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From: James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: NCF Disabled Contest
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Date: 26 Oct 90 03:59:26 GMT
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Index Number: 11337

I can see your point. Actually 50,000 is not all that much and won't 
allow any of the things you suggest. It simply would either not be 
enough money to start up such programs or not enough to continue them. 
 
Usually with contests like this, an agency works with a sponsor, usually 
a company that has some association with the concept behind the promotion. 
To get attention to a product or service, they sponsor contests. NCF 
and agencies like them do not normally havethat kind of money tothrow 
away. I suspect perhaps some computer company made the money available 
specifically for this contest.
 
As I said I can see your point. However, I don't thinkwe should come 
down so hard on them. It was an idea in which I honest believe their 
hearts were in the right place. It's just too bad if they did not take 
time to check on how disabled people ourselves viewed the concept as 
a group. For my part, as a contest buff, I saw no problem with it. 
For your part, I think you see it as an affront to disabled people's 
dignity and a gross misdirections of a substantial amount of funds. 
Now, we stand a rather opposite ends in our overall view onthis ( as 
does Vixen who sides with you), but we are not the majority of the 
disabled. Still, the views of the disabled might have been consulted 
before the contest began. It would prove interesting to see what the 
result would have been.
 
I respect your views and Vixen's as well ( how can you not?). But I 
insist that the sponsors meant not a bit of harm to us whenthey came 
up with this idea. There will always be people who either like or dislike 
an idea for a variety of reasons. I guess the thing to do then would 
be for disagreeing persons to send NCF a note on their views and in 
additionnot bother to enter the contest.
 
I myself, would not mind 50,000. I could certainly use it to attend 
the Ph.D. program of my choice so I can realize my goal of becoming 
a superintendent of a deaf school and helping to make real changes 
that benefit deaf kids educationally. I'd like nothing more than to 
work with a faculty and staff at forming a model program that addresses 
thereal needs of the deaf without all that oral/aural focused bagagge 
that has not progressed deaf education at all inthe last 200 years.
 
Ok, Ann. Your turn. But after this, I am going to talk to you about 
morepleasant things. I enjoy your electronic company too much to spedn 
more thime on this contest subject anymore. :-)

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