[Blindtlk] Fwd: Amazon press release ConcerningAccessibilityofWeb Site

Mon Jan 7 14:57:22 CST 2008

I'll say this.
I changed my mind on this topic, you guys have really good points, I just 
thought about them, like someone said that companys can't turn us away in 
person, why should they be aloud to on the web.
I never thought of It that way, so what I'm saying is that my view has 
changed on this one.
I always try to look at things from all sides of things, so many people have 
there minds closed and wont lissen to anything.
I guess that's kind of what this list is for.
Someone said something about me fealing sorry for companys, that's never 
been true, I'll say that.
I don't like big companys, just to make that clear.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Wunder" <gwunder at earthlink.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Fwd: Amazon press release 
ConcerningAccessibilityofWeb Site

> Hi Dewey. I am not in the least offended by your opinion but would like to
> offer a few observations here. First of all, a legislator told me a long
> time ago that you never give anyone anything for free. I was asking how
> anyone could oppose our Model White Cane Law barring discrimination 
> against
> the blind, and what he said was revealing - Paraphrased he said that it
> doesn't matter how motherhood and apple pie your issue may be, and I
> certainly don't think the blind should be discriminated against - so *I'm
> supporting your bill - but remember that in passing it we are taking away
> some rights - the right of someone to say I don't want your dog here, the
> right of someone to say I don't want to look at blind people or to hear 
> the
> tapping of your canes. When we passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964 that 
> was
> the right thing to do, but we were taking away rights which some had in
> order to give them to others. I can't give you something out of thin air -
> to give it to you I must take it from someone else, whether or not they
> should ever have had it in the first place
>
> All of this is to say that if you give me the right to live and breathe,
> something blind people haven't always had given that historically in some
> societies we were drown at birth, then there are certain obligations I 
> have
> to see that I can contribute as much to society as possible. If I don't 
> tell
> the world about the menace of quiet cars and how dangerous they are for 
> the
> blind, who should? If I don't tell America when programs that lead to
> employment won't work with screen readers, then who should? If I am not
> willing to be an advocate and ask with firmness and reason, then maybe
> society made the wrong decision in providing an education and
> rehabilitation.
>
> Now I like your idea about giving my business to people who want it, but 
> for
> all the talk about competition, look at the number of large corporations
> which have become central to our shopping experience. If Wal-Mart isn't
> accessible, whether physically or online, how much shopping opportunity is
> off limits to the blind. The same is true for Target and Amazon. How many
> cellular providers are there? How many cable companies? It just isn't as
> simple as saying that the market will take care of things because from the
> perspective of the market our numbers are very small.
>
> I think there is always this balance we must have between the carrot and 
> the
> stick. We should not drop foolish threats for some of the corporations we
> must change have far more money and legal staff than we can ever hope to
> hire. Still, if we don't at least have the potential to bring 
> consequences,
> whether through publicity or economics, then why should anyone listen to 
> us.
> So we seek balance - making the need clear, offering to help fix the
> problems we identify, and then, always holding as an option, the fight 
> we'd
> like to avoid.
>
> Warmest regards, and please share what you think without fear we will 
> react
> against you. The discussion of ideas is central to everything we do.
>
> Gary
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "dewey bradley" <dewey.bradley at att.net>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 10:21 PM
> 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.
>>>
>>>
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>>
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