[nabs] FWD: [leadership] Google Survey to Better Understand Computer Usage and Assistive Technology Patterns in the Blind Community

Thu Aug 18 16:35:55 EDT 2011

Yahoo has actually started taking initiatives into making their offerings
more accessible. There is a podcast over at www.serotalk.com that discusses
this very issue. I just listened to it yesterday. Just as an FYI. That
website has information/podcasts on a wide variety of topics. I myself find
it a very useful recourse.

Take care.

Liz Bottner
Guiding Eyes Graduate Council
GEB Voicemail:  800-942-0149 Ext. 2531
e-mail: 
liziswhatis at hotmail.com 
Visit my LiveJournal: 
http://unsilenceddream.livejournal.com 
Follow me on Twitter: 
http://twitter.com/lizbot 

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-bounces at acb.org [mailto:nabs-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of Laura
Glowacki
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 9:02 PM
To: Discussion list for NABS, National Alliance of Blind Students.
Subject: Re: [nabs] FWD: [leadership] Google Survey to Better Understand
Computer Usage and Assistive Technology Patterns in the Blind Community

Everyone has a right to an opinion, but I feel that google has done an 
awful lot to work towards accessibility, much more than yahoo or AOL have!

Sadly, they won't just take our word for it that something doesn't 
work.  Things generally change do to money and money usually comes about 
because of research.  Us taking our time to fill out the survey will 
help them learn more about how we use assistive tech etc  They won't 
simply take Eric Bridges' word, however good that may be.  They need 
proof and evidence to show that it's worth spending the money and 
effort.  It's worth our time to invest in our best interests long-term.  
Where would we be if everyone requested immediate monitary compensation 
for every single thing?  I have a feeling like the ADA, IDEA, and other 
such key laws and legislation would have never come about.

It amazes me that people think that accessibility just happens without 
any effort on our part.  This isn't commentary about your email response 
specifically, but I've always felt that it's an awful shame that most 
blind people just don't realize the hard work that other blind people 
put in to working with companies and working with legislators to make 
sure that these things do indeed happen and are funded.

Just my thoughts.

Laura

On 8/17/2011 8:15 PM, Andy B wrote:
> Sorry. I have better things to do. Besides, I really don't put much stock
in
> "accessibility surveys" that companies like Google, AOL, Yahoo, Microsoft,
> and others might try and prod us blind/assistive technology users to do.
> With the fact that Google in my mind not showing much of an interest in
> making things usable like everyone else can use them. Well... my rant. Off
> to do something else now. Oh, and with the survey being particularly
"long",
> where is the paycheck to compensate for my loss of valuable time?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-bounces at acb.org [mailto:nabs-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of
Laura
> Glowacki
> Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 8:41 AM
> To: Discussion list for NABS, National Alliance of Blind Students.
> Cc: Zack Olson
> Subject: [nabs] FWD: [leadership] Google Survey to Better Understand
> Computer Usage and Assistive Technology Patterns in the Blind Community
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> ACB and google are conducting a survey to find out more about how people
who
> are blind or visually impaired use assistive technology and computers.
> While the survey is fairly long, please find some time to complete it as
it
> wilol provide valuable knowledge that can be used to assist companies like
> Google in better serving our community.  Please see the announcement below
> for more information.
>
> Laura
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: leadership-bounces at acb.org [mailto:leadership-bounces at acb.org] On
> Behalf Of Eric Bridges
> Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 7:14 AM
> To: leadership at acb.org
> Subject: [leadership] Google Survey to Better Understand Computer Usage
and
> Assistive Technology Patterns in the Blind Community
>
> For Immediate Release
>
>
>
> Contact: Eric Bridges
>
> Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
>
> American Council of the Blind
>
> Phone: (202) 467-5081
>
> e-mail:  ebridges at acb.org<mailto:ebridges at acb.org>
>
>
>
>
>
> American Council of the Blind and Google Conduct Survey to Better
Understand
> Computer Usage and Assistive Technology Patterns in the Blind Community
>
>
>
> ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 16, 2011 -- Today, the American Council of the Blind
> (ACB) announced it will be working with Google Inc. to survey blind,
> visually impaired, and deaf-blind individuals to better understand how
they
> use computers and assistive technology to access information.
>
>
>
> "Having access to information through the use of accessible technology is
> paramount in this day and age for education, employment and social
> networking. Many studies have evaluated how users generally access the
> Internet, but none have focused specifically on the experience of blind
> users," said Mitch Pomerantz, President of the American Council of the
> Blind. "We're pleased to collaborate with Google to develop and implement
> this survey, which will look at how blind users choose and adopt assistive
> technologies and how they discover new tools and information.
Understanding
> the needs of the blind community is the first step to developing effective
> new ways of accessing information in the cloud."
>
>
>
> The survey, developed jointly by Google and the American Council of the
> Blind, will gather data about technology use and needs in the blind
> community. Respondents will be able to complete the survey by either
> telephone or web. Survey data will be used to better understand how blind
> users interact with the web, which assistive technologies they find most
> useful, and how they make decisions about whether to switch or upgrade
> tools.
>
>
>
> "At Google we're committed to making our products accessible and we're
> currently hard at work making improvements," said Alan Eustace, Senior
Vice
> President of Knowledge at Google. "By connecting with American Council of
> the Blind members, we hope to gain valuable insight into how the blind use
> the Internet and how their needs are evolving with technology."
>
>
>
> The survey, which will run through mid-September, is available immediately
> at www.acb.org/googlesurvey<http://www.acb.org/googlesurvey>   .
Individuals
> who want to take the survey by telephone, please call 347-772-8355.
>
>
>
> 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 www.acb.org<http://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.
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
> =========================
> Barbara Jackson LeMoine
> Public Policy Assistant
> American Council of the Blind
> 2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650
> Arlington, VA 22201
> 202-467-5081
> blemoine at acb.org
> www.acb.org<http://www.acb.org/>
> Follow us on Twitter @acbnational
> =========================
> The American Council of the Blind is the nation's leading membership
> organization of blind and visually impaired people.
>
>
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