Legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives that would require all mobile devices and internet based telecommunications to be fully accessible for people with disabilities. This legislation, introduced by Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA), seeks to increase access to broadband technology for people with disabilities by ensuring universal access for all.

To see the entire bill and get the most up-to-date news, please click here.

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the American Council of the Blind (ACB) have filed suit against Arizona State University (ASU) to prevent the university from deploying Amazon’s Kindle DX electronic reading device as a means of distributing electronic textbooks to its students because the device cannot be used by blind students. Darrell Shandrow, a blind ASU student, is also a named plaintiff in the action. The Kindle DX features text-to-speech technology that can read textbooks aloud to blind students. The menus of the device are not accessible to the blind, however, making it impossible for a blind user to purchase books from Amazon’s Kindle store, select a book to read, activate the text-to-speech feature, and use the advanced reading functions available on the Kindle DX. In addition to ASU, five other institutions of higher education are deploying the Kindle DX as part of a pilot project to assess the role of electronic textbooks and reading devices in the classroom. The NFB and ACB have also filed complaints with the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, asking for investigations of these five institutions, which are: Case Western Reserve University, the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, Pace University, Princeton University, and Reed College. The lawsuit and complaints allege violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Given the highly-advanced technology involved, there is no good reason that Amazon’s Kindle DX device should be inaccessible to blind students. Amazon could have used the same text-to-speech technology that reads e-books on the device aloud to make its menus accessible to the blind, but it chose not to do so. Worse yet, six American higher education institutions that are subject to federal laws requiring that they not discriminate against students with disabilities plan to deploy this device, even though they know that it cannot be used by blind students. The National Federation of the Blind will not tolerate this unconscionable discrimination against and callous indifference to the right of blind students to receive an equal education. We hope that this situation can be rectified in a manner that allows this exciting new reading technology to be made available to blind and sighted students alike.”

Join Debra Ruh as she presents “Website Access: Ensuring Compliance with Section 508 and the ADA.”
http://www.fxconferences.com/Product2.aspx?ProductId=347

June 26, 2009 by Linda Bustos

Being in a wheelchair, I’m not able to shop in every retail store. Sometimes stores have a few steps outside the door, or have levels only accessible by stairs or escalator. Others have aisles too narrow for my chair, or shelves too high to reach. But I can access any e-store without a problem. It’s not that easy for visually impaired shoppers, illiterate and those who can see but do not have full hand function.

I came across a really eye-opening article in the February 2009 edition of Internet Retailer titled “Seeing the Light.”

The article describes the available technologies to bring online retail sites up to par for disabled users of all kinds. Visually impaired users can use screen readers like JAWS, Window-Eyes, BrowseAloud and IBM’s Easy Web Browsing. People with limited hand function can use “radar mouse” * that looks like a Doppler radar. When the sweeping line touches something a paralyzed person wants to view, he or she uses a finger or head-activated device to “click.” It can also help customers check out by activating an on-screen keyboard.

Accessibility consultants like TecAccess can assist with audits, training and JAWS (screen reader software for visually impaired) scripting to bring companies up to code with legal requirements including the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

The 24-hour event PDT will be held all day Saturday, June 27 at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Faire/20/222/38.

Linden Lab is collaborating with and assisting Virtual Helping Hands and a coalition of community volunteers who are proud to announce Helen Keller Day in Second Life. Helen Keller Day is a community-event exploring how and why to employ, educate, entertain, and engage everyone through virtual worlds.

Helen Keller Day on Second Life is a day that is set aside for information acquisition, education, exploration of employment opportunities, social engagement, and enjoyment of arts and entertainment...there will be vendors, employers, presentations, and pure, unbridled fun.

Participants will meet people, learn, get freebies, and be entertained for their efforts. You will hear keynote speakers Keller Johnson Thompson, the great grandniece of Helen herself and Linden Labs Education and Healthcare Developer, John Lester, aka Pathfinder Linden. You will hear from experts in the fields of virtual education, employment, social engagement and entertainment. There will be building contests featuring skilled builders doing accessible builds before our virtual eyes. There will be a world premier "movie" featuring "Max," the virtual guide dog developed in Second Life for SL users who are blind or sight impaired. Also featured will be an exhibition of Max's abilities, a fashion show, chess, a Braille chat display, dancing, singing quests and storytelling... even a virtual goldmine!