[Blindtlk] Fwd: Amazon pressreleaseConcerningAccessibilityofWebSite

Steve Jacobson steve.jacobson at visi.com
Sat Jan 5 13:41:09 CST 2008 

Again, the fact is that businesses already have to live within the scope of the law in many areas.  They generally depend 
upon the public to be successful and therefore they are obliged to follow laws and even guidelines.  Sometimes some 
thing that there are too many laws governing businesses and others feel there are not enough.  As blind people, we 
can't expect that the world will stand still for us.  There will be changes in web page design and in software in general.  
Being a small group, we are probably going to often find that we are excluded for a while from this or that new 
technology.  However, if we can get business to at least think about us as they design new technologies, the period 
during which we are excluded will be less.  If businesses think of us, at least in the backs of their minds, then they will be 
able to move ahead and bring us along.  What we are sometimes facing right now are situations when we were not 
thought of at all.  Moving from the point where we are not considered to one where we are considered requires a little 
pushing sometimes, but this is really not anything that is new for businesses.  I could give you a sizable list of things I 
have to do on my job in the private sector to comply with government requirements that have nothing to do with being 
blind but have to do with fairness in reporting sales and tracking of medical products.  I happen to think these 
requirements are very good, even though I get tired of the red tape sometimes.  The hope is, and I believe it is not 
unreasonable, that if we get into the thinking of web developers and businesses, that the cost of making software and 
web sites accessible to us will be very small and bring other benefits with it as well.  I think we need to sometimes be 
patient with businesses, but we really don't need to feel sorry for them.

On Fri, 4 Jan 2008 22:47:28 -0800, Gloria Whipple wrote:

>I can see your point. I wouldn't want some one telling me how to run my
>business either!

>Thank you, 

>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of dewey bradley
>Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 10:22 PM
>To: NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fwd: Amazon
>pressreleaseConcerningAccessibilityofWebSite

>that's fine, I guess I took what you said wrong as well.
>All I was trying to say is that if I had a business, I wouldn't want people
>telling me how to run It.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Gloria Whipple" <fairyfoot at dc4pc.net>
>To: "'NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 12:14 AM
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fwd: Amazon pressreleaseConcerningAccessibilityofWeb
>Site


>>I wasn't trying to be mean about it. You have just as much right to 
>>your  opinion. That is what I was trying to say. Guess I didn't express 
>>it very  well.
>>
>> Sorry about that.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>> On Behalf Of dewey bradley
>> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 9:56 PM
>> To: NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fwd: Amazon press 
>> releaseConcerningAccessibilityofWeb Site
>>
>> I'm not afrade of what people think, I was just trying to say It in a 
>> nice way, un like you!
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Gloria Whipple" <fairyfoot at dc4pc.net>
>> To: "'NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 10:28 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fwd: Amazon press release 
>> ConcerningAccessibilityofWeb Site
>>
>>
>>> If you are afraid of  what people are going to say about your 
>>> message, why post it!
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>>> [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>> On Behalf Of dewey bradley
>>> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 8:21 PM
>>> To: NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fwd: Amazon press release Concerning 
>>> AccessibilityofWeb Site
>>>
>>> I don't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers here.
>>> I do agree that the web needs to be accessible, but don't you think 
>>> that peple will look at this is some one sooing private companys?
>>> It's just like the target lawsuit.  what would you guys think if you 
>>> had a websight, and someone was trying to tell you how to run your
>> business?
>>> It's not like we don't have a choice, the government is a different 
>>> story, but with them, they have to do It.
>>> If a company don't want my business, I just take It elswhere.
>>> Why doesn't the NFB fokis on things like makeing transit companys 
>>> comply with the ADA, instead of suing businesses?
>>> It's not like these companys make us give them our money.
>>> that's just my view, sorry if you don't like what I have to say.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
>>> To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>; 
>>> <nfb-announce at nfbnet.org>; <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>; 
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-web at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>; 
>>> <nosb at nfbnet.org>; <promotion-technology at nfbnet.org>;
>>> <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>; <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>; <blparent at nfbnet.org>; 
>>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>; <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>; 
>>> <nfb-science at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 1:16 PM
>>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Fwd: Amazon press release Concerning 
>>> Accessibility ofWeb Site
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>----------
>>>>>Amazon.com Accessibility to be Completed June 30, 2008
>>>>>
>>>>>The National Federation of the Blind and online retailer Amazon, 
>>>>>Inc., have announced that work to make Amazon.com fully accessible 
>>>>>to blind computer users is to be completed by June 30, 2008.  In 
>>>>>March of 2007, Amazon entered into a technology development 
>>>>>agreement with the National Federation of the Blind pursuant to 
>>>>>which Amazon was to attempt to make Amazon.com fully accessible by
>December 31, 2007.
>>>>>Because of the complexity of the task, it was recognized that this 
>>>>>was an ambitious goal and that problems might be encountered; 
>>>>>accordingly, the agreement provided that Amazon could have a 
>>>>>six-month extension, if necessary, to complete work on making its 
>>>>>Web site fully accessible to blind computer users.  Amazon's Web 
>>>>>site has improved; nonetheless, Amazon recognizes that it is not yet 
>>>>>fully accessible.  Amazon has indicated that it will complete the 
>>>>>task within
>> the extended period.
>>>>>
>>>>>Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
>>>>>said: "Full and equal access to the Internet is critical in order 
>>>>>for the blind to participate fully in today's society.  While 
>>>>>Amazon.com is not yet fully accessible, we are pleased with the 
>>>>>progress that has been made and we believe that the company remains 
>>>>>committed to making the site fully accessible.  We will continue to 
>>>>>work with Amazon.com to ensure that the blind can shop for books, 
>>>>>music, movies, and the myriad other products available at this 
>>>>>leading online retailer with the same ease and convenience as all 
>>>>>other
>> shoppers."
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>># # #
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> David Andrews and white cane Harry.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk
>>>
>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1209 - Release Date:
>>> 1/4/2008
>>> 12:05 PM
>>>
>>>
>>> No virus found in this outgoing message.
>>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1209 - Release Date:
>>> 1/4/2008
>>> 12:05 PM
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindtlk mailing list
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk
>>
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1209 - Release Date: 
>> 1/4/2008
>> 12:05 PM
>>
>>
>> No virus found in this outgoing message.
>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1209 - Release Date: 
>> 1/4/2008
>> 12:05 PM
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindtlk mailing list
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk

>_______________________________________________
>blindtlk mailing list
>blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk

>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
>Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1209 - Release Date: 1/4/2008
>12:05 PM
> 

>No virus found in this outgoing message.
>Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
>Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1209 - Release Date: 1/4/2008
>12:05 PM
> 


>_______________________________________________
>blindtlk mailing list
>blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk

More information about the blindtlk mailing list