[Blindtlk] Fwd: Amazon press release ConcerningAccessibilityofWeb Site

[Sherri]

Gary, I couldn't agree with you more. What we don't realize is what we gain 
is usually at a cost to someone else, but the gains are worth it.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Wunder" <gwunder at earthlink.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 2:18 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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