[nabs] Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Againstthe Blind

[bookwormahb at earthlink.net]

Not everyone has an Ipod and Iphone.
Joe is right. Why should you require other devices when the web interface 
should be accessible?

-----Original Message----- 
From: Terrell Jones
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 9:00 AM
To: Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students.
Subject: Re: [nabs] Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Againstthe 
Blind

exactly, here's how a friend of mine put it. They said that all these people 
do is sit around on their computers for 18 to 20
hours a day. How could they not be proficient with their screen reader? I 
will say that if you use the hosted version of Google
apps, you do not have a mobile site alternative. I have used it before. You 
do however have the outlook, iPhone or iPod touch
option.

Terrell
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Miranda" <knownoflove at gmail.com>
To: "Discussion list for NABS, National Alliance of Blind Students." 
<nabs at acb.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 7:31 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs] Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Against 
the Blind


Hi,
I do not agree with this either. I'm using a Gmail account to type this 
email. Granted, I use my Gmail on my Pocket PC through
Outlook. However, all (if not most) of these apps the NFB is claiming to be 
"inaccessible" are available via any computer or
Mobile device through a stripped down Mobile website!
Thanks for posting this and allowing us to give our opinions.

In Christ, Miranda

-----Original Message-----
From: Terrell Jones <kf4yni at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 7:34 AM
To: acb-l at acb.org; nabs at acb.org; bct at lists.blind-planet.com
Subject: [nabs] Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Against the 
Blind

I personally disagree with what the NFB is doing here. I'd be curious what 
the responses are from this article. See below.

Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Against the Blind
3/15/2011


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org

Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Against the Blind
National Federation of the Blind Asks
Department of Justice to Investigate Schools Across the Country
Baltimore, Maryland (March 15, 2011): The National Federation of the Blind 
(NFB), the oldest and largest nationwide organization
of blind people in the United States, today requested that the United States 
Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division,
investigate civil rights violations committed by New York University (NYU) 
and Northwestern University against blind faculty and
students.  The NFB made the request because the schools have adopted 
technology that is not accessible to the blind.  Both
universities have recently adopted Google Apps for Education as a means of 
providing e-mail and collaboration tools to students
and faculty.  Google Apps for Education is a free suite of hosted 
communication and collaboration applications that includes
Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, Google Docs, and Google Sites.  Each of 
these applications contains significant accessibility
barriers for blind people utilizing screen access technology, which converts 
what is on the computer screen into synthesized
speech or Braille.  A similar request for investigation has been filed 
against four Oregon public school districts that are using
Google Apps.  The complaints allege violations of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
For further illustration of this matter, please view a demonstration of 
screen access technology used by the blind and the
accessibility barriers that a blind person experiences using Google Apps.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: 
"Given the many accessible options available, there is
no good reason that these universities should choose a suite of 
applications, including critical e-mail services, that is
inaccessible to blind students.  Worse yet, according to recent data more 
than half of the American higher education institutions
that are outsourcing e-mail to third-party vendors plan to deploy this 
suite, even though they know that it cannot be used by
blind students.  Nor can these universities claim ignorance of their legal 
obligations, since the United States Department of
Justice and the United States Department of Education have specifically 
warned all university presidents against the adoption of
inaccessible technology.  The National Federation of the Blind will not 
tolerate this unconscionable discrimination against blind
students and faculty and callous indifference to the right of blind students 
to receive an equal education.  We urge these higher
education institutions to suspend their adoption of Google Apps for 
Education until it is accessible to all students and faculty,
not just the sighted, or to reject Google Apps entirely."

The National Federation of the Blind is represented in this matter by Daniel 
F. Goldstein of the Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein,
and Levy.


###


About the National Federation of the Blind
With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the 
largest and most influential membership organization of
blind people in the United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives 
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and
programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading 
force in the blindness field today and the voice of the
nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of 
the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and
training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.







©2011 All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2011 NFB
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