[musictlk] Inaccessible online contact forms and Websites

[Michael]

I was directed to a web site that sells guitar instruction via audio format 
called talkingtabs.com.  Upon opening this site I too couldn't shut off the 
instant commercial about the site that immediately began, prohibiting me 
from hearing my screen reader.  This site was begun by a father whose son 
lost his sight and needed a substitute for the sports that he had 
participated in and found nearly no guitar instruction with enough audio 
format.  You would think that he, of all people, would be aware of the 
accessibility challenges of such a commercial.

Michael

Michael----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "'NFBnet Music Talk Mailing List'" <musictlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 11:03 PM
Subject: Re: [musictlk] Inaccessible online contact forms and Websites


> Joshua:
>
> I believe all of us share your frustration.  However, I wonder if you've
> pondered the following questions:
>
> (1) To what extent do these blind musicians (yes, including Ronnie 
> Millsap)
> have control over their own affairs and to what extent are they "kept"
> people?  Lest you think I'm casting aspersions on blind musicians, plenty 
> of
> sighted musicians (famous and otherwise) are also "kept".  Specifically, 
> how
> much control or knowledge do they even have over their own websites?
>
> (2) You desire an enforcement mechanism.  What would it be, who would do 
> the
> enforcing and, perhaps most importantly, who would pay for the 
> enforcement?
> What leverage would we have, considering that we're a small minority and
> that these websites may or may not be places of public accommodation under
> the Americans with Disabilities Act?  NFB can't sue the owners/operators 
> of
> every website.
>
> The only viable option is to try to contact the website administrators to
> try to get them to change.  This may require sighted assistance.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Mike
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Joshua Lester
> Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 8:22 PM
> To: NFBnet Music Talk Mailing List
> Subject: [musictlk] Inaccessible online contact forms and Websites
>
> Hi, it's Joshua Lester. Before the moderator accuses me of going off
> topic, this has something to do with musicians. I'm tired of musicians
> in general putting inaccessible contact forms on their sites. Those
> forms include security codes, that we have to type in, in order for
> the E-mails to send. I'm fine with security, but they should do what
> some sites are already doing. They're putting an audio file there, so
> you can hear those characters, that they want you to type in. Two
> sites of interest, are of blind musicians. Gordon Mote, and Ronnie
> Milsap have inaccessible forms on their sites. Gordon, is a Southern
> Gospel singer/musician, and Ronnie Milsap is a famous Country star.
> They're both blind. They should have thought about that. I have also
> noticed that some sites have music as soon as you go on their site.
> You can't shut it up! It's hard to hear Jaws reading something, when
> their music is blasting at you! I can hit escape, on some sites, and
> that shuts it up. Some sites, however, aren't that easy. What I'm
> calling for is across-the-board accessibility regulations on all
> Websites, be they music, news, or other. I'm tired of this mess! These
> people should be more considerate.
> Blessings, Joshua
>
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