American Council of the Blind calls for open transparent investigation of the death of Nurun Amin Shah Alam

 Statement verbatim

Statement from the American Council of the Blind on the Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam

Posted on March 2, 2026

Statement from the American Council of the Blind on the Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam
March 2, 2026

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is deeply saddened by the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Rohingya refugee who was blind and died in Buffalo, New York, shortly after his release from federal custody.

People who are blind or have low vision, like all people with disabilities, deserve to be treated with dignity and provided reasonable accommodations in their interactions with government agencies. Serious questions remain about the circumstances surrounding Mr. Shah Alam’s death, including whether his disability and communication needs were appropriately considered at each stage.

ACB urges a full and transparent investigation into what occurred, with particular attention to how disability-related needs were addressed. That review should identify clear steps to help prevent similar tragedies in the future and ensure that policies and practices fully protect the rights and safety of people with disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision.

For information about reasonable accommodations and the rights of people with disabilities in interactions with immigration enforcement, refer to: https://www.ice.gov/leadership/ocrc/disability-access#main-content

Post: Edit

See also the statement from tne National Federation of the Blind.

Statement regarding Death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam | National Federation of the Blind

May Mr. Nurun Amin Shah Alam rest in peace.

 First #RamadanMubarak to all who are observing the fast

Second, Heartfelt condolences to the family of Nurul Amin Shah Alam and the entire Rohingya community living through the nightmare of his death during ramadan

Trump’s ICE Hits HORRIFYING NEW LOW After DEADLY Decision

Clear reporting about issues with cause of death determination

Comment RantWoman posted

1. Mobility aids are NOT Weapons. WTF with the weapons charges for what multiple sources have said are CURTAIN RODS? Thank you for the description of two poles. I could not make that out in the body cam video released by Buffalo PD. Curtain rods are, of course, not standard white canes many people use, but other people do use walking poles for all kinds of reasons. 2. LOTS of blind people, even blind professionals with excellent travel skills get lost sometimes. It seems like Mr. Shah Alam is charged for: --getting lost while brown --getting lost while Muslim --getting lost while blind --getting lost while not speaking English. --accidentally trespassing 3. The body cam video of the original arrest you mentioned featured a female officer SCREAMING at Mr. Shah Alam to drop the poles or she was going to taser him, like he has any clue what a taser is. Then there is a melee, reportedly by two officers who somehow could not de-escalate the situation.

In other words, Mr. Shah Alam was WAY overcharged for what should have MAYBE been a simple trespassing issue. What is the source for hearing that Mr. Shah Alam's family and attorney were waiting for him when he was released? Reporting I have seen says there were no efforts to contact family or attorney. This case is heartbreaking and infuriating on so many levels, and so much worse for the Muslim communities because it's Ramadan. And unfortunately, except for the extra issues because of blindness and medical fragility, this case is all too similar t DHS general Deport First and due process be damned policies.

Scott Jennings' DEPRAVED Take On Refugee Death STUNS CNN Panel

TYT reporting with more details of situation and perspective from Cenk Uygur and TYT voices. And Cenk makes the case about why would any jurisdiction tell ICE / CBP about immigrants in custody if they are going to be treated this badly.

RantWoman now can't locate her reply comment rant about assertion that Mr. Shah Alam was able to make known his wishes via some kind of translation device. Hopefully Gov. Hochul, AG James, and Congress will add questions about validation of any such system used to questions about this outrage.

Nearly blind refugee found dead in Buffalo after Border Patrol drop off miles from his home 

Blind Refugee "Abandoned By Border Patrol" in Buffalo Dies in the Cold; Family Demands Answers

Blistering comments from mayor of Buffalo abotu why Buffalo does not cooperate with administrative warrants

Discussion by immigration attorney of Rohingya refugee situation, many elements of immigration law including efforts by Mr. Shah Alam's attorney to negotiate a plea deal.

How the System Intentionally Killed Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a Rohingya Refugee

Reuters report after funeral

A nearly blind refugee from Myanmar, 56-year old Nurul Amin Shah Alam, missing since his release from a Buffalo jail into the custody of US Border Patrol has been found dead on a downtown street https://t.co/ayXj0QU7AY pic.twitter.com/srFTreb7Er

— Reuters (@Reuters) February 27, 2026

Near-blind refugee found dead in Buffalo after release by US Border Patrol | Reuters

RantWoman means to add links to accounts from Reuters of community and family comments as well as items from several other sources.

Buffalo NY "Border Patrol" officers leave nearly blind Rohingya REFUGEE to die in the snow.

 RantWoman's laundry is going to have to wait.

First, HEARTFELT condolences to the family of Mr. Nurun Alam and to everyone in the Rohingya refugee community in Buffalo NY.

RantWoman is shaking her tree of blind people contacts to see whether any blind people in Buffalo NY are familiar with the story below of Mr. Nurun Alam, a Rohingya REFUGEE. If RantWoman were a properly politic advocate, she might also collaborate with others to craft a carefully worded statement about why blind people--LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE US--should care about immigrant neighbors, blind or low vision immigrants, and assaults on Constitutional and civil rights, not to mention all the ways ICE/ CBP are making life MORE unsafe for everyone in the US. RantWoman will be grateful if all these comments lead to such statements. 

In the meantime....

RantWoman's head is exploding about the heart-wrenching story of a nearly blind Rohingya REFUGEE left to die in Buffalo NY by Border Patrol agents. Aside from that outrageous level of cruelty, the whole story should make every jurisdiction in the country think twice or three or a dozen or seventeen times about handing ANYONE but the most dangerous criminals over on Border Patrol (ICE/ CBP) detainers. 

According to the TV news report linked below, Mr. Alam was originally arrested in 2025 after an encounter with 2 Buffalo Police Department officers. RantWoman has not found reports of the original altercation but one post on X referred to some kind of stick that may have been used as a walking stick. Mr. Alam was held in the Erie County jail until there was some kind of plea deal, someone recently posted bond and he was picked up by "Border Patrol" Border Patrol apparently figured out there was no reason to deport him. There was also no reason just to dump him out in the cold to die in the snow.

RantWoman does not endorse middle-aged blind people getting into hand-to-hand battles with police officers. That said, several elements of the story make RantWoman wonder whether, in a properly functioning Department of Justice, there would be grounds for a federal civil rights investigation.

Google turned up reference to a now-deleted missing persons report on Facebook that described mr. Alam as about 5'7" and slightly built. So two officers? COME ON. De-escalation ANYONE? Someone? Anyone?

Next, we have someone who speaks minimal English quite possibly has age-related hearing loss, and probably has no idea what police officers might be barking at him.

Next we have a REFUGEE who probably does not have great associations with anyone in uniform but who, if he has any vision at all, probably reacts very badly to police officers.

Next, the "walking stick." RantWoman would definitely like to know more about whether Mr. Alam used whatever he was carrying as some kind of a mobility aid, either for support or as a tool for navigating his environment.

RantWoman is not a lawyer and HOPES that someone with more authority will re-investigate the original case.

For now, focus on the outrageous behavior by CBP and a fragile LEGAL REFUGEE left to die alone in the snow.

Documentation / media selections below. 

Here are such media accounts and statements as RantWoman has been able easily to assemble, along with an observation that Grok, the Twitter /X AI validates accounts from several official sources.

TV Coverage of previous arrest

Border Patrol dump blind refugee 5 miles away from home—he was found dead on the street.

Officers dropped him off in front of a donut shop—didn't notify his lawyer or family he was even released.

When reported missing—local police said he was in ICE custody and stopped looking… pic.twitter.com/DKhS77qVqv

— LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 (@LongTimeHistory) February 26, 2026

Investigative report

Blind refugee abandoned by Border Patrol dies in Buffalo. : Investigative Post

Another Tweet

Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan provided the following statement to News 4:

"A vulnerable man — nearly blind and unable to speak English — was left alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe, secure location."

"That decision from U.S. Customs and Border… pic.twitter.com/ScSf4uj9Ik

— LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻 (@LongTimeHistory) February 26, 2026

September Ocotober Events from the Blind Connections newsletter

 Posted as is. 

Note. First event a hearing at Seattle City Council on Friday September 12

What's the news: Library funding

From ACB

Dear Colleagues:

I’d like to share some remarkable news regarding the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). First, after more than five months with little to no communication from the IMLS, in July funding reimbursements from IMLS began again with regularity. This may be because the end of the federal fiscal year is September 30,, 2025 and despite the efforts to defund IMLS as outlined in Executive Order 14238 this funding was previously approved by Congress for museums and libraries across the country. There are also several pending lawsuits regarding this action.

 

On the evening of 9/2/25, the FY2026 budget took a huge step in the right direction for IMLS. The House Appropriations released its version of the FY 2026 budget bill that includes $291.8 million for IMLS. In its version the Senate included $295 million for IMLS funding. This is a $3 million reduction from the previous year but it’s a major turnaround from the President’s budget which included $6 million to shutter the agency.

 

There is still a ways to go. The marked-up version of the bill goes to the full House next Tuesday and then we await the reconciliation of the House and Senate budgets. But this is promising news and we’ll keep you updated as we learn more.

 

Thank you to everyone who took the time over the past few weeks to contact Congress. It has made a difference.

 

What's the event: Seattle urban forest hearing

Seattle’s trees are on the line. On Friday, Sept 12 at 3 p.m., the Seattle City Council will hold a hearing on the comprehensive plan that will shape the future of our urban forest.

Seattle City Hall

  We will bring signs and have talking points.

Two Key Amendments

City Council will soon vote on the comp plan zoning and amendments that could make or break Seattle’s climate resilience. Two key amendments would be huge wins:

•              Amendment 93 → Guarantees greenspace on every lot. Without it, 95% of every lot can be paved, cementing in a future without greenspace or even soil.

•              Amendment 102 → Brings Seattle up to other cities’ tree protection standards (think: NYC, Boston, Portland), closing three glaring loopholes in our tree ordinance.

 

Can’t join us in person? Send an Email to: council@seattle.gov

 

Thank you for caring about Seattle’s irreplaceable urban forest.

 

What's the Event: Paid research opportunity for National Parks

There are two opportunities for paid research assistance with a national park project, via both synchronous focus groups and an asynchronous online survey, coming up in late September and October.

 

Because this is all for the same park, I only can hire each individual for one or the other, a focus group or a survey, so if you are interested, please let me know, and let me know if you want to participate in a focus group (online, via Zoom, for about an hour), or an online survey (asynchronous, I'm guessing this survey also will take about an hour). Or you can say, either, and I can fit you into the one that needs the most help. Because the focus group is synchronous and probably a bit more strenuous, the stipend is higher.

 

Focus Group (15 slots available): ~1 hour, online, synchronous, via Zoom, a discussion of media-accessibility issues related to visiting a national park, stipend: $50.

 

Online survey (30 slots available): ~1 hour, online, asynchronous, via our online uReview system (same as the Description), a discussion of media-accessibility issues related to visiting a national park, stipend: $25.

 

Best wishes,

 

Brett Oppegaard, Ph.D.

He/Him/His

Founder | Executive Director of Access Hound

360-521-8150

brett@accesshound.com

 

What's the event: White Cane Day, October 11.

New White Cane Day merch is here!

We are thrilled to share our 2025 Logo!

This design was submitted by Seattle area artist, Laura Graden-Cotts.

Description: Logo-style illustration within a black circle. In the center, two white canes, on with a red tip one without, are crossed diagonally creating quadrants. Surrounding the canes are four images: a green pine tree at the top, a brown guide dog with a harness on the right, a blue mountain range with snow caps at the bottom, and an orca whale on the left. Below the circle, in bold black text, it says "WHITE CANE DAY" and beneath it, "2025" is written in a thinner font.

 

You can purchase your White Cane Day 2025 merch via Bonfire

 

Purchase soon to ensure your order arrives before the event. Merch will not be available at the event due to logistics.

 

Event Information:

You don't need to join us for White Cane Day 2025 to purchase a shirt, but we'd love to have you!

Registration is highly encouraged: https://shorturl.at/eM1Un

Event Date: Saturday, October 11th 2025

Event Address:

Starting: South Base of the Space Needle near the Howard S. Wright Memorial Fountain: 400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 98109

Ending: Washington Talking Book and Braille Library (WTBBL): 2021 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

Timeline:

•              9:00 am - 9:50 Arrive at starting place

•              9:50 - Official Group Photo

•              10:00: The Walk begins!

•              10:45 : Speakers at WTBBL

•              1:00pm Event ends

WTBBL will host a reception and a vendor area! Details to come!

We are working to make this event more youth friendly! Stay tuned for more information.

You Cane Give Initiative is sponsoring a cane drive for this event! Wondering what to do with that old cane you no longer use in the closet? Is that drawer of used canes collecting dust and taking up space? Donate your old canes to the “You Cane Give” program. And turn that old cane into newfound independence for individuals in need.

 

Thanks,

White Cane Awareness Network Team

Questions? Ideas! Email us: white.cane.awareness.network@gmail.com

 

What's the Event: Deep Dive conference

The Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium (SCAC) invites you to be part of the 3rd Annual Deep Dive Day Conference, happening Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Town Hall Seattle. We are excited to be expanding this year's conference to a day-long convening with a larger space available. We are continuing the theme of Sustaining Accessibility in Challenging Times and our goal is to bring together accessibility champions across the arts and cultural

sector to advance accessibility and inclusion.

Registration for Deep Dive Day will open on September 4! We hope you will attend this

important and fast-growing conference!

With gratitude,

The team at Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium (SCAC)

 

What’s the Event: audio described opera

Seattle Opera offers one performance per mainstage opera at McCaw Hall with audio description. Using an infrared headset, patrons who are blind or have low vision can listen to a live, verbal description of actions, costumes, scenery, and other visual elements of a performance. The description begins 10 minutes prior to the start of the performance.

Patrons who wish to listen to the description must pick up a headset. Headsets are distributed free of charge and can be requested ahead of time using our request form. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. You may pick up your headset from the assistance booth (around the corner from coat check) located on the main entry level of McCaw Hall. Please ask for a headset with audio description.

The following performances will offer audio description. Description begins at 1:50 PM, ten minutes prior to each of the following 2:00 PM Sunday matinee performances:

·         The Pirates of Penzance—Sunday, October 26

A "wholesome" break from RantWoman's current legal YouTube fixations: MURDER and attempted murder.

 One indication that RantWoman is rapidly approaching an age that can be described as "older than dirt:" RantWoman has never really gotten into binge-watching, say, TV series. 

We will not discuss whether or not a raging YouTube habit counts.

The last couple days, RantWoman has so badly wanted to escape everything to do with the President and his disagreeable Cabinet shredding the constitution, that RantWoman has fled to....drum roll, please...Court TV.

RantWoman barely dipped her toes into the sentencing of Brian Kohlberger for 4 heinous murders of University of ID students.

RantWoman thanks Mr. Kohlberger for pleading guilty. RantWoman was not looking forward to a whole summer of gruesome testimony and trial related social media.

RantWoman realizes this path probably will not ease grieving families gut wrenching grief.

RantWoman would not mind never again hearing Brian Kohlberger's name and having celebration of lives every year for the 4 murdered students as often as they need.

RantWoman had ZERO desire to even dip her eyeballs into more info about the sentencing than a short news snippet.

The other legal situation RantWoman is binge watching: the case of WA vs. Ali and Ali. Videos are widely available on YouTube via CourtTV or another called Justice is a Process, as well as J.D. A lawyer explains.

The next several posts will feature RantWoman opining about different aspects of the case. RantWoman had been holding off with commentary until verdicts have been returned. Verdicts have now been returned and sentencing has been set for August 18. That is still miles to go before we sleep. So please read on.

WTBBL neds HELP! GiveBig Tuesday May 6-7

Get That Giving Feeling May 6-7

Help Keep WTBBL’s Services Alive The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) is facing a serious budget crisis. With unstable state and federal funding, our ability to provide accessible library services is currently at risk. Any efficient and effective agency, like WTBBL, plans far into the future for the resources needed to seamlessly provide up-to-date and plentiful support and reading materials to Washington residents unable to read standard print. However, these recent funding losses were never anticipated and are creating an immediate and severe risk to WTBBL’s survival as the service people have come to know and count on. WTBBL is the only library in Washington offering free audio and braille books and magazines—by mail and download—to individuals who have: Blindness or DeafBlindness Low vision Physical disability that makes it difficult to hold a book or turn a page Reading disability For many, WTBBL is more than a library, it’s a lifeline. We’re participating in GiveBIG 2025 to raise $50,000 to keep these essential services available. Early giving is now open, and more than ever, we need your support. Please click the Donate Now below button to share your support to keep WTBBL’s services accessible to all. Donate Now

Thank you for standing with us and helping to ensure that All May Read.

Register Now for DSB Spring Town Hall May 20 6:30-8:00 pm on Zoom

 DSB Spring Town Hall Meeting A virtual event to provide agency updates and answer  community questions. 

The Department of Services  

for the Blind (DSB)  

announces the Spring Virtual  

Town Hall is scheduled for  

Tuesday, May 20, 2025,  

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. 

DSB Town Halls are held  

virtually to allow input from  

citizens across the State of  

Washington and offer the opportunity for members of the public to  hear directly from the agency, ask questions and raise concerns,  and share what’s important to them.  

DSB will provide brief updates on:  

• Current State of the Agency 

• Community Input/Perspective on VR Services 

• Streamlining VR Services to Increase Rehab 

Outcomes 

The remainder of the event is dedicated to taking questions and  comments from the audience members. 

Everyone is welcome to log into this virtual town hall! This event  is free, but participants need to register in advance. Zoom  meeting invitations will be provided to registered individuals a  week prior to the meeting.  

Closed captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided. For  additional assistance with accommodation, please contact  Yvonne.Verbraak@dsb.wa.gov. 

Washington State Department of Services for the Blind 

www.dsb.wa.gov ● info@dsb.wa.gov ● 800-552-7103

Muckleshoot Artist John Halliday at MOHAI History cafe APRIL 16, 6:30 pm

J

John Halliday holding a drum with native symbols

 History Café: How Native Values Can Teach Resilience – Museum of History & Industry

John Halliday

John Halliday (he/him) is a legally blind Native American artist of Muckleshoot, “Duwamish,” Yakama, and Warm Springs Indian descent. Halliday recently retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs as Deputy Regional Director for the Navajo Region after serving as CEO for both the Muckleshoot and Snoqualmie tribes. Halliday has shown his art at Lakewold Gardens, ANT Gallery, and the Sacred Circle Galleries of American Indian Art under the artist name “Coyote”. Halliday lives in Steilacoom.

Event will be Livestreamed for people who cannot attend in person

Link for the Livestream

From John: I have attached a live stream link for those people who can't make it. They're welcome to come in person, because it's a big venue, but if they can't make it, the live stream link is below. I talk on the history of the Puget Sound Indian wars and my personal story as a blind person finding a new career in art."

History Café: How Native Values Can Teach Resilience youtube.com

If your HOA is going to be a whirlwind of federal civil rights violations, maybe consider not criming in front of a federal judge.

RantWoman needs this video. Probably lots of others need videos like this.

And a certain delusional dementia patient needs a direct pathway to secure and genteel retirement.

RIP Carl Jarvis

 Sometimes when a person of tremendous influence and admiration in RantWoman's life passes away, RantWoman tries to herd words together herself.

Today, on the date of Carl Jarvis' passing RantWoman is going to recycle a bit of email and provide links to past commentary

From RantWoman's email:

A, thank you for bring the news, sad and probably expected as it is.

Deep condolences to Carl's wife who I never knew well except for a sense of her faithfully standing alongside Carl

..Carl's example continues to be an inspiration and definitely let's do an angel wall. 

Carl Jarvis, The Legacy Lives On

A free flowing interview with the creator of the Washington Council of the Blind Newsline Magazine, on his journey through life.

 

Show Notes

From Reginald George: Carl has played a pivotal role in the blindness movement of Washington state over his long life. We feel it is important to bring you this conversation from November 2019, hosted by Heather, while Carl is among us to enjoy it. The following excerpt is from an article published in the Winter 2020 issue of the Washington Council of the Blind Newsline:

 

From Heather Meares: As I thought about the concept of navigating uncharted territory and what that really means, I asked myself, who’s life represents an example of this? Who would I want to use as a model, mentor and guide? My first answers were Yoda from Star Wars, Dumbledore from the Harry Potter book series, and Gandalf the Great from J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings. Since these are all fictional characters, I kept coming back to Carl Jarvis, who in many ways is like all of these iconic magical entities. He is one of our original Washington Council of the Blind members and has led quite a life. They all exhibit a lifetime of wisdom and knowledge beyond measure, the ability to show others the path without traveling it for them, and an intriguing aura of mystery that leaves you wondering about their own journey. On rare occasions, we are allowed a glimpse into their past, which made them who they became. One thing is clear. None of it was easy. In fact, many treacherous roads were traveled, sorrows and difficulties experienced, and much was sacrificed. One thing I know is when you are given the gift of time with someone like this, you don’t talk – you listen and absorb everything they have to say. I am pleased to give you all a little peek into the window of Carl Jarvis.

You may access the following link to read Heather's original column, "Cheshire Cat Interviews #7: Walls, Windows, and Doors"

Here

Previously on this blog

Adventures of RantWoman: Sue Ammeter 1948 - 2018

Adventures of RantWoman: Historical Rhetoric and Invective

Special World Braille Day observance on ACB Media 8 starting at 1 pm Eastern time Saturday January 4

 January 4 is #WorldBrailleDay, Louis Braille's birthday. In honor of the occasion, American Council of the Blind affiliate the Braille revival League presents the following program.

Subject: [brl-talk] Mark your calendars for Louis Braille's birthday and "Why Braille Matters"

You matter because you know braille matters!!
January 4 is Louis Braille's birthday. He was born in 1809 which would mean that in 1825 he would have been sixteen. Many folks think this is about the time that the braille system came into existence. This would mean that this year the braille system is 200 years old. We have tried to be sure through our announcements that everybody knew that the Braille Revival League, a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind is, for the second year in a row, celebrating Louis Braille's birthday with a major zoom event.At 1 PM eastern time on Saturday January 4th we will begin a presentation that will last for four hours. It is divided into three segments, each of which we think will help accentuate just "why Braille matters" which is the name of our presentation.

The first section will explore braille around the world. We will look at things happening in the United Kingdom, Jamaica, a Pacific island country and elsewhere. We want to explore the diversity of braille and how important it is in countries large and small.
Our second segment deals with the United States. We will look at a company in Kansas that is using braille graphics to create tactile American flags. We will hear from the American Printing House for the Blind, one of the oldest and most important braille institutions in our country. Native American Braille is something most of us have probably not thought about. We will hear from the Navaho nation about how they have worked to develop braille for that language.
Our third segment will explore our organization! What is it? What does it do? How can you help? We will also look at the state of braille today! We think with Charles Dickens that these are the best of times and the worst of times! Join us to find out why!
We will be on ACB Media 8!

Download the ACB media app from your favorite app store or find ACB media online.    

Here is the zoom information. Remember this is a webinar so it will behave a little differently from what happens with the Braille Buzz!.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar!

When: Jan 4, 2025 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Topic:  Why Braille Matters



Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:

https://acb-org.zoom.us/j/84398583214





One Tap Mobile:

+13126266799,,84398583214#



Phone:

+1 312 626 6799

Webinar ID: 843 9858 3214



  BRAILLE MATTERS! Show you know it by joining us at 1 PM Eastern time Saturday January 4!

Value Village, PLEASE train your staff. Man kicked out of store over service dogs | FOX 13 Seattle

Person with a disability. Dogs trained for a specific task. That should be a no-brainer.

The clerk kicking this man out of the store and then going over to laugh with his co-workers is over the top, SO offensive.

Value Village needs to train ALL its staff at least at that store. It would be nice if they figure out they need to do this without someone having to file a civil rights complaint.

Update from Paul of Matthew and Paul and his guide dog service denial story

 Paul tells story of meeting with Restaurant Manager

A previous Rant with link to the original news story

And still another rant--with holiday spirit even

a further short rant, just to gild the lily:

Dear owners of poorly trained hounds in Service dog vests,

If that waggy thing you are putting that vest on is not crate trained enough to leave at home, it is NOT going to do well in situations that properly trained service and guide dogs take in stride. DO NOT embarrass yourself or stress out your pet by presenting the dog with things it is not trained to handle.

There. RantWoman will now resume sowing confusion among the sight dependent with her glasses and Ambassador Thwack the badly behaved white cane and Anger Management Consultant.

Yes, sometimes RantWoman can do something approximating eye contact, but her pupils still will not do the same dilate and constrict vibe that some rely on as cues for social hierarchy.

Yes, SOMETIMES RantWoman can independently read things like restaurant menus, grocery store signs, food labels, street signs. And lots of time she cannot. RantWoman strives to be nice about this but every once in awhile a Customer Service Moment erupts.

Yes, SOMETIMES RantWoman can see where she is going and navigate among vehicles, pedestrians with their faces in their devices, and bobbing and weaving crowds. But lots of times she cannot. Ambassador Thwack's job is to say, POLITELY, "please get out of my way and don't say I didn't warn you if we bump into each other."

This is a year-round problem, in summer, winter, heat warning and cool breezes, but Happy September all.

Barbie's 65th year with shameless fundraising from from the American Foundation For the Blind

 Reprinted as is from a fundraising email. AFB is always a worthy cause.

Have you heard about the latest Barbie? It’s the first blind Barbie Fashionista doll! It ranked as the #1 selling doll on Amazon and among the hottest news releases of the week. From The New York Times to People, Barbie is prompting people to talk about blindness and low vision. In its first 24 hours, the blind Barbie had over 2 billion media impressions.

AFB’s team of experts has advised Mattel at every step. From Barbie's white cane to the braille on the box, we aimed to make this launch an inspiration to blind and low-vision children. The result is an authentic representative product that has already begun a conversation about what it means to be blind. With your support, we can turn our vision into reality. Through initiatives like the Blind Barbie, we aim to break down barriers and promote understanding and inclusion in society. Your contributions play a crucial role in making these initiatives possible.

This is already among our milestone achievements, including work on the first audiobooks and a uniform braille code to be adopted worldwide. The consistent factor throughout it all has been the power of the AFB community. We’re working hard every day to continue this legacy of innovation and inclusion. You can help us change the national narrative about blindness—and so much more. Please donate today. P.S. Our 2024 Leadership Conference (AFBLC) will be held in Minneapolis, MN, this Sept 23-25! This is a pivotal platform where we bring together our corporate partners, advocacy groups, government representatives, and the blind and low-vision community to share information that propels our mission forward. Explore our exciting conference agenda and register for AFBLC to join us in leading the way for an inclusive future.