[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Comments on Amazon Kindle App

Freeh, Jessica JFreeh at nfb.org
Thu May 2 07:59:38 UTC 2013


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 Amazon Kindle App



Baltimore, Maryland (May 1, 2013): <http://www.nfb.org>The National 
Federation of the Blind (NFB), the nation's leading advocate for 
access to technology and education for the blind, commented today on 
Amazon's incorporation of new accessibility features into its 
application for the iPhone and other devices using Apple's iOS 
operating system.

Dr. Marc Maurer, president of <http://www.twitter.com/NFB_voice>the 
National Federation of the Blind, said: "We are pleased that Amazon 
has taken advantage of the inherent accessibility of Apple products 
and Apple's clear guidelines for creating accessible applications by 
finally releasing a version of its Kindle app that allows blind 
readers to access Kindle content on Apple devices. Continued 
improvement of this app is needed, however, in order to make it 
appropriate for use in educational settings, and Amazon must also 
make its Kindle devices fully accessible.  Amazon should also make 
its future software, devices, and content available to the blind when 
these products are released to the general public rather than 
implementing accessibility at an unspecified later time.  Today's app 
release is a significant step on the journey to full access to Kindle 
content by the blind, but that journey is not over, and the National 
Federation of the Blind will not rest until its completion."

The National Federation of the Blind has advocated for full access to 
Kindle devices and Kindle e-books since Amazon introduced the 
Kindle.  Most recently, NFB members staged 
<https://nfb.org/kindle-books#Protest>an informational protest in 
front of Amazon's Seattle headquarters to explain why Kindle e-books 
should not be used in schools because they do not provide equal 
access to all of the same information and features by both blind and 
sighted students.  For more information on this issue, please visit 
<http://www.nfb.org/kindle-books>http://www.nfb.org/kindle-books.



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About the National Federation of the Blind


The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, 
and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind 
people in the United States.  Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for 
the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops 
innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide 
the blind and those who are losing vision with the tools they need to 
become independent and successful.  We need your support.  To make a 
donation, please go to <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.




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