[nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag

Thu Feb 4 05:36:48 UTC 2010

Apple is really the leader in built in accessibility, and yes, I think that is the only way we're going to see a decrease in what we pay to use technology. If mainstream devices start coming with built in accessibility features, that would be a preferable solution. To answer your question, if a huge company like Freedom Scientific has 80 percent of the market share, and people are paying $800 for their screen reader...why would they lower their price? They may eventually go to a payment plan, but they really have no incentive business wise to do so. Blind people may be pissed at how much things cost...but at the end of the day, the companies still get the money. If we want a change, we'll have to stop using their products. The rub is that they're good products, and probably in many ways more efficient than the cheaper options. 

Just some thoughts,
Briley
On Feb 3, 2010, at 9:45 PM, Aziza wrote:

> My question, and I hope this makes sense... is:
> If these things, like screen reading software, and such is becoming a standard necessity for blind people, why hasn't the price gone down? I mean, that's normally what happens with technology right? New stuff is really expensive, but overtime as it becomes used by a large amount of people the price goes down. So, if their is a specific population of people using this stuff, why hasn't the price decreased?
> 
> Also, does anyone know if the tech manifactures have considred taking a look at assistive tech and trying to make built in features on their general pieces of technology? Like, a computer with built in screen reader capabilitys, but one that actually works well enough so that we don't need to go and buy a separate one. If it was standard and included wouldn't it cost less?
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark J. Cadigan" <kramc11 at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 7:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
> 
> 
>> If there was a nonprofit company out there that made software comparable to JFW it could solve the problem. This company would only request a donation of whatever you can afford for the use of there software. This would solve the problem without having to rely on government.
>> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Briley Pollard" <brileyp at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 6:28 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
>> 
>> 
>>> It is a difficult question. While I agree that paying so much simply because I happen to be blind is ridiculous, isn't it opening a dangerous door to expect the government to limit how much things can cost? At the end of the day, assistive technology companies don't exist as charities, they are businesses just like any other, except for the fact that they are selling to a small niche market. Do I think it is horrible that they exploit our need for these products to make a buck? Of course. Isn't that capitalism though? I'm no conservative by any stretch of the imagination, and I honestly don't have a firm opinion on this subject. But I thought I'd raise this aspect of the argument.
>>> 
>>> Briley
>>> On Feb 3, 2010, at 10:45 AM, Hope Paulos wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Dear Joe. I agree with you. There have been countless times that I've needed adaptive technology and haven't been able to purchase it without assistance from my vocational rehabilitation agency. (I was in high school or college at the time). It's horrible to think that companies can charge $150 or more for even  software updates.  Paying $6,200 or thereabouts for a device made especially for the blind is ludicrous. Especially when this device may not be compatible with mainstream software. If you need help with this campaign, I'd be more than willing to assist you in any way possible.
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> Hope Paulos
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: "'Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students.'" <nabs at acb.org>; <tabs_students at googlegroups.com>; "'NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 11:45 PM
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Independence with a Price Tag
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> Dear list,
>>>>> 
>>>>> I'm continuously appalled at the price tags associated with adaptive
>>>>> technology.  While you're in college you might receive assistance from your
>>>>> rehab agency to purchase equipment.  You may get some assistance after you
>>>>> find a job, but inevitably there comes a point when the expense comes
>>>>> directly from your own pocket.  I wonder how many people have had to settle
>>>>> for outdated technology because they simply cannot afford it.  But, that's
>>>>> the thing.  I'm only assuming there are tons of people who cannot afford
>>>>> this technology.  I'd like to lead a campaign to call public attention to
>>>>> this monopoly, and, I'd like to hear your thoughts on whether or not you
>>>>> think me crazy.  If my assumption is wrong, I'll keep my views to myself.
>>>>> If there is a high number of people unable to tap into emerging software
>>>>> simply because they cannot pay for it, I'd like to hear from you.  I
>>>>> understand the technology itself costs a lot of money to develop.  Yet, it
>>>>> seems more of the price boost is owed to extravagant government contracts
>>>>> that allow the few players to charge something like $6,200 for a device
>>>>> that, despite its best advertisements, does not perform completely on par
>>>>> with its mainstream counterparts.
>>>>> 
>>>>> At this time I have only a vague idea for a strategy.  Yet it's something
>>>>> I'm willing to build up if the need can be clearly identified.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Looking forward to your input,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Joe Orozco
>>>>> 
>>>>> "A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the
>>>>> crowd."--Max Lucado
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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>>>>> 
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