[nabentre] Fwd: ADV: The Clear View News, November 2013

David Andrews dandrews at visi.com
Thu Nov 28 01:58:19 UTC 2013


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>My Blind Spot, the clear view to diversity
>
>In This Issue
>JUST HOW WE SEE IT
>We Did It!
>A Letter From John Martyn
>VIEWS GONE WILD
>FOCUSED VIEWS
>Quest for QuickBooks
>SUPPORT OUR VIEW
>Thank You!
>LAST BUT NOT LEAST
>Quick Survey
>About Us
>My Blind Spot is an organization dedicated to 
>helping visually impaired individuals.
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>© My Blind Spot, Inc.
>Drop Shadow Accent Image
>
>The Clear View News
>November 2013 Volume 1 Issue 1
>Dear David,
>
>  JUST HOW WE SEE IT
>Newsletter - Dance Drop Shadow Image
>
>We Did It!
>
>I don't even know where to begin. For starters, 
>this is the first release of our quarterly newsletter, The Clear View News.
>
>We have come a long way since seeing the launch 
>of My Blind Spot. We have secured meaningful 
>funding to deliver on our mission and vision for 
>the community. We have addressed specific 
>accessibility issues plaguing the blind and 
>print disabled communities in the area of 
>financial management. We have grown from what 
>was an organization handled by a single set of 
>hands, to a group with many hands and many 
>shoulders making light work for all we need to do.
>
>This is only the beginning, and I continue to 
>invite you, our supporters, to help guide us in 
>the direction of addressing the next big thing 
>for the community. We have a significant success 
>under our belts with the completion of our 
>QuickBooks project, with sights set on training, 
>outreach and educating people of all abilities 
>about our mantra, "Access to the right tools 
>creates ability and restores infinite possibilities."
>
>Much thanks and gratitude to Jim and Ted, Tom, 
>Brian, Dianna and Bob, Jim, Cathy, Kathleen, 
>Lori, John, Steve, Dixie, Daniel, Ted, Cheryl, 
>Sujasree, Denise, Jon, David, Lisa, and, last but not least, Mom and Dad.
>
>"The only thing worse than being blind is having 
>sight, but no vision." Helen Keller
>
>Appreciatively, Albert J. Rizzi, CEO and Founder
>
>
>A Letter From John Martyn
>
>Hi all,
>
>My name is John Martyn and I have been dreaming 
>about QuickBooks accessibility for more than 2 
>years. It started off with something I thought 
>would grab Intuit's interest: scripts I had 
>written for QuickBooks 13. I presented the 
>scripts for what I called "QuickBooks Blind" to 
>Lori Samuels, Accessibility Program Manager at 
>Intuit, when I first met her at the CSUN conference in early 2012.
>
>Just a few months earlier, Lori had been 
>speaking with Albert Rizzi of My Blind Spot 
>about making an accessible and usable version of 
>QuickBooks. Thanks to Lori, Albert and I were 
>introduced, and the three of us started 
>brainstorming about actually making a usable and 
>accessible version of QuickBooks.
>
>As I worked on the scripts, writing and 
>rewriting code, it became apparent that we 
>needed to attack this from a different angle if 
>we were going to be successful. After 
>investigating potential partners and speaking 
>with experts in the field, of whom some stayed 
>and some did not, My Blind Spot decided that in 
>order to get the ball rolling on the development 
>of a usable version of QB, we needed to expand 
>the team. Lori set out to secure support from 
>the engineering team at Intuit while Albert set 
>his sights on reaching out to the best in the 
>field when it came to programming and accessibility.
>
>Soon we were all working with Steve Clark of 
>Adaptive Technology Services, and the real fun began.
>
>Steve set his sights on auditing and assessing 
>the platform of QuickBooks, and Lori expanded 
>the team internally at Intuit to include Cheryl Aranha and Ted Drake.
>
>For many years the blind and print disabled 
>community had searched for an accessible version 
>of QuickBooks, and it had been said time and 
>again that someone was doing QuickBooks 
>accessibility, but people kept waiting and hoping. Until now.
>
>The momentum we generated led to executive 
>support from Intuit, which was that shot in the 
>arm we needed to proceed. With buy-in from the 
>executive level and the engineering level, we 
>were able to transform an accounting program 
>only marginally usable to the blind into a 
>program usable and accessible to all.
>
>A short while ago, my dream to make it possible 
>for blind business owners, accountants, and 
>bookkeepers to manage their own finances became 
>a reality. We have been beta testing everything 
>the team has done to get QuickBooks working for the community.
>
>I am happy to be working with the team that My 
>Blind Spot pulled together on what is to become, 
>in my opinion, the largest accessibility project 
>for the blind, opening doors of employment and 
>creating opportunities for blind small business 
>owners to independently manage their own businesses.
>
>This is why this project is so important to me 
>personally and professionally. A lot was 
>sacrificed to make my dream a reality. I thank 
>all who that have been involved in the Quest for 
>QuickBooks, for their hard work and their 
>dedication to making QuickBooks accessible to people of all abilities.
>
>Thanks to all who volunteered to beta test. We 
>are working hard to get it all pieced together, 
>andwith your help, we can make it even better.
>
>John Martyn
>
>
>  VIEWS GONE WILD
>Contributed by Albert J. Rizzi
>
>Do you know Donna Triply? Have you ever gotten an email from Donna?
>
>This week a funny thing happened. I had been 
>sending out updates and announcements through My 
>Blind Spot to keep our followers and supporters 
>advised of the latest and greatest accomplishments and strides made at MBS.
>
>A colleague and new friend, Ann, forwarded me an 
>email that was sent to her by Donna. She asked 
>why Donna had forwarded the email to her and why 
>I had not sent it to her directly.
>
>Admittedly, I was confused. I did not send an 
>email to Donna nor did I ask her to forward 
>anything to anyone on my behalf. Who was Donna, 
>and why was she forwarding our press release 
>about our project to make QuickBooks accessible 
>and usable to the blind and the print disabled?
>
>Putting on my best Sherlock Holmes outfit, I 
>took to investigating the matter. Turned out, 
>after a little sleuthing, that I did know Donna, 
>or at least who sent the email that seemed to 
>come from Donna Triply. It was our webmaster, David Annett.
>
>When David set up our announce list to keep 
>people informed on current events, he 
>established a one-way list that does not allow 
>people to reply to us. The "from" address field reads as follows:
>
><mailto:donotreply at myblindspot.org>donotreply at myblindspot.org
>
>Now, for those of you who do not use a screen 
>reader or adaptive tools that the blind and the 
>print disabled use to translate text into audio 
>output, I suspect that you are scratching your 
>heads. But when that address is translated into 
>audio output for screen reader users, what it 
>sounds like is Donna Triply. I just about fell 
>off my chair laughing once I figured out what was wrong.
>
>I immediately wrote to my friend, Ann, and told 
>her what I had deduced. She suggested that to 
>avoid that problem, I needed to use caps at the 
>start of each new word-for example, 
><mailto:donotreply at myblindspot.org>DoNotReply at MyBlindSpot.org. 
>Then, what you all see as non-screen-reader 
>users will exactly match what we hear as blind 
>and print disabled users of adaptive technologies.
>
>If we all make that simple adjustment or ask our 
>webmasters to address this consideration, no one 
>will ever wonder who Donna Triply is and why she is writing to us.
>
>
>
>
>  FOCUSED VIEWS
>Newsletter - Dance Drop Shadow Image
>
>
>The Quest for QuickBooks
>
>
>
>There's an old saying when it comes to knowing 
>what will happen in the end: "It's not over till the fat lady sings."
>
>
>
>For more than twenty years, the blind and 
>visually impaired have been waiting for that 
>climactic aria in the opera that might be titled 
>"The Quest for QuickBooks;" that is, for an 
>ADA-compliant, usable QuickBooks that will give 
>them access to the preeminent accounting software on par with sighted users.
>
>
>
>Some in the audience had no choice but to give up on their quest.
>
>
>
>"I've only attempted to access QuickBooks a 
>dozen or so times, as there's really nothing I 
>can do with it and it gets me more frustrated 
>every time I make an attempt. I really need 
>access to QuickBooks to enhance my day to day 
>guiding of the company, as finances and accurate 
>bookkeeping are the foundation to any successful 
>business," said John Wellslager.
>
>
>
>In spite of the myriad challenges posed over the 
>years, others, out of necessity, and with varied 
>degrees of success, struggled to use the 
>available accounting programs by using any 
>number of props and accessories to bridge issues 
>that remain present even today.  In the world of 
>financial software, this is nothing new. 
>Consider the experience of Richard Kelly:
>
>
>
>"I've been legally blind most of my life. In 
>1988 I began using computers, then screen 
>readers in 1990, and by 1992, my being able to 
>use a screen or a monitor ended.  As my usable 
>vision was failing, I knew I had to find an 
>accessible accounting computer program if I had 
>any hopes of maintaining my financial 
>independence. Over the years I've heard, and 
>continue to hear, you cannot use QuickBooks with 
>a screen reader. It's not accessible. 
>Nonetheless, I found it usable until the 2013 
>release, which I found to be neither accessible 
>nor usable. In my opinion, it had become utterly worthless."
>
>
>
>Sadly, there are always false finales. When we 
>do find a program that works, with no tweaking 
>or scripting solution required to bridge the 
>digital divide, we hold our breath and pray that 
>it stays usable and accessible as new releases 
>and upgrades are made to the core product. All 
>too often, however, what starts out well 
>screeches to an abrupt halt when a program is 
>rendered inaccessible due to an operating system 
>update. Even worse is when the core product is 
>rendered useless with an update by an engineer 
>or web designer with little understanding of accessibility issues.
>
>
>
>For example, Julie Warrington had deep concerns 
>when she first learned about the initiative to 
>make an accessible and usable version of QuickBooks.
>
>
>
>"The QB software is a major part of my 
>employment, and I am very concerned that if they 
>break the accessibility work-arounds I have developed, I will be out of a job."
>
>
>
>As a result, many of us have contacted software 
>companies over the years to encourage them to 
>design accessibility into, or return lost 
>accessibility to, their product.  Occasionally, 
>we receive an empathetic response but more often 
>it is a dismissive comment. Joleen Ferguson got 
>the runaround from various customer service reps 
>who offered little or no appreciation for accessibility.
>
>
>
>"I don't have the confidence to believe that 
>things will not quickly become outdated again 
>with next year's product update, but I strongly 
>agree that we need choices.  My choice is to 
>support the company that supports me and my needs."
>
>
>
>Yes, there is something operatic about 
>this-mistaken identities, misdirected magic, 
>broken hearts. Until recently, blind users had 
>the satisfaction of keeping track of their 
>finances with an earlier scripted version of 
>Quicken only to lose accessibility when a new 
>and improved version of the accounting program came out.
>
>
>
>The accessibility opera plays on. Off stage, the 
>critics scoff. With years of soaring promises 
>followed by dashed hopes, the community has 
>grown justifiably skeptical as to whether or not 
>the Diva will ever take center stage and belt out that high note.
>
>
>
>Yet, for those who are desperate for access to 
>QuickBooks, there is reason to remain hopeful. 
>My Blind Spot, a nonprofit organization founded 
>by Albert J. Rizzi, is championing accessibility 
>for the blind and visually impaired by 
>collaborating with Intuit, Inc. to make their 
>preeminent small business financial software 
>truly accessible, usable, and ADA compliant. My 
>Blind Spot has successfully reached out to 
>Intuit, at many levels, in order to convey to 
>them the urgency of improving accessibility to their financial products.
>
>
>
>Kim Thurman is one of those hopeful individuals 
>placing her trust in My Blind Spot and Intuit to 
>bring an accessible option for financial management to the community.
>
>
>
>"I am very intrigued with your efforts to 
>finally make QuickBooks accessible with screen 
>readers.  I have attempted to use the software 
>several times over the years to no avail."
>
>
>
>Perhaps the most compelling story is the one 
>highlighted in a video produced by My Blind Spot 
>and posted on YouTube. Dixie Sanderson and her 
>circumstances are representative of the truths 
>the blind community has lived with, and continue 
>to live with, for far too long.
>
>
>
><http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001QtPnOptN7-z2alzW8m3v1jeafoAipiO81DaNkX8zaqbPE_FFC2VQ-k_jcjhrgSwXau8R43bjwdUcv3381lr9kUwajh6lbV-oV5cRNfJOzf5HBZdIWfXiSPbtJv0rJDOYigELA42tJJBwK26lKPAxKMYwCXkVp-FWZLcxi4TLHcTKnWYNkk_gHelFxICM7npJEyyyoIzZQuk=&c=yWi52Cv6eZ5roUut4Jd41xVFQKtgYk9XGKUWC21Xh9bitskTDspGnA==&ch=xZCWCSM5yRYU97V_jGYkozKUZxJ3IcZxsgWWybYx1XiXdMLS6pTo3A==>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZklXouXyORk
>
>
>
>Through the combined efforts of the engineering 
>teams at My Blind Spot and Intuit, the 
>20-year-long, seemingly Wagnerian quest for 
>accessible QuickBooks appears to be coming to an 
>end. If you listen carefully, you might hear the 
>conductor tuning up the orchestra from the pit 
>in preparation for the final act. The soprano, 
>waiting in the wings, is practicing her new lyrics.
>
>
>
>For Dixie, the song used to be, "I had to 
>dissolve my business and turn to disability 
>income." It has been replaced with, "My 
>contractors say that when I can use QuickBooks, 
>I will be their bookkeeper once again."
>
>
>
>To that end, and opening to a wide audience and 
>rave reviews, My Blind Spot, in concert with 
>Intuit, will be raising the curtain on a usable 
>and accessible version of QuickBooks for Windows 
>appearing live on a desktop near you.
>
>
>
>The community is approaching a crescendo, sung 
>loud and strong, promising hope and opportunity for people of all abilities.
>
>
>
>Finally!
>
>
>SUPPORT OUR VIEW
>
>Thanks to all who contributed to our recent 
>fundraiser held in conjunction with Macy's 
>Annual Shop for a Cause Event. We are constantly 
>looking for additional support and resources to 
>continue our work for people of all abilities. 
>We are open to suggestions of ways we can secure 
>the precious resources needed to do what we do best-opening doors for others.
>
>
>
>In the coming months, we plan to launch a 
>fundraising effort through an online platform. Stay tuned!
>
>
>
>Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>
>access equals ability, infinite possibilities
>
>
>
>LAST BUT NOT LEAST
>
>Take our super-quick survey!
>
>
>
>Our web professionals have put together an 
>Accessibility Awareness Survey consisting of 6 
>true or false questions on Survey Monkey. The 
>survey is for developers and novices alike. 
>Please take a moment to fill it out. You can find it at:
>
>
>
> 
><http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001QtPnOptN7-z2alzW8m3v1jeafoAipiO81DaNkX8zaqbPE_FFC2VQ-m49NGB7jorgsOEVwLh_3PUZqgL8POWT8RRBa4J-j_2AOTgmjV0HLwemuKFMgDv3Vvo_SXYnBmaeRT3Dk14UMZlT7iq6kgrsJaLhK7WDuIRe3REj9hGrVVrCYt6Hs_AjklVAL5Hm1H8h&c=yWi52Cv6eZ5roUut4Jd41xVFQKtgYk9XGKUWC21Xh9bitskTDspGnA==&ch=xZCWCSM5yRYU97V_jGYkozKUZxJ3IcZxsgWWybYx1XiXdMLS6pTo3A==>http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RZGZ2J8 
>
>
>
>
>We will share the results as soon as we have 
>more than 100 participants. Please share the 
>link with all the developers you know!
>
>
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