered around politics.
Regardless of how one personally feels about Health Care Reform, there are
significant things we as people who are blind need. Things like better
access to prescription drug information, and Medicare and insurance
reimbursements for vision related services and equipment.

The continuing changes in technology have affected people who are blind.
The growth of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter has helped
more people who are blind become more connected. I also believe this has
been helped by alternatives to the more expensive adaptive programs like
JAWS and Window-Eyes. Programs like System Access, System Access to Go, and
NVDA have put adaptive solutions within reach of more people. We've seen at
least one company come out with a cheaper 40-cell Braille Display. The
proliferation of Netbooks can put the power of the computer, literally, ad
one's fingertips almost anywhere. And, devices like the BookSense and
Plextalk have joined the Victor Stream in making books, music, podcasts and
other things available on the go.

We've managed to bring the discussion of quiet cars and the hazard they pose
to pedestrians who are blind to a little closer to the front burner. Still
work to do there. We also must continue to work in 2010 for passage of
legislation to improve telecommunications and video access for people who
are blind.

As we approach the end of 2009, we who are blind will be affected by much of
what happens in general society in 2010. There will be a mid term election,
and who knows how or if that will change our political landscape.
Certainly, with the latest attempted terrorist attack security and safety in
the skies will be revisited and we who are blind will be affected by that.
We'll just have to see how things go. As we move toward 2010, I wish
everyone a Happy New Year. Enjoy all of those football games tomorrow, and
the Rose Bowl Parade featuring the Ohio State School for the Blind's
Marching Band.