Voting Day Blues

I have been very hyped about this election. Why?  I have chomped at the bit in anticipation of dramatically and meaningfully casting my inaccessible ballot at the polling station. Let me remind you about the core elements of a democratic vote; secret, independent and verifiable. I have gone on and on, to EVERYONE who will listen and to some who won’t, about the importance of these elements, the sanctity of the electoral process, and how I am denied this right by virtue of inaction on the part of Elections Canada. I am blind, as are hundreds of thousands of other voters. We do not have electronic voting in Canada. We do not have telephone voting. We do not have voting machines at the polls. We do not have Braille ballots. I thought that today I would be pumped and ready to let loose my schpeel at the Presbyterian church where I would be voting. I ran through my dialogue, my diatribe, my kvetching complaint, like a Shakespearean actor preparing for Stratford.

Here’s what really happened. I made it to the church, and found myself outside with a woman in a wheelchair attempting to open a monstrously large door (no automatic opener). I opened it for her, but it was not wide enough. A worker from the poll came and helped to open another door. I commented wryly about Elections Canada and their accessible voting sites. She commiserated. By this point, I had, for some reason, already lost my oomph.  Maybe it’s the time of year, or ‘my time of the month’.  Some one came over as Opal and I walked into the large church basement. The usual useless pointing and “over there” was followed by an arm-grab which I yanked away.  Someone else gave sensible directions to the table I needed.  My ID was requested and checked.  I did NOT give a long-winded lecture on the difficulty blind people have in meeting ID requirements, given that we don’t have driver’s license and many of us have no passport. Some of us choose not to have or use a charitable ID (CNIB) for reasons which are too numerous and complicated for this blog.  I provided my stunning photo ID cards which have a photo of Opal and me posing together (CGDB and the Attorney General of Ontario), but my Guide dog ID cards do not have my address on them, so I added a phone bill. I had considered bringing a Braille bill, but I did not want to be turned away. At this point, the DRO asked if I wanted a Braille template. My interest peaked, as I thought I had discussed this ad nauseum with Silvestre from elections Canada and had confirmed there would be no Braille on the ballot, and to expect the usual flaky template. Now I had no idea what they were offering me.  I asked (just to confuse them) if it was contracted or uncontracted Braille. The had no clue, so I let them off the hook and told them that I knew both, so it did’nt matter.  The DRO put the ballot into the ‘Braille template’ and then came the offer to “come into the voting area with you”. I said I would pass, given that I had this allegedly accessible Braille template in my hand.  Opal and I parked ourselves behind the privacy screen at a little table. I started to read the template. Numbers. Just numbers! I called out, “um, there’s no names here, just numbers”.  The old lady who had grabbed me when I came in, offered to read the names to me. I said that would not do. The DRO guy came over and offered to read them “as they appear in sequence. then you pick the braille number”, he said with full expectation that somehow this would be acceptable to me. I had PLANNED to make a big ‘to-do’, maybe proclaim myself the Rosa Parks of the voting blind, given that I am repeatedly told that blind people ‘have found this acceptable for years’. Instead, I told him “no thanks”, and ” if I can’t read it for myself”…( in a country where government material must be provided in alternate formats by law),  “I’ll have to  spoil my ballot”. He apologised (as everyone always does). I scrawled multiple X’s in allthe holes in my template and ballot and handed it to the old lady. She wisely did not attempt to go into the  insufferably patronizing routine of allowing me to put it in the box, but quickly disposed of it, stuffing it into the ballot box herself.   I walked out, declining someone’s eager offer for me to use the elevator, saying, “my legs are fine, we’ll use the stairs”. I left deflated.   I did not call the media, or my party delegate, or the PM (who doesn’t give a flying f…k anyway), or the queen, or Silvestre at Elections Canada (who I’m guessing was pretty busy today). Instead, I went for my routine blood work and called it a day. I wish I was one of those clever musicians, ’cause I’d be writing a tune tonight…’Voting Day Blues’.

STOP PRESS!!! Megan Leslie, newbie NDP canditate and personal acquaiantance declared winner of Halifax riding! Go get em in Ottawa, kid…and remember your roots…and your blind friends…

Opal goes to Sunday school

Actually,  Universalist Unitarians call it RE or Religious Education.  There are no Bible studies and I don’t think there is anything particular religious about it.  UU kids learn about many things with the hope that it prepares them to become good human beings and citizens who care about others.  Today, Opal and I visited with the kids ‘upstairs’.  Our church is housed in a historic building. Originally, it had been two large, private homes with several staircases and many rooms of all sizes.  We had pre-arranged our visit with the RE teacher.  The number of kids in the RE class varies from week to week. Today, there were ten or so. They ranged in age between 2 and 10. Opal knew something was going to be different the minute we entered church.  She wanted to take me to ‘my seat’, but I coaxed her to the front row. We sat on the floor with the young ones during the ‘Story For All Ages’.  Then, when the congregation began to sing, “Go Now In Peace”, to usher the kids out of the room where the service is held,  I asked her to “follow”.  Up the multiple stairways that twist and turn we went  with a backpack full of ’stuff’.  We often go to schools to talk to kids about Guide dog etiquette and also about vision loss and ‘blind stuff’.  The difference today, was the age spread of our audience.  It’s difficult to keep things simple enough for everyone to understand.  Still, I think it was a good learning experience for them.  The first question was, “what happens if Opal becomes blind”?    This, oddly enough, is not the first time I have been asked this or something similar. I was once asked, if Opal’s mom had been blind.   Other questions have included, “Does she take a bath with you?”, “Does she chase cats?”, and “Will she always be your dog?”.  Jordan (the one who asked about Opal going blind) was tenacious.  Her follow up question was, “Would she still be able to work if she was blind?”  Once we established how unlikely that would be to occur, we talked about Opal’s job and why she must be allowed to concentrate.  I must confess, I had an ulterior motive in planning to  visit the kids… I have noticed that several of them come up and pat and talk to Opal as we are walking through the crowded church entry area and fellowship room.  My solution?  Be proactive and chat them up and sort them out as a group.  I offered ourselves as guest speakers, and the RE teacher was delighted to plan for our visit. ( I do most of the talking. Opal is the silent type).  The culprits who pat her, may or may not have been present today,  but kids tend to share their information with each other.   I hope so.  It’s always surprising for kids (and adults) to learn that the approximate cost of putting a Guide dog into the hands of a blind person, is in excess of $35,000.00.  We also brought gadgets which usually interest kids.  The talking calculator drew some “Neat!”s. The Braille kids books were also interesting for some.  I pointed out that blind people do not all know Braille but I find it very useful.  Out came the Braille tags which are used to put on clothing, the labeler to create stick on labels, and examples of a Braille phone bill and bank statement.  They peered through the vision simulator cards I had brought. These are plastic cards with circles to peer through, with each circle providing a simulation of what things might l0ok like with diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, cataracts or glaucoma.  Opal, meanwhile had a power nap.  She woke up periodicaly to comfort the little guy (2 years old) who was in the care of a family friend today (not too happy to away from mom).  When the service downstairs could be heard wrapping up,  the kids began to collect their things. Opal and I  packed up and left to find one of the many twisty stairways down to the ground floor.  We ended up in the fellowship room where everyone usually gathers to shares tea and coffee after the service. At least three older ladies and one man asked to pet Opal.   I realized that our work was not done yet!  Finally, I decided to have EVERYONE who wanted, a chance to greet her…”Get it out of your system today” I suggested. The UU church dog lovers gave her a pat or two and thanked me.  They said they would be OK from now on. I’m not entirely convinced.  We may end up having a similar talk on Guide dog etiquette  with the grown ups some time. 

Braille and the ‘Braille Crisis’

What is Braille?  Braille is a system of  6 raised dots, arranged in combinations in two vertical lines. There are 63 combinations. The space they occupy is called the Braille cell.  The positions of the dots within the cell are identified by a specific number;  top left is #1, middle left is #2,  bottom left is #3, top right is #4, middle right is #5, and bottom right is #6. Louis Braille was born near Paris in 1809.  His father was a shoemaker.  One day,  at age four,  while Louis was playing with a tool for punching holes in leather (awl), he ended up piercing  his eye.  The other eye soon became infected, and he lost all his vision.  He was sent to a school for the blind in Paris.   In 1821, a man named Charles Barbier visited the school.  He showed the kids his communication system called, ‘Nightwriting’. It had been developed for soldiers to pass information to one another at night.  While it failed for the French military, it did give Louis the idea to develop its use for the blind in 1827.  He expanded it to include codes for math(Nemeth) and music notation.  Braille would not become a big hit in his lifetime.  In fact, it was ‘banned’ from use with blind kids for a while.  Naturally, kids enjoyed the idea of reading the contraband books, so it did not die.  In 1868, Dr. Thomas Armitage led a group of four blind men to form the ‘British Society For the Embossed Literature of the Blind’.   Louis Braille died of tuberculosis in 1852 at age 43.  In 1952 his body was moved to the Pantheon site where National heroes of France are honoured.  One little know fellow is William Moon. He was born in Kent, England in 1818.  He developed the ‘Moon’ system of reading in 1845.  It uses raised curves and lines with 14 characters.  Moon  is easier to use, and is much easier to learn by people who loose sight later in life, particularly if they are elderly.  William Moon died in 1894. His daughter continued his work and founded ‘Moonworks’.  For more on Moon, visit…. http://www.moonliteracy.org.uk Braille has been around for  over 180 years.  It has provide blind children with the opportunity to become literate.   Today, it is estimated that fewer than 20% of Blind adults use Braille.  The push and allure of technology has created an audio- dependent generation of Blind people.  I sit here, using a computer that is ‘talking’ to me, courtesy of screen-reading software allowing me to  write a blog on Braille.  Somehow,   I find the irony of that, to be both amusing and alarming.  I had the opportunity to learn the alphabet, grammar, syntax, phonics, use of punctuation, composition etc. as a sighted child.  When I began to loose my vision, I made it my business to learn Braille.  The emphasis of the type of ‘mainstream’ education Blind children recieve today, is not on Braille literacy.  We now have, what is called by many, a  ”Braille Crisis” . In fact, legislation called the Braille Bill was passed in Minnesota in 1987.  Groups such as the National Federation of the Blind, have advocated vigourously for similar bills to be passed.  There are many more states that have endorsed Braille bills.  These protect the important need/right of  blind children to become literate.  Audio-heavy education does not foster literate children who can move ahead successfully in life.  

Traveling Blind

Interesting to note that travel accessibility for people who are blind or partially sighted has taken an even bigger step forward.  Cruises are now catering to the requests and requirements of their patrons who are Blind. In fact, some travel agencies are creating special packages for groups of people who are blind.  Guide dogs on board?  No problem. Appropriate signage and menus (Braille and Large Print) have become a more common feature on some of these ships.  Check the web site of the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality http://www.sath.org  Also, one of the travel agents specializing in these cruises (Florida) is found at: http://www.outtasighttravel.com 

Alternate Format Billing

I had time on my hands yesterday, so I phoned up my power company (Nova Scotia Power) and asked them if they could start sending me my statement in Braille.  I also asked them if they provided other options to customers who are Blind or partially sighted, such as Large Print, audio cassette or disc.  I mentioned that I was not certain, but I thought they might have a legal obligation to do so.  The clerk seemed confused.  She said she would call back after she checked with her supervisors.  Seven hours later, She did call back to tell me, “we don’t have the technical means to provide Braille or large print bills and statements”.  I then asked her to send that statement to me in writing.   I have no idea what our laws say about utility company requirements to provide alternate format billing, though I would bet that it’s in the books.  If it is not, it will be eventually  (grin). I will be a thorn in Nova Scotia Power’s side, until they ensure that alternate format billing options are available. The CRTC (Canadian Radio Telecommunications Commission) has issued all sorts of rulings for telephone, cell phone and cable companies, directing them to provide alternate format billing to customers who request it.  If you don’t know what your local telephone, mobile phone, and utility companies provide in the way of alternate format billing, ask.  Be specific. Ask if they provide Braille, Large Print, audio cassette, or computer disc.  while you’re at it, ask them if their web site is ‘accessible’.  They might not know what you’re talking about.  Their web site designers should. I don’t think people who are Blind or partially sighted should be expected to pay a utility bill they can not read themselves. 

Why Blind People Get ‘Freebies’…Rights or Charity?

People who are legally Blind (20/200 vision or worse with best correction), get a lot of free stuff, or perks ( or so it appears). This has led to great misconception by the general public. Other groups of persons with disabilities have expressed discontent with particular ‘advantages’ given to the Blind community. In addition, I sense  that a pervasive guilt trip is going on with many blind people.  Let me explain the kind of freebies that are at the root of  the whole issue.  While some countries have very similar policies, I will only speak to the situation as it affects most Canadians who are ‘registered’ with the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind). What sorts of ‘advantages’ or freebies do blind people have, and why do they have them? Books. Talking books and Braille books are available (usually with a free device to play the audio material on) from the central CNIB library.  Books, major magazines, and newspapers in audio or Braille format, travel back and forth, POST-FREE to people in Canada. In fact, ‘free matter for the blind’ is stamped on many items, including all BRAILLE matter, including personal letters, bank statements,  utility bills, government documents, and Braille paper stock. Other audio correspondence material travels post-free as well. These might include course tapes to a school such as Hadley  School for the Blind,  tax assessments on cassette from Revenue Canada, or the like.  All items mailed ‘free matter for the Blind’ must be mailed in unsealed envelopes or containers.  Blind students requiring textbooks, or anyone doing research or wanting specific information can request it of the national library for the blind, and they will eventually receive their information in audio, Braille, or computer disc format.  The process takes time and students often end up paying people in their community to do the job because of school project deadlines.  Why do blind people get free books and postage of same? This has to do with the right that recognizes that everyone must  have ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  The core of this right centers around other human rights, including the right to equitable  education, employment, and fair and responsible participation in the democratic process.   The reality is, that the number of people who are blind, remain disproportionate in university enrolment,  and employment.  Interestingly enough, the internet may be changing all that. Technology has given everyone more information. It is making life much easier, in some respects, and much more complicated in others, for all of us.   The Right to Information Access,  is extending into the area of web accessibility. The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is suing retail giant, Target, because their web site is not accessible to people who use screen reading soft ware.  This case is drawing a lot of attention because the issue of web accessibility for the blind, in a world that has created a “digital divide” in its rapid growth, could prove to be pivotal. It might  ensure that there is universal access to services, commerce and entertainment on the web, in the same way that physical access is mandated in the ‘real world’.  The second area that gives alleged ‘perks’ to the blind, is transportation. In most urban centers where public transit exists,  registered blind people normally receive a pass for free transit. Why? For some of the same reasons the blind have Access to Information. In order to get to work, school, health care, government offices,  or to go shopping, voting, or anywhere else, blind people must rely on transit. Blind people are not permitted to drive, therefore the free transit pass was introduced as a means of protecting the right to access employment, education etc.  This is a very sensitive issue.  Other groups representing people with disabilities argue that they should have free transit too.  Indeed, in some European cities, they do. However, the argument that supports limitation of free transit to the blind, is that people who  are deaf, and some wheel chair users, are permitted to drive modified vehicles and theorectically have access.  The reality is that a large number of ALL people with disabilities,  live in poverty and will never be able to afford a vehicle of any kind, let alone one that requires expensive modifications. Many blind people never exercise the availability of this free pass, because they do not travel independantly and choose to use a form of para transit which they must pay for. Others travel with friends and family members, or they simply don’t travel at all. In the city of Halifax, the free transit pass is negotiated between the CNIB and Metro Transit. The current pass was re-issued in 2005 after a two year period when blind people were caught in a ‘negotiating’ period and were told to just carry their expired passes.  The pass issued in 2005 expires this year (2008). The air is now rank with apprehension  again, as new negotiations continue for renewal. I am disgusted by the tactics employed. Many blind people express feelings of  intimidation when they encounter unacceptable service from a Metro Transit driver. They choose not to formally complain or report drivers because they are afraid of ‘losing the pass’. There is a prevalant sense that they should feel ‘grateful’ that they have a free transit pass and should ‘just suck it up’. This is partly because they do not know their rights,  do not understand that there is recourse available to protect their rights (Human Rights complaints),  or they do not possess a sense of  full ‘entitlement’.  In the area of air and train travel,  passengers with disabilities are sometimes permitted to have an ‘attendant’ travelling with them at a free or reduced rate.  Some movie theatres provide  free admission  for ‘attendants’ accompanying a disabled person.  

Low/No Vision Survival Tips

I am a big fan of organizational skills. It really saddens me to think of some of my friends who have experienced  recent vision loss, who struggle because of poor coping strategies. I have three friends in mind…Not one owns a pocket recorder, not one has used their stove in over a year, not one has cleaned their apartment or living space themselves in recent memory. It is no wonder that they are depressed! If I had no reliable means of keeping phone numbers and vital information at my fingertips….if I ate frozo dinners every day…if I had to pay strangers to clean up the place…I would be a mess too!  Perhaps you or a family member needs to re-organize your day to day means of surviving?  Here are a few ideas to pass on.

•  There are several ways to keep track of telephone numbers. Create a Large Print list if your RV (residual vision) permits.  Or, have a handy micro cassette or regular cassette tape recorder nearby at all times. Create your alphabetical phone listings on one tape. Make a copy and store it…just in case the original is damaged, or you accidentaly tape over your listings. I have numerous recorders, but use one for phone work.  I like to travel with a micro cassette recorder. You never know when someone is going to spontaneously spout off the recipe you’ve been longing to have for that tofu frittata. Someone might want to give you an address, or directions, or appointment details.  Braille is a good option too, but don’t expect to learn it overnight. I use it for labeling. I also cary a slate and stylus (a portable system for Brailling notes). 
• People who can make use of magnifyiers should have one with them ‘on the outside’. This might help with labels in a store or restaurant menus.
• In the kitchen?  Use Large Print or Braille labels for your spice jars. (Braille label making machines are available) Use different sized or shaped jars to store things like dry legumes and flour and grains. Labeling extends to medication, CD’s etc.
• To be able to identify two similar jars or bottles, like milk and cream, or jams, put an elastic band around one of them. Be consistent with the use of elastics, or else the whole idea is futile.
• To mark numbers or settings on a microwave, put stick-on plastic ‘bump dots’. You can get a cheap version of  these at your local hardware store or ‘dollar store’ in the hardware section. Look for ’surface guards’ or similar items. These will also work to mark stove and washing machine settings.
• Most telephone keypads, including pay phones, come with a  raised tactile dot on the number five (5). You can also use large and contrasting inlays to mark telephone keypads and computer keyboards, Debit machines also should have a raised mark on the 5. If your bank does not, complain to the manager.
• Some banks offer ‘audible banking’ machines. You just use any headphone set, plug in and receive voice instructions for some of those tricky transactions. 
• Bills, like telephone and power are (or should be) available in Large Print or Braille. Bank statements and tax statements and other government information, definitely are.
• Cleaning ’schedules’ will keep you organized and almost guarantee that nothing creepy is growing or festering in the corner of your living room.
• Vacuuming and floor washing is best done using a grid system. Start in one corner of the room and work methodically, cleaning a one square meter area at a time.
• Buy similarly-coloured and textured socks. That way, it’s no big deal to match them up. 
• Make cardboard tags in different geometric shapes, and use Large Print to mark clothing details: ‘Blue with white checks’. Punch a hole in the card and slip it over the hanger neck. Metal Braille tags are available to sew onto clothing (colour identification). Liquid tactile marking stuff is available in tubes which come in a variety of colours and are very handy (and cheap) for all sorts of things. Squeeze a bead onto a surface or material and it hardens to form a raised tactile dot. Kids can make maps and other things with them.
• Pour liquids, especially hot ones, over the sink. 
• If you have some vision, make use of contrast. Use white plates (no patterns) for dark food and the reverse for light ones. You can put a contrasting-coloured throw over that chair you run into all the time. Place your furniture sensibly, so it suits your needs. 
• Put your ’stuff’ in the same place all the time. I can’t tell you how often people say, “I can’t find it”. Sure, it happens to the most organized person on occasion, but a good attempt to house things in the same location, will keep your frustration level down, and waste less of your time.
• Make rules for visitors: Don’t move my stuff! Don’t leave your stuff in my footpath! Don’t leave cupboard doors open! It’s your place and there’s nothing wrong with insisting on respect for your survival techniques.
• Lots of keys? Use rubber key head grips (all colours) to differentiate them. A couple of small pieces of tape can mark anything too, so that you know what it is.
• Your telephone company probably offers 411 (directory information) free (up to 100 per  month) to anyone who is registered by an organization for the Blind as ‘legally blind’.
• Baskets are your friend! group similar items in containers or baskets.
• Learn to fold paper bills (money) in different ways for each denomination (twenty lengthwise, fives in half…). audible bank note readers are available. 
• Stick your shap cutting knife blade  under the chopping board when you leave it temporarily to do something else.
• Use a ’straight edge’ as a signature guide.  Put the guide under the place where you want to sign. This could be a ruler, credit card or other ID card.
• Keep small items together in a pillow case or mesh bag for laundering  in the washer.
• Libraries for the Blind have audio books available. It can be set up through the direct service organization for the blind in your area. Public Libraries also have audio books. Many bookshops carry them. Audio books can be downloaded from a variety of sites.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of ‘gadgets’ for the use of people who are Blind or have low vision. Some are very useful, others are silly. You can find talking calculators, watches, clocks, thermometers, pedometers, colour detectors, light detectors, thermostats, bathroom scale, blood pressure monitors, glucometers,TV remotes, …just about every possible item. There are beeping water level indicators, computer software, Braille and large print versions of playing cards and games like, Monopoly. In fact, if you HAVE the money, and CHOOSE to spend it, you can turn your home into a talking, beeping extravaganza. Personally, I think it’s more of a nightmare. I like to keep the sound assault down to a minimum. There are many more tips and suggestions that I will reveal in the future. Organizations (direct service) for the Blind and catalogue stores that sell products for independant living are useful resources.

High Cost of Assistive Devices for Blind People is Onerous

Just some observations…and a bit of a rant.  One of the problems that face people who are Blind or partially sighted, is the high cost of assistive devices and technology.  Let me explain;  What are assistive devices for the Blind?  They include necessary items for everyday life, such as:

•  talking clocks and watches
• talking calculators 
• magnifyers
• Braille paper 
• tactile measuring cups
• audible water level indicators
• large print keyboard inlays
• talking thermometers
• low vision lamps
• talking glucometers
• recording devices
• large print calendars etc.
• Braille watches
• tactile games
• bump dots
• Braille rulers
• talking pedometers
• talking scales
• talking thermostats
• bold lined paper
• etc.

Some items are ‘gadgets’ and  though I would not find them essential for my life,  other people find them useful,  and therefore,  they should have them. Then we get to the big ticket items: 

•  computer screenreading software ($800.00-$1200.00)
• talking pedestrian GPS (Treker) ($1200.00+)
• CCTV (closed circuit TV magnifier) ($2000.00-4000.00)
• Perkins Braille Writer (&700-1100.00)
• ‘DAISY’ (book) player ($500.00)
• Braille computer keyboard ($1800.00+)
• ‘Scan and speech’ machines ($2500+)
• etc.

YES I KNOW that some of these prices seem odd. Some are Canadian, some are U.S.  I ALSO KNOW that charitable organizations sometimes ‘loan’ equipment to clients at no cost. I also know that free software downloads are available (limited time trials).  I also know that some (very few) provinces provide funding programs for assistive devices.  Most people with disabilities, including people who are blind, live in poverty. That is the reality. There are some wonderful (but rare) opportunities for employment, but this is not the norm, at least not here in Nova Scotia.  The percentage of people who are blind and employed, is very small.  Here’s the thing. Not only is it out of reach for many blind people to afford these things, but they are also inaccessible. For a Haliganioan (Halifax resident) who can afford to buy any of these items, we must (with some exceptions) order over the telephone, or online through a catalogue service, halfway across the country or in the U.S.A.  (see MaxiAids or CNIB catalogue links).  While it might be acceptable to order a large print calandar ‘unseen’ , prepay the thing, and wait a while for it to arrive in your mailbox, it is difficult and frustrating to choose a talking or Braille watch, without ‘checking it out’. You might not want to wait a week or two for a Braille watch to arrive because everyone needs to know the time. Again, I know that there may be one or two talking watches available at a Radio Shack-type store, but there is no variety.  Braille watches are not available locally. Many other items are also catalogue only.  My friends (and anyone who will listen) always hear me going on about ‘Quality of Life’. QL has several aspects, including financial security, physical, mental and emotional health, social inclusion,  opportunity and choice of employment,  appropriate housing, community and cultural supports, and affordable education.  There’s more, but you get the picture.  If we are to have an inclusive society which embraces people with disabilities, (as some politicians and charitable service organizations claim they believe in and should advocate for), we then, must stop TALKING about: equity, inclusion, fairness, diversity, advocacy, accessibility, accountability (and every other en vogue buzz word we use), and start DOING SOMETHING about it. Comment?