[Electronics-talk] New VP of Accessibility [was "Re: Blind Guy gets New Job"]

Thu Jul 19 16:45:44 UTC 2012

It isn't just that they hired a blind guy, the created a new position, a
VP for accessibility no less. Companies don't just create VP positions
and pay out VP salaries for window dressing. I believe Tom Wlodkowski
was at AOL when they started taking accessibility seriously with their
original product. I've see him at NFB national conventions and on FS
podcasts. He was at AOL when AIM was kept very accessible and worked
well with JAWS. He was also there when AIM web mail became one of the
first web clients to use ARIA and give you an accessible and desktop
like interaction with a web client. Of course, we all need to take a
wait and see attitude, but I don't see how this can be bad for
accessibility. Maybe the lobbying and legislative activities will make a
difference after all.

On 19/07/12 00:55, cheez wrote:
> Call me Mr. Negative.  But don't expect to see any changes just because
> a blind dude's employed there.
> Unless I missed something in the article, but, didn't it say some of his
> accomplishments were the launching of Aim for the deaf, hard of hearing
> and speech disabled?
> Vince
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at att.net>
> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 2:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Blind Guy gets New Job
> 
> 
>> Quite right too.  What's say we pursue this together; as, after all,
>> I'm contemplating rejoining comcast.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>> Skype name:
>> barefootedray
>>
>> On Jul 18, 2012, at 3:50 PM, John Riehl wrote:
>>
>>> This is potentially great news. I would love to get involved as a
>>> volunteer
>>> in helping him draft this "focused plan". I have two questions.
>>> Can NFB find out contact information?
>>> And when does he actually start work on the job?
>>>
>>> I've been trying to find out how to contact comcast to express my
>>> accessibility concerns but have not been able to find a good contact
>>> entry
>>> point.
>>> I think publicizing how we can contact this new VP so we can express our
>>> concerns and , more importantly, offer to give positive help, would be a
>>> great NFB service.
>>> John Riehl
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>> [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Andrews
>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 4:32 AM
>>> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [Electronics-talk] Blind Guy gets New Job
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thomas J. Wlodkowski Joins Comcast Cable as Vice President of
>>> Accessibility
>>>
>>> PHILADELPHIA, PA  -  July 16, 2012
>>>
>>> Comcast Cable, one of the nation's leading
>>> providers of entertainment, information and
>>> communications products and services, announced
>>> today that Thomas J. Wlodkowski has joined the
>>> company as Vice President of Accessibility. In
>>> this newly created role, Mr. Wlodkowski will
>>> develop a strategic plan focused on the usability
>>> of Comcast's products and services by people with
>>> disabilities and pursue opportunities  to further
>>> enrich the customer experience for the disability
>>> community. He reports to Charlie Herrin, Senior
>>> Vice President, Product Design and Development, Comcast Cable.
>>>
>>> "Comcast is developing new and innovative
>>> communication technologies at a rate that is
>>> faster than ever before. It is extremely
>>> important that our products and services are
>>> easily available and functional for everyone to
>>> be able to use these technologies that have
>>> become essential for communication, education and
>>> entertainment," said Mr. Herrin. "We are thrilled
>>> to have Tom join our team as he brings a wealth
>>> of knowledge that will help us to better serve
>>> our customers with disabilities through our new and current products."
>>>
>>> Mr. Wlodkowski joins Comcast from AOL, Inc. where
>>> he led accessibility for the past decade. Among
>>> his many accomplishments there, he oversaw the
>>> launch of AIM Relay, which allows people who are
>>> deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled to place
>>> phone calls to their friends and family through
>>> telecommunication relay services.
>>>
>>> Mr. Wlodkowski holds a Bachelor of Arts degree
>>> from Boston College. He currently sits on the
>>> Board of Trustees for the American Foundation for
>>> the Blind and is a member of the Loudoun County
>>> Disability Services Board. He previously served
>>> on the FCC Consumer Advisory Committee and the
>>> Board of Trustees for the National Braille Press.
>>> Mr. Wlodkowski will be relocating to the
>>> Philadelphia area with his wife and son.
>>>
>>> About Comcast Cable
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>>> and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and
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>>
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-- 
Christopher (CJ)
chaltain at Gmail