[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Comments on New Kindles

[David Andrews]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

National Federation of the Blind Comments on New Kindles

Baltimore, Maryland (September 6, 2012): <http://www.nfb.org>The 
National Federation of the Blind, the nation's 
<https://www.nfb.org/access-technology>leading advocate for 
accessible technology and content, commented today on Amazon's press 
conference announcing new Kindle e-readers and tablets.

<http://www.nfb.org/marc-maurer-bio>Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the 
<http://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind>National 
Federation of the Blind, said: "The U.S. Department of State has just 
withdrawn a single-source contract proposal involving the Kindle 
family of devices, possibly due 
<http://www.nfb.org/national-federation-blind-files-complaint-against-state-department>to 
our concerns about the lack of accessibility in virtually all 
iterations of the Kindle.  Despite the State Department action, our 
repeated encouragement of Amazon to incorporate accessibility, and 
the fact that companies like Apple and Google are actively engaged in 
the incorporation of accessibility features into their devices, there 
is no evidence that these new Kindles are accessible.  It seems 
abundantly clear where Amazon stands.  The National Federation of the 
Blind will continue to fight for access to all manner of devices and 
content and to oppose the deployment of inaccessible devices and 
content by entities that are covered by our nation's disability laws."
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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.




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