[Ncabs] Google Accessibility

Sat Apr 6 20:54:45 UTC 2013

I agree with Allen, this is definitely good conversations we're
having, and I'm looking at things a little differently now thanks to
input from others. Brice, could you write me off-list about OCR'ing
PDFs? I think I have the software to do it, but I don't know how.

On 4/6/13, Sean Mealin <spmealin at ncsu.edu> wrote:
> Alan,
>
> While I agree with your final point that we should focus on the source
> of the PDFs, I just want to clarify something that you said to
> eliminate the chance of misunderstandings.  You said, “if you can't
> force Google directly to make Google Scolar accessible [...]”.  As of
> now, the interface to search for scholarly articles through Google,
> the entirety of Google Scholar, is accessible using the major screen
> readers.
>
> If we are interested in attempting to make a positive change in the
> accessibility of scholarly articles, we should focus on the
> organizations that run the journals and conferences that publish these
> works.  Just to draw a distinction, PDF libraries such as JSTOR,
> Ebsco, etc, only collect PDFs from journals and conferences, while
> organizations such as the IEEE and ACM actually publish the papers.
>
> Sean
>
>
> On 4/6/13, Alan A. Chase <aachase1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> What I meant by the comment you quoted was this...
>>
>> Google is a private company that is likely not covered under the
>> American's
>> with Disabilities Act, Section 504, or any other applicable legislation.
>> If students are using google for research purposes, which is an
>> educational
>> activity, then the duty to provide accessibility falls back on the
>> college,
>> which in all most every instance would need to comply with applicable
>> federal law.  So, my logic here is if you can't force google directly to
>> make Google Scolar accessible, then you take aim at those who must comply
>> and can force Google.
>>
>> I'm supporting my claim with cases from the U.S. Department of Justice in
>> which either mediation settlements or federal district court rulings have
>> found that the use of inaccessible ereaders are a violation of title two
>> of
>> the ADA.
>>
>> Now, to draw it all back together, if these PDFs are inaccessible when
>> they
>> come from the publisher then once again it should be the duty of the
>> college to demand from the services that provide electronic access for
>> their libraries that the PDFs come in an accessible format from the
>> start.
>>
>> Good conversation here you all!  Be sure to call and voice your input.
>>
>> Alan
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 6, 2013 at 10:44 AM, Sean Mealin <spmealin at ncsu.edu> wrote:
>>
>>> Sorry, can you please clarify what you mean by “the colleges can put
>>> pressure on google to act in better faith of compliance?”
>>>
>>> Google has absolutely no control over content, therefore pressuring
>>> Google Scholar would be wasted effort.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 4/6/13, Alan A. Chase <aachase1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > Yes, Jewel, Google Scholar is what links you to articles from a
>>> > search.
>>> >
>>> > The important thing here to note that is while Google doesn't control
>>> > the
>>> > accessibility of these documents it can control which documents it
>>> > links
>>> > to.  Higher education institutions are required to provide materials
>>> > in
>>> > accessible formats and if an institution, such as Wake Tech, chooses
>>> > to
>>> use
>>> > Google the college has an obligation to ensure the accessibility.
>>> > Thus,
>>> > the colleges can put pressure on google to act in better faith of
>>> > compliance.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 3:37 PM, Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> Is Google Scholar the source of the scholarly journal articles that
>>> >> come up in search results? I just want to check before making that
>>> >> assumption! Almost all of those journal articles are inaccessible
>>> >> PDFs
>>> >> from my experience, so if this is what is meant by Google Scholar,
>>> >> you
>>> >> can count me in to call about it.
>>> >> Later,
>>> >> Jewel
>>> >>
>>> >> On 4/4/13, Alan A. Chase <aachase1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >> > The NFB wants to see what can be done to address the problem of the
>>> >> > inaccessibility of Google Apps in the workplace and on campus.  To
>>> that
>>> >> > end,
>>> >> > the NFB would like to hear from employees or students - by
>>> >> > telephone
>>> >> only -
>>> >> > who have experienced inaccessibility with any of Google's
>>> applications,
>>> >> > including but not limited to the following:
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Google Docs
>>> >> > Gmail
>>> >> > Google Calendar
>>> >> > Google Slides
>>> >> > Google Plus
>>> >> > Google Chat
>>> >> > Google Scholar
>>> >> >
>>> >> > If you have encountered such difficulties and would like to help
>>> >> > us,
>>> DO
>>> >> NOT
>>> >> > RESPOND BY EMAIL, but instead please call Valerie Yingling at
>>> >> > 410-659-9314 x2440.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > --
>>> >> > *Alan A. Chase, M.Ed.*
>>> >> > Occupational Course of Study Teacher, New Hanover County Schools
>>> >> > Program Coordinator, Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat
>>> >> > President, North Carolina Association of Blind Students
>>> >> > Secretary, Governor Morehead School Alumni Association
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>>> >>
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>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > --
>>> > *Alan A. Chase, M.Ed.*
>>> > Occupational Course of Study Teacher, New Hanover County Schools
>>> > Program Coordinator, Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat
>>> > President, North Carolina Association of Blind Students
>>> > Secretary, Governor Morehead School Alumni Association
>>> > _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Sean Mealin
>>> spmealin at ncsu.edu
>>> (336) 772-2507
>>> http://www4.ncsu.edu/~spmealin/
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Alan A. Chase, M.Ed.*
>> Occupational Course of Study Teacher, New Hanover County Schools
>> Program Coordinator, Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat
>> President, North Carolina Association of Blind Students
>> Secretary, Governor Morehead School Alumni Association
>> _______________________________________________
>> Ncabs mailing list
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>>
>
>
> --
> Sean Mealin
> spmealin at ncsu.edu
> (336) 772-2507
> http://www4.ncsu.edu/~spmealin/
>
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