[nabs-l] Kindel DX

[Jedi]

Jim,

I noticed how quick you were to ask Carol how the NfB plans to handle 
the Kindel problem at universities. I also noticed how you implied that 
she may be deceiving students on this list by not specifically and 
explicitly stating how the problem might be solved. I personally found 
your tone offensive because of how harsh and attacking it sounded to me.

I'm not Carol, and I certainly have no intension of speaking on her 
behalf. However, I will say that as a member of the NfB, our intension 
is never to deceive anyone. You're probably right that we may wind up 
persuing litigation to insure accessibility to blind college students. 
Naturally, I'm sure that we will try any other method of advocay we 
can, but we need real honest cases of how the new technology is 
currently affecting blind students today.

Whether we're able to resolve the conflict through advocacy alone, or 
whether we use litigation to do it, I know you wouldn't be sorry we did 
it should you find yourself at a university or work place using this 
technology and you haven't the sufficient vision to utilize it.

Respectfully,
Jedi
Original message:
> Carol,

> How do you intend to resolve this issue? Why are you not being more 
> specific as to how you intend to resolve this issue?

> You said, "we are attempting to resolve this issue and need to know of 
> any blind students who will be affected." Why do I get the feeling that 
> what you really ment to say was "We want to file a discrimuination 
> lawsuit, but in order to do so, we need an affected student so that way 
> we can have legal standing to sue."

> If I am correct, and I applogize if I am not, I feel you should be 
> perfectly clear as to your intentions. If I am correct, and you are not 
> being completely open about your intentions, then that is a form of 
> deception, and posting such an advertizement looking for students is 
> approaching, if not already passed an ethical boundary. If I am 
> correct, then students have the right to know what they are getting 
> into before they choose to contact you.

> So I ask again, how exactly do you intend to resolve this issue?

> Thanks,
> Jim Reed
> President, Montana Association of Blind Students

> Dear Fellow Federationists:

>>   The National Federation of the Blind would like to know if you are
>> currently studying at any of the following institutions, if you
>> will be studying at these institutions as of the fall of 2009, or
>> if you know an individual who is or will be.  The institutions are
>> Princeton University, Reed College, Case Western Reserve
>> University, Arizona State University, Pace University, and
>> University of Virginia's Darden School of Business.  These six
>> colleges and universities are planning to engage in a pilot project
>> using Amazon's new Kindle DX electronic reading device to
>> distribute electronic textbooks.  This device is not accessible to
>> the blind, nor is it likely to be accessible by the fall of
>> 2009.  The Kindle DX features many advanced reading functions that
>> will be of help to students; however, if blind students do not have
>> access to this technology, they will be at a further competitive
>> disadvantage relative to their sighted peers.  For this reason, we
>> are attempting to resolve this issue and need to know of any blind
>> students who will be affected.

>> In a similar matter, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
>> "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Northwest Missouri
>> State University plans to roll out a different, but also
>> inaccessible, electronic textbook system for all of its students in
>> the fall of 2009.  We would appreciate any information about any
>> blind students studying at this institution.

>> If you are an affected student or know of one, please contact Chris
>> Danielsen at the National Federation of the Blind headquarters in
>> Baltimore.  You can call Chris at (410) 659-9314, extension 2330, or
>> e-mail him at <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org.

>> Thank you for your assistance in this matter.


>> Carol Castellano, President
>> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>> 973-377-0976
>> carol_castellano at verizon.net
>> www.nfb.org/nopbc


> Carol Castellano, President
> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> 973-377-0976
> carol_castellano at verizon.net
> www.nfb.org/nopbc


> "From compromise and things half done,
> Keep me with stern and stubborn pride,
> And when at last the fight is won,
> ... Keep me still unsatisfied." --Louis Untermeyer



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