>-------------------------------------------------------- > > > --- # Origin: NFBnet <--> Internet Email Gateway (1:282/1045) * Origin: The Playhouse TC's Gaming BBS/www.phouse.com/698.3748 (1:282/4059) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 233 NFB BLIND NEWS Ref: F3T00000Date: 03/23/98 From: JULIE DAWSON Time: 05:13pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: AOL and accessibility (fwd) From: Julie Dawson Subject: Re: AOL and accessibility (fwd) I thought this might be of interest. AOL is one of the most speech unfriendly online services I know of. I too have contacted their customer service via voice, email and by postal letter. I invite you to do the same. Thanks, Julie Dawson "Out of many''''one people." We give of ourselves to share with each other. we receive from each other to empower ourselves. Blessed be the Almighty who blesses His people. Julie, AKA Magnolia in NJ. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 01:48:41 EST From: M WELLS 57 Reply-To: RT-L@umbsky.cc.umb.edu To: RT-L@umbsky.cc.umb.edu Subject: Re: AOL and accessibility Hi list members, I apologise to those of you who got this on AERNET but I am sending it to oth lists. If you have other lists where it might be helpful to post it please feel free to do so or let me know. I need help on the following issue. America Online is the nation's largest internet and online service provider. AOL is about to release the latest version of their software, version 4.0. I know 3.0 is not accessible, especially to speech users, so I recently nquired in CEO Steve Case's column about steps AOL is taking to make version 4.0 more accessible. I was disapointed when a technical staff member responded by saying that AOL has no plans in the immediate future to make its software speech accessible and that these features are not included in the new rsion. I would like for everyone who would--especially those of you who use AOL--to contact AOL and address your concern about AOL's lack of accessibility and lack of plans to incorporate accessibility features into its service. I contacted member services under the keyword suggestions but don't know if hat was who I really needed to contact. If anyone has a more direct e-mail ddress for AOL please let me know. However, they did provide me with their toll ree technical support number. That number is: 1-888-265-8006 I would appreciate anyone who will to contact AOL and encourage them to take steps to incorporate accessibility features into the new version of their software. It is time that they truly make their services accessible to all. Thanks. Mike Wells MWells57@AOL.com --- # Origin: NFBnet <--> Internet Email Gateway (1:282/1045) * Origin: The Playhouse TC's Gaming BBS/www.phouse.com/698.3748 (1:282/4059) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 233 NFB BLIND NEWS Ref: F3U00000Date: 03/24/98 From: JOHN ROOKER Time: 08:26am \/To: JULIE DAWSON (Read 0 times) Subj: AOL and accessibility (fwd) Hi Julie! Monday March 23 1998 17:13, Julie Dawson wrote to All: JD> I thought this might be of interest. AOL is one of the most speech JD> unfriendly JD> online services I know of. I too have contacted their customer JD> service via voice, email and by postal letter. I invite you to do the JD> same. Thanks, Julie Dawson AOL may be the largest provider, but they are far from the best. They are regularly rated very low in the quality of the Internet access. I know many blind users who access the InterNet using NetScape or Internet Explorer and have few problems and none of them use AOL. -John- * www.ggw.org/net2613 * --- * Origin: The Door Into Summer, Rochester, NY (1:2613/229) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 233 NFB BLIND NEWS Ref: F4200000Date: 03/25/98 From: K7MUF Time: 02:54pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: AOL and accessibility (fwd) From: K7MUF Subject: Re: AOL and accessibility (fwd) Hi Julie, I am on AOL and have some trouble with it. USWEST is better in this area. The folks at AOL called to offer me some kind of new services and prograns nd I told them that they should make it easier for me to use the existing ones. I don't think it got through to them. Lee --- # Origin: NFBnet <--> Internet Email Gateway (1:282/1045) * Origin: The Playhouse TC's Gaming BBS/www.phouse.com/698.3748 (1:282/4059) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 233 NFB BLIND NEWS Ref: F4200001Date: 03/26/98 From: "WOODS.." Time: 04:37pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Forwarded mail.... From: "woods.." Subject: Forwarded mail.... FYI FAITH--FORSAKING ALL I TRUST HIM. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 17:00:03 -0500 (EST) From: "Mark J. Senk trfn_volunteer" Additional information may be obtained from wassermn@trfn.clpgh.org ---- Employment Opportunity --- Visit RIS at http://trfn.clpgh.org/ris/ POSITION GENERAL MANAGER: To promote the distribution and growth of Radio Information Service, a not-for-profit agency, to the blind and print handicapped. Candidate needs Bachelor's Degree or five plus years experience desired. Applicant must have excellent communication and presentation skills, will maintain high profile within community, will manage small staff, oversee a volunteer corps of 250, will work with and answer to a 30-member Board. Three to 5 years in supervisory capacity, current knowledge of radio and its changing technology, understanding of basic accounting, and demonstrable experience with disabled communities, particularly the blind, are requirements. Respond in writing to: RADIO INFORMATION SERVICE Attention Joe Wassermann 2100 Wharton Street, Suite 140 Pittsburgh, PA 15203 --- # Origin: NFBnet <--> Internet Email Gateway (1:282/1045) * Origin: The Playhouse TC's Gaming BBS/www.phouse.com/698.3748 (1:282/4059) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 233 NFB BLIND NEWS Ref: F4200002Date: 03/30/98 From: "CHRISTINE M. FALTZ" Time: 10:02am \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Newspaper story: "Her blindness is a10:02:5803/30/98 From: "Christine M. Faltz" Subject: Re: Newspaper story: "Her blindness is a teaching aid" Jamal, is there an e-mail address for the paper? I think we should write letters regarding the terribly negative impresssion she is giving children about braille. Christine --- # Origin: NFBnet <--> Internet Email Gateway (1:282/1045) * Origin: The Playhouse TC's Gaming BBS/www.phouse.com/698.3748 (1:282/4059) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 233 NFB BLIND NEWS Ref: F4200003Date: 03/30/98 From: JIM VAGLIA Time: 11:14pm \/To: ALL: (Read 0 times) Subj: San Antonio, Texas NFB Does anyone have an url for the San Antonio, Texas NFB chapter web site? I would also appreciate any info on the Texas NFB technology center as my state rehab agency is seeking input and is open to suggestions. Sincerely, --- Maximus/2 2.02 * Origin: NFB NET St. Paul, MN (612) 696-1975 (1:282/1045) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 233 NFB BLIND NEWS Ref: F4200004Date: 03/30/98 From: ANNE PAGE Time: 12:43am \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: GUIDE DOG REFUSED ACCESS This message was from AVRAMA GINGOLD to ALL in THERAPY_SERVICE_DOGS and was forwarded to you by ANNE PAGE. From UPI NEWS--I can understand store owners not being aware of the rules; I can understand--and agree with--the desire of owners, etc., to see some identification of a dog as a service dog, but this is ridiculous (and sad). avrama UN> UN> Guide dog barred from vision clinic UN> UN> LOS ANGELES, March 26 (UPI) _ An eye doctor has pleaded no contest to UN> refusing to let a blind man bring a guide dog into his Los Angeles UN> office. UN> Municipal Court Commissioner Kristi Lousteau ordered 51-year-old UN> ophthalmologist Dr. Marc R. Rose to contribute $5,000 to Guide Dog Users UN> of California, attend a guide dog sensitivity training session and give UN> his employees copies of state laws on access by service dogs. UN> Rose was charged with refusing a blind person and his specially UN> trained guide dog access to a public place. UN> State Medical Board investigators say Rose refused to let the blind UN> man into his office with a guide dog on two occasions in November 1996, UN> even when the man was accompanied by the training director of the Guide UN> Dogs of America. UN> The man was trying to get an eye examination required by the Social UN> Security Administration. UN> Investigators with the State Medical Board launched a probe into UN> Rose's conduct after getting a complaint last year from the guide dogs' UN> group. UN> Rose is the second Los Angeles businessman convicted in the past UN> three months of refusing access to service dogs. The owner of a fast- UN> food restaurant was ordered to pay $2,700 in fines in January for UN> refusing to let a wheelchair-bound woman into his business with her UN> service dog. ... nfx v2.7 [C0000] Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch'entrate! --- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 10 * Origin: MoonDog BBS * Brooklyn,NY 718 692-2498 (1:278/15) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 233 NFB BLIND NEWS Ref: F4200005Date: 03/31/98 From: "CURTIS CHONG" Time: 06:26am \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Fw: the public face of nfb From: "Curtis Chong" Subject: Fw: the public face of nfb ---------- From: Curtis Chong To: ddunfee Subject: Re: the public face of nfb Date: Monday, March 30, 1998 5:20 PM Dear Mr. Dunfee: I have received your letter of March 29, 1998, and I believe you misunderstand. In the National Federation of the Blind our objective is the widest possible access to information for blind people. Although it may be possible to perform many (or even most) computer applications without using Microsoft products, it would be much better if we had access to all computer programs, including those produced by Microsoft. We hope that you believe that such an approach is more desirable than carrying a grudge, expressing anger or shouting and screaming. I rarely use sighted assistants to operate computers, but sometimes I do. Occasionally, this method is more efficient for me than others that are available. If I thought I were inferior to the sighted, or if I felt great insecurity about my blindness, I might be troubled in my heart by using sighted help. However, I do not feel insecure, and I am not inferior. Consequently, I will use the method that I think works best. With respect to cooperation between the National Federation of the Blind and Microsoft, I am a strong advocate of such cooperation. Microsoft has something we want. We have something that can be of great benefit to Microsoft-even though Microsoft sometimes fails to recognize this. In as much as we both have something to give and something to get, we should be in an excellent position to work together. I suspect that a lot more information will be available to the blind as a result. Very truly yours, Curtis Chong Director of Technology NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND ---------- From: ddunfee To: chong99@concentric.net Cc: nfb Subject: the public face of nfb Date: Sunday, March 29, 1998 9:38 PM hello mr. chong, i have a few questions which arose when reading the ny times article in which you were quoated. because you posted the entire article to the nfb-talk mailing list, one must assume that you find it's contents, and your views, important. 1. please elaberate upon the following quoation: could you amplify upon this statement? it appears to suggest that the computer is just an add on to what truly can make one an equal in education and jobs. what is that something else? to what can you point that comes even a fraction as close as does computers and related technology to putting the blind on an equal standing with the sighted? perhaps you were quoted out of context or i'm reading this wrong. 2. regarding this quote: He uses the Internet Explorer 3.02 ... did you take the opportunity to set the reporter straight why you are not using version 4.01 which is later said by a microsoft tout to be "accessible"? did you take the opportunity to explain the severe problems microsoft has with access, and will, in it's own words, for years to come? did you tell the reporter that the various levels of government are not following the law about using accessible software? what specific steps will you take to educate the reporter with the misinformation that was left unresolved in the reader's mind about microsoft? 3. if you did not make this information known, would you explain why not? do you want to distance your personal views on this topic from those held in formal nfb policy. i trust you know and want to follow that policy? would you explain in great detail what nfb policy is on using non-accessible software? mr. wunder of the nfb was also quoted saying microsoft is being responsive. is this really what you and the nfb want the general public to think by default? 4. can you explain why you are using microsoft products, and thus giving the implicit impression that to purchase inaccessible software is ok even for a blind advocacy group? are you aware that almost 99 percent of computer functions can be done on non-microsoft software? isn't it a more appropriate image that you as an individual, and spokesman for the nfb, should be projecting, that is, to make a point not to use it and let others know you aren't at every opportunity? 5. as a technology person at the nfb, could you tell us what percentage of software being used is from microsoft? have you educated the nfb that all functions can be done without microsoft software and are you pushing for the alternatives to be purchased and used with nfb funds? 6. does microsoft provide or subsidize in any way their software for use by the nfb? does microsoft provide funds or support in any form to the nfb? while you might not know, does the nfb have money invested in microsoft stock? 7. were you invited and did you attend the recent microsoft summit? if so, does microsoft provide funds for travel and room and board? has mr. gates ever answered your letters of last fall? have you published them anywhere, if not, why not? 8. as it seems you only post, from time to time, semi official nfb pronouncements on the mailing lists, in which foromn can one have the oppertunity to interact with yourself, and the leadership? do you feel that greater open interaction about technology polocy should be present on the mailing lists, if not, why not? 9. what is your reaction to the following message, widely posted on the web? It should be noted that it wasn't Microsoft but the national federation of the blind that was featured most prominately in the article. I should also note that it was curtis and the NFB who used Explorer as their browser of choice in posing fo es r photographs and for demonstration to the reporter. If one didn't read the article carefully, one would miss Curtis' statement that he relies upon his wife Peggy to assist him in using Internet Explorer and navigating the World Wide Web. regards, dan dunfee --- # Origin: NFBnet <--> Internet Email Gateway (1:282/1045) * Origin: The Playhouse TC's Gaming BBS/www.phouse.com/698.3748 (1:282/4059) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 233 NFB BLIND NEWS Ref: F4200006Date: 03/31/98 From: AL AND MASHA STEN-CLANTON Time: 06:39pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Newspaper story: "Her blindness is a18:39:3803/31/98 From: Al and Masha Sten-Clanton Subject: Re: Newspaper story: "Her blindness is a teaching aid" Well, at least she apparently doesn't claim to be on a different planet! (Maybe the alien abduction stories are real, and the culprits are blind! Grin, I hope!) Al --- # Origin: NFBnet <--> Internet Email Gateway (1:282/1045) * Origin: The Playhouse TC's Gaming BBS/www.phouse.com/698.3748 (1:282/4059)