[nabs-l] accessible products

[Jewel S.]

Josh,
You should read about the new Technology Access Act...I don't know
details, and I'm so out of it today, but I wanted to at least get you
looking for it. President Obama just signed it. It is to mandate
access to technology and appliances for the disabled, including the
blind. It covers television menus, DVS, closed caption for the deaf,
touch screen accessibility for stoves, microwaves, washing machines,
and all sorts of products. It also covers phones and computer access.
It is a great bill, but I am still waiting to see it start to be
pushed. I haven't heard any news on anything being done after the
signing of the bill.

I know, video games are great and fun. But there are much more
important things, including menus on televisions, DVD players,
cellphones, touchscreen appliances, kiosks, ATMs, and even card
machines at stores (there is a Rite-Aid near me that doesn't have
accessible card machines, meaning when I swipe my card, I have to
either swipe it as credit or have someone else put in my PIN. Not
cool!

Anyone know what President Obama is doing to push this bill he just
signed for access to technology and appliances?

On 12/1/10, Josh Kennedy <jkenn337 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi
>
> My question is this. Why is the nfb and ACB and AFB not pushing for
> accessibility in x-box, accessible nintendo wii? accessible dvr? If we
> had these things it would put us on an even more equal level with
> sighted people. Why not push for companies to add text-to-speech to the
> dvr? x-box, nintendo? make both braille and text to speech a standard on
> washing machines, dryers, and other appliances? Also instead of striking
> out on its own, why doesn't the nfb, ACB and AFB all work with google
> and apple to make the ultimate car that blind people can drive? Clearly
> there's a lot of work to be done still. Does the nfb ACB and AFB not
> care about such matters as accessible x-box, accessible nintendo, and
> dvr? Don't get me wrong we have more choices than we did ten years ago
> ut there's still a long way to go I think. In some ways with tv and dvr
> and stuff we're behind with the technology. That's good that apple tv is
> accessible. But the fact remains that my dish network dvr box, and my tv
> set doesn't have talking menus and a talking program guide. Also for
> some reason descriptive video is more prevalent in the United Kingdom
> than here in the USA. why? why is that? So far in the United States,
> deaf people get more on tv than we do. closed captioning is everywhere,
> but for blind folks there is very little in the way of descriptive video
> unless you get it from the united kingdom. I'm simply stating facts here
> guys on issues that I feel nfb ACB and AFB must address in order for us
> to be on a more equal level with the sighted people we interact with
> everyday.
>
> Josh
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail.com
>


-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com