Cheree Heppe here: regarding the latest NFB resolution on technology under discussion, it is definitely not always possible to get a right outcome by sweet reason or long deliberations and conferencing with the various parties. However, every year at the NFB's conventions, one or more resolutions are drafted and published decrying this or that. Usually, these resolutions tap into an emotionally powerful trigger point for the blind community. Articles are written favoring or poo-pooing this or that bit of technology in order to give the following bllind a beacon toward which to look and to follow. Where accessibility meets the road, the author of this NFB article mentions driving on a famous race track in a car that operates driverlessly. This is interesting because this example points up a developing technology not already functioning anywhere but in very controlled conditions. Apple's architecture works in the real world and has done so since as far back as 2010, when I first became aware of it's usefulness. There are channels by which blind consumers and everybody else may contact Apple to suggest corrective solutions to accessible or not so accessible apps and architecture. An organization, such as the NFB, rather than seek corporate contact at a high level, chose to make an emotional and public issue. Why aren't the NFB working to correct the vast inaccessibility of every day kitchen appliances? Why does NFB practice repeat on emotional triggers among the blindness community. Witness the dog guide access to rehab facilities that came to suit. The outcome set dog guide access, and blind people's freedom to choose their type of mobility aid, back to 19th century standards, where a local fiefdom or agency with total power over its clients' lives dictated policies and the clientelle had no option to follow. Where I live now, in Oregon, this agency for the blind, which has been under investigation by the state auditor and the Rehabilitation Services Administration, implement policies based on their perceived right to control consumers' lives. Cane travelers who are newly blind are have been deliberately harassed and put into isolative and demeaning situations in the name of this sort of true grit emotionality, this survive by your bootstraps ideal present in the NFB philosophy. One blind guy who works at this agency spent hours going to work in a dangerous snow storm, only to discover that the building was closed and everybody else was safe at home. ?This guy traveled with a dog guide. Where is support for mass transit that we all may use in the here and now? Regarding Apple and accessibility, it has been my limited experience and the experience of many others, that this company's products surpass other so called accessible offerings to such an extent that the other guy isn't even in the running. Yes, we as a disabled community need to have choice in our accessible options. We need to reach the place in society where accessible is the norm.
Regards, Cheree Heppe Sent from my iPad Mini > On 12 Jul 2014, at 17:40, Pamela Francis <gypsykitt...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Hello, > I personally am not in favor of this resolution; not because I don't want > accessibility. Apple took the lead in making its products accessible without > government or organizational intervention. Microsoft, on the other hand, > allowed third-party vendors to do its work within accessibility. Google, > though it has come along way, still does not want to adhere to its own > standards unless it is pressed. > If there was a resolution to be had, it should've been a blanket resolution > for all companies dealing with accessibility. Picking on Apple, is as if we > as a blind community are slapping it in the face given that it has continued > its efforts to remain accessible. I understand the need for utilitarian apps > such as maps, transit maps, notes, lists, etc. to remain accessible as they > are a necessary function in normal life. However, just to use as an example I > don't necessarily need Angry Birds to be accessible for my benefit nor do I > need it to be threatened to be kicked from the app store due to > inaccessibility for the sake of millions of people who enjoy it. > As we continue to strive for accessibility in all areas, we need not be a > bully to the company that went out of its way to make its products accessible > from the beginning. > We also do not need to be put into a societal box allowing electronics > manufacturers, appliance manufacturers, and the general public to believe > that all we are capable of is operating an iPhone. We are on the cusp of > choice. We have fought for choice for a long time. This type of a resolution > makes us look militant and ungrateful. What is fair for one company is fair > for all. > Pam Francis > > On Jul 12, 2014, at 9:28 AM, Terje Strømberg <terjestrmb...@gmail.com> wrote: > > The NFB Resolution is very important for all blind and low vision all over > the world. We all want accessible digital future. > > A link to a comment from the president in NFB: > https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/comments-apple-and-nfb-resolution-2014-12 > > Take care > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
