"Is Quality for the Blind?"

[mauro@dowling.edu]

Dr Mauro is not a subscriber to the DEN, so please copy him at mauro@dowling.edu on your replies.



Hello All,

Recently, and for the first time I encountered a student in one of my Management classes that was blind.  In the portion of the course that touched upon the ideas on quality (including the seven fundamental tools) we found that there was little support for this blind student. 

I did conduct a little research. For example, I contacted ASQ and the course book publisher along with several quality practioners in the field.  The book publisher was kind enough to provide a CD-ROM.  Bob King (Memory Jogger)and Bob Page from GoalPQC were kind enough to provide an
audio-visual video but both admitted that they had had little exposure to an issue of this nature.  I salute both these support mechanisms for their help on short notice. Afterall, a semester is only 3 months long and indeed to react quickly to such a complex problem is not that easy.

Having studied under Ed Deming for nearly 6 years in his classes at NYUGBA and at his quality seminars, upon reflection, I frequently wonder what Dr. Deming would say about this delimma and the question: Is quality for the Blind? Or,is quality only for those who can see?

I admit, this is a very powerful question, and perhaps, the quality community should begin to reflect on this challenge to address the issue.  I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has encountered a similar situation or who may be able to help.  Teaching quality is quite visual and while this young man had a notebook computer designed to assist a blind person the machine could not handle visuals of the seven tools. As I said, if you can help, please be in touch, I would be grateful.

Thanks much,

Dr. Nicholas J. Mauro
Professor of Management and Quality
Dowling College
631-244-3163

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