[Nfbnet-members-list] Inaccessible Kindle Books and K-12 Schools

[David Andrews]

Dear Fellow Federationists:

This e-mail provides logistical details for our Amazon protest scheduled 
for Wednesday, December 12.  Subsequent e-mails will provide additional 
messaging details.

Background

Amazon.com is undertaking a massive effort to incorporate inaccessible 
Kindle books into K-12 schools across the United States. They have built 
a system called Whispercast that allows teachers and school 
administrators to distribute Kindle content to devices other than 
Kindles.  The problem with all of these plans is that the Kindle books 
are not accessible to students who are blind.  Since school districts 
have an obligation under federal law to purchase or deploy only 
accessible technology and content, Amazon must either make Kindle books 
accessible or cease and desist from its efforts to have them used in the 
classroom.

We will provide signs, flyers, and chants for the protest.  We will also 
be delivering letters from blind students, parents, and friends to Mr. 
Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, as part of the protest.  You are 
urged to send these letters to Chris Danielsen before December 1 at the 
Jernigan Institute.  You are also urged to send us a YouTube video of 
the student reading the letter.

Date: Wednesday, December 12

Time:  11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Pacific Time

Protest Location (Amazon Headquarters): 426 Terry Avenue North Seattle, 
WA 98109

Pre-meeting:  For those of you who can make it, we will have a final 
briefing the day of the protest at the hotel listed below at 8:30 AM.

Protest day schedule:

8:30-9:30AM Pre-briefing at the hotel

10:30AM Line up and depart hotel

11:00AM Protest begins

Dress:  Professional attire is preferred but be sure to wear comfortable 
shoes and clothes appropriate for marching outdoors for two hours.

Hotel:  We'll be staying at the Holiday Inn Seattle, located at 211 
Dexter Ave North in the Seattle's South-Lake Union neighborhood only a 
couple blocks from the protest location.  As a result of the event being 
so soon, we have decided not to negotiate a room block. The Holiday 
Inn's website is currently quoting a standard nonsmoking room with two 
queen beds at $124 per night.  Please make your reservations as soon as 
possible by calling (206) 728-8123 or by visiting 
http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/seattle/seasc/hoteldetail.

Airport/Transportation:  Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) is the 
closest airport to the hotel.

Taxi Charge (one way) from SEA: $ 45.00 USD

Time by Taxi: 20 minutes

Take I-5 Northbound to exit 167 (Mercer St). At the end of the exit you 
will turn left onto Fairview Ave. Follow Fairview Ave to Denny Way and 
turn right on Denny Way. Follow Denny Way to Dexter Ave. and turn right 
on Dexter Ave. N. It's on the left.

I look forward to seeing you in Seattle.

John G. Paré Jr.
Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
200 East Wells Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Telephone: (410) 659-9314, ext. 2227
Cell phone: (410) 917-1965
Fax: (410) 685-5653
Email: jpare at nfb.org <blocked::mailto:jpare at nfb.org>

-- 
Follow me on Twitter @dandrews920

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