[announce] FW: Press Release: Inaccessibility of Amazon's Kindle Fire

[Eric Bridges]

For Immediate Release

Contact: Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
Phone: (202) 467-5081
e-mail:  <mailto:ebridges at acb.org> ebridges at acb.org

American Council of the Blind Denounces the Introduction of 

Amazon's Inaccessible Kindle Fire

  

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 4, 2011 - Last week when Amazon introduced the Kindle
Fire, it marked yet another product offering that the blind community will
not be able to use. 

 

Mitch Pomerantz, president of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), said,
"I had expected that, unlike previous releases of Kindle devices, Amazon
would have included accessibility to Kindle Fire for people with
disabilities right from its design phase given the accessibility that has
been included in similar products that are on the market. Amazon's blatant
disregard for the blind consumer demonstrates a profound arrogance and
represents technological discrimination against our community."

   

Pratik Patel, chairman of ACB's Information Access Committee, stated, "As a
blind consumer who wants access to the nearly one million-book Kindle
catalog or access to the 10,000-plus instant video selections on a mobile
device, I must ask why Amazon.com did not pick its underlying platform with
accessibility in mind. The product undoubtedly went through a technical
assessment period. Why did the company have the time to develop a new
browser but not a magnifier or a screen reader?  I am forced to conclude
that Amazon simply does not care about the blind community."

  

About the American Council of the Blind 

The American Council of the Blind is the largest consumer-based organization
of blind and visually impaired Americans advocating for the rights of blind
Americans. Comprised of more than 70 affiliates across the United States,
the organization is dedicated to making it possible for blind and visually
impaired Americans to participate fully in all aspects of American society.
For more information, visit  <http://www.acb.org;> www.acb.org; write to
American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650, Arlington, VA
22201; phone (202) 467-5081; or fax (703) 465-5085.

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