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From: Ross.Calloway@f41.n267.z1.fidonet.org (Ross Calloway)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: way too expensive
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Date: 27 Nov 90 21:34:24 GMT
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[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

In a letter from Linda Iverson to Fran O'Gorman...

 > fortune.  I telieve in making a profit, and I know the
 > work that goes into special needs programs and devices,
 > but I have felt that much of this stuff is way too
 > expensive.  I wish someone would follow your example and
 > come up with a good, accurate, and affordable braille translator!

Boy, err, Girl, you've said a mouthful there!  My blood boils whenever I see
the high prices for adaptive hardware and/or software.  It's been my
experience that the very people who can benefit by the use of those products
can't even come close to affording them.  I'm afraid that most vendors don't
view the end user as the purchaser, but rather, a state or federal agency. And
we all know how state and federal agencies squander our tax dollars. Seems the
vendors know that they'll get whatever high price they want because it is the
state that'll be footing the bill, not the end user who is on SSI because
they're homebound can't get gainfull employmenet.

I hope I'm not getting off-topic (then it's too late...) but I think that IF
the vendors would lower their prices then they would sell more, enough to make
it worthwhile to contine w/o going bankrupt and still make a profit.

{getting off soapbox}

Hope you and the other SilentTalkers have a peaceful and restful Thanksgiving.

Time for my nap...
		    Ross

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