[Diabetes-talk] Accessibility questions, help needed

Thu Jul 19 21:24:00 UTC 2012

Hi Bridget,
I agree with you. I remember being a lot less tactful years ago.
Sometimes we need to learn to work with people rather than have a we and they attitude. I am not saying anyone has this attitude. Let's look at from the perspective of the local Weight Watchers Group. A blind person joins the group. Blindness is new to members of the group. They do not know what to expect from you as a blind person. Whether we like it on not, we will need to do some educating. A chip on our shoulder isn't the answer. Explaining how we do things works wonders. Ask about accessible materials but remember the local group may honestly not know. The may ask one person who says things are not available. This may not be true, sometimes someone asks the wrong person.
If your local group leader says they will call that's great. I have found though that's it's better to check for yourself.
If you try to use a site and it isn't accessible have someone else try to look at the site. Some people are just better at using accessible Computer soutware and can help you to learn how to navigate. Sometimes when something has been written using Java Script you may be able to work around this.
We cannot expect everyone to know about blind people or blindness. We have to educate people. Somets this can be tiring but just think how terrible it would be if blind people who came before us weren't willing to do this.
Take this one step at a time.

Colleen Roth
By the way, I have been a Member of the National Federation of the Blind since 1972 and I never act like a doormat. I am like a Mother Cat protecting her kittens.
I can say this since I am definitely old enough to do that.
Colleen

----- Original Message -----
From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Bl'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Thursday, Jul 19, 2012 01:20:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Accessibility questions, help needed

>
>
> Involving lawyers seems a bit extreme and excessive. Trust me, the world
> needs to be accessible for everyone, but we also need to find solutions
> that don't always involve taking legal action. This seems like an issue
> not necessarily warranting such involvement. I don't believe any
> discrimination is occurring. AS I said, sometimes we need to be the
> leaders of our own destiny and take charge if we feel things are not
> being done that should.
> 
> And FYI, though I believe all websites should be accessible, it's not
> always the most simple thing to do. Working with people as opposed to
> taking legal action seems like it would garner better, and more
> positive, results than always getting the law involved. Of course when
> people refuse such assistance, that's another matter perhaps warranting
> legal action. But we can't always go into these situations with that
> mindset.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Read my blog at:
> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>  
> "History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
> The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Anita Adkins
> Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 6:37 AM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Accessibility questions, help needed
> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I agree with Bridgit and some of the others. But here is my perspective.
> First, alert Weight Watchers of the problem. Depending on their
> response, move forward by moving to the next higher level employee in
> their organization until you reach the top, explaining the issue. If all
> fails, then you have to act to make change. I know the law requires that
> websites are accessible, and I also am pretty sure you aren't the only
> one not able to access this site. So when presenting to the
> company/website manager, you may point out how an accessible and usable
> website would benefit you as a member, but that it would also benefit
> other members with disabilities, members using smaller devices, etc.
> Start out by attempting to work with them. But, when this fails, then
> contact somebody like you did with Mike or, in your own case, maybe a
> lawyer. I think I've heard the name Dan Goldstein as a lawyer in the
> NFB. It might be Brown and Goldstein, but if not, you can research for a
> disability lawyer. I agree we need to use more Braille, but I also think
> you should be able to access the same material in the same way others
> do, meaning on this website if that is how it is presented here. In
> addition, making the material accessible on the web and in other formats
> would allow the material to be accessible to all. Good luck. Anita
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
> Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 3:22 AM
> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Bl'
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Accessibility questions, help needed
> 
> Is there a person in your Weight Watcher's group who can assist you with
> getting info not accessible? This may also be a great opportunity to
> have an accountability partner too. 
> 
> Also try accessing the contact us link on the website and simply make
> your obstacles clear. I've not personally done this, but I know others
> who have contacted website admins when experiencing accessibility
> issues, and it seems to turn on a light initiating changes to said
> website. 
> 
> Also try contacting headquarters if your local group is not providing
> info in an accessible manner for you. One point, can you be given info
> in another format other than Braille such as via email or even voice
> record stuff with a Victor or some other digital recording device?
> Braille, right or wrong, is sadly not as easily available as other
> accessible mediums these days, and if you really want information, you
> may need to make an effort to get it in some other format. Weight
> Watchers may also not know where to go to get material in Braille for
> you. 
> 
> It sounds like you really need to take charge and be the one dictating
> all this. Sadly, this is just a fact for those requiring info in
> alternative formats. It's not that people want to deny you or not be
> helpful, but because they don't have to "deal" with a similar issue,
> they are ignorant of what to do or where to go.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Read my blog at: http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>  
> "History is not what happened; history is what was written down." The
> Expected One- Kathleen McGowan
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie Kline
> Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 9:25 PM
> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Accessibility questions, help needed
> 
> 
> good evening,
> i don't know if you guys remember, but a couple of weeks ago I had asked
> the question here about Weight Watchers and whether or not their website
> and online tools were accessible for someone using a screen reader. As a
> follow up to that question, I am very upset to learn that most of site
> I'd need to use is not at all accessible. it doesn't respond to screen
> reader commands and you can't navigate the thing because it's all flash
> and graphics. of course the sign up page reads beautifully. i brought
> this problem to our local Weight Watchers people and asked if I could
> have the material in another format like braille, but they will not give
> me a straight answer for this and the only thing they've given me is a
> pocket guide. do I have any recourse here? saying I feel cheated is
> pretty mild; I'm very upset that I'm not getting the same opportunities
> as other participants though I'm paying the same money, and while
> everyone else has multiple options for doing tasks, I don't even have
> one. if anyone can offer me somewhere to go for help with this, I'd
> appreciate any suggestions. if I'm just plain SOL AND THERE IS no
> recourse here, then thanks for letting me vent. julie sent from my
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