Hello live journal. This is something totally new to me, so I'm not really sure where to start. I guess my name is as good a place as any. *smiles* I am Bob. I am married to the beautiful talented Rox'E, and we live inNew Orleans, AKA the big easy with our 4 dogs. Rudy attitude, a 28 inch 90 pound golden retreiver and my guide, Mill'E Max, golden retreiver and Rox's in home service dog and retired guide, Bristol Elisabeth Rose Toes, queen of the goldens, also Rox'E'S retired guide, and last but not least Gracy Louise Cheeze, the black border collie and Rox'E'S current guide.
I am an assistive technology trainer/consultant. I am currently in the process of obtaining a vender number from LRS Louisianna rehabilitation services so I can begin training blind/VI people in New Orleans in the use of jaws, window eyes, open book, braille note, packmate, etc . . .I have 2 sons, Vincent and Donovan who currently live in colorado with their mother. They are ages 15, and 13.
I like good beer, good books, good rum, spending time with friends and family, and just generally
chillin and having fun! I am a straight forward kind of guy. I tell it like it is, and any one who does not like that does not have to read on. I try to be respectful of others, and expect the same in return.
I guess that about covers the greetings part of this post, so now onto the gripes. As I said above, I am trying to obtain a vender number from rehab here in New Orleans. Anyone who has ever delt with rehab knows what a pain they can be. This is a Government agency, who's perpose is to provide funding and support to disabled indeviduals, specifically blind/ VI people. Can anyone tell me why in the name of God/Goddess they haven't figured out yet that blinks can not read printed materials, unless they have access to a scanner and scanning software, which many do not? LRS does not even have a braille embosser, nor do they know where they can go to have materials printed in braille. It is un-fucking real! One of their management staff could not even figure out how to email me some forms which were in PDF format. I absolutely hate PDF documents. They say that Adobe reader is fully accessible, but if anyone has ever tried to fill out a form using adobe with jaws, you will know that it is a fucking pain in the ole arse! The guy told me that I should have some one who could read the printed material to me, and help me fill out the forms! Come on! Can anyone tell me what is wrong with that picture? They are supposed to be promoting independence, and they are telling me that I have to depend on someone else to do something that with a modicum of extra effort from them to follow the laws of the government they work for, it would be possible for me to do it myself. I really wish these idiots would pull their heads out of their collective asses and take a look around. Even if I did have someone sighted who was willing to come running when I needed them to fill out a form, or read a letter, it would be hypocritical of me to depend on them. I refuse to do it. I converted their PDF documents to MS word docs, and filled them out, but some of the formatting was changed/lost in the conversion. I filled them out and submitted them, and I hope the hell they find a reason to complain, because that would be just the cue I needed to give them a lesson in accessibility! grhrhrhrhrhrhrhrrhhrhrhrhrhrhrrhrhrhrholhlhlhlhlhlhlhlhlhlhllhhlhllhl! That kind of thing just totally torks my ass!
*sigh* I feel better now…

Ok, if you’re still reading after all that bitching, you must be either real board, or just plain crazy. Which, in either case, means that you’re probably my kind of people. I look forward to getting to know all of yall.

Until next time remember to avoid wooden nickels, they have nasty splinters!

Current Location: at my kitchen table
Current Mood: aggravated
Current Music: rain and pigeons