Actually, it's well documented why Microsoft doesn't address accessibility directly.
On Sep 26, 2010, at 3:02 PM, Mike Arrigo wrote: > I don't think he said it was a beta. It is very disappointing indeed, really, > Microsoft has no excuse for this one, it's not like they were not aware of > accessibility and voice over, they just chose not to do anything with it. > Apple has created a built in screen reader and provided the APIs to make > programs accessible, Microsoft has definitely shown their interest in this. > At least on the mac, there are alternatives that will handle Microsoft Office > files, namely iwork and open office. > On Sep 26, 2010, at 3:18 PM, M. Taylor wrote: > >> Hello Greg, >> >> Thank you so much for providing this info. >> >> I cannot begin to relay how sad and disappointed I am at the news of >> Microsoft's Office 2011 VoiceOver inaccessibility. >> >> Wow! >> >> You know, when I installed the very first beta of Windows 7, it was >> completely accessible. That is to say, as soon as one launched the >> installation program for Windows 7, a very clear voice prompt asked if audio >> assistance was required. This came as a total surprise to me, to say the >> least. I answered in the affirmative and was able to install Windows 7 >> without any sighted assistance, whatsoever. I installed that first beta on >> three of my computers. By the way, the voice that was used to guide me >> through the setup was not that of Narrator--it was much clearer. >> >> Astonishingly, with the release of the next beta of Windows 7, this feature >> was removed. I was shocked, disappointed, and angry, to say the least. >> >> It was then that I began considering purchasing a Macintosh. >> >> It's been much too long to recall how I came to learn Microsoft's reason for >> removing this feature but they said they removed it for security concerns; >> to which I exclaim, "TommyRot!!!!!" Or, to put it in the vernacular, >> "That's a load of crap!!!!" >> >> Greg, is it possible that the final release of Office 2011 will be VoiceOver >> accessible? I mean, you reviewed a beta, did you not? Perhaps I'm just >> grasping at straws, eh? (Smile) >> >> Thanks again for giving us a proverbial "heads-up" on this one. >> >> Most Sincerely, >> >> mark >> - >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com >> [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg Kearney >> Sent: Sunday, September 26, 2010 1:22 AM >> To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com; macvoiceo...@freelists.org; Mary Beth >> Janes; Mike Shebanek >> Subject: Microsoft Office 2011 and VoiceOver >> >> It is my sad duty to report that after getting a chance to test Microsoft >> Office 2011 for Mac that it is no more accessible in this version than in >> any of the previous versions. As in the past it is impossible to interact >> with any of the content areas of the program. You are not able to review, >> read or edit the text area in Word or Excel. >> >> It should not be clear to all that Microsoft has no intention of ever fixing >> these issues. I communicated directly with Microsoft over the same failing >> in Office 2008. The fact that after a complete rewire of the programs they >> remain inaccessible to the built in screen reader of the OS to me speak >> volumes about Microsoft's total lack of commitment to accessibility on the >> Macintosh platform and may well speak to Microsoft's general commitment to >> the platform as well. >> >> Gregory Kearney | Manager Accessible Media >> Association for the Blind of WA - Guide Dogs WA >> PO Box 101, Victoria Park WA 6979 | 61 Kitchener Ave, Victoria Park WA 6100 >> Tel: 08 9311 8246 | Fax: 08 9361 8696 | www.guidedogswa.com.au >> Tel: 307-224-4022 (North America) >> Email: greg.kear...@guidedogswa.com.au >> Email: gkear...@gmail.com >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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