[Nfb-hi] National Federation of the Blind Comments on Release of Large-screen Kindle

Thu May 7 05:50:43 UTC 2009

Questions that come to my mind, and hopefully they come to the minds of
blind people who think are:
Should all technological progress stop because it does not meet the blind
test standard?
Should college libraries, book stores and coffee shops remove all print
books because their existence, according to the NFB, somehow harms blind
people and breaks laws? Oh by the way, exactly which laws are those that
forbid sighted people and colleges from having access to modern technology
because blind people can't see?
Presently do blind people have equal access to books in college?  Or, is it
the new arrival of this Large-screen Kindle device that has tilted the
equality field?
If inequality has always existed in access to print by blind people and is
expected to always exist can we then expect that the NFB will go on a print
book destruction campaign?  Perhaps the answer to this one is no, because
all books cannot be sued, but this Large-screen Kindle
 Product offers some ripe defendants to pluck in the name of the blind.
Did The philosophy of self-reliance, creativity, and adaptability get
replaced by a victim, helpless, wining  philosophy?   
Lastly, do any of you really believe that you are harmed by this
technological Enovation, do you really think that now you cannot compete and
do you really like your donated money being spent by Baltimore on useless
pickets, trips to L A conventions and who knows what else?
Aloha and here is hoping that the blind will one day think for themselves.

From: nfb-hi-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-hi-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 3:34 PM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-hi] National Federation of the Blind Comments on Release of
Large-screen Kindle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind
Comments on Release of Large-screen Kindle

Urges Accessibility of New E-book Reader for Students

Baltimore, Maryland (May 6, 2009): The National Federation of the 
Blind, the nation's oldest and largest organization of blind 
Americans, commented today on the release by Amazon, Inc. of a new 
version of its Kindle electronic reading device.  The new Kindle has 
a larger screen than previous versions and is being marketed by 
Amazon as a potential platform for the display of textbooks for 
college and graduate students.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "We are appalled that Amazon is releasing a new Kindle device 
ostensibly for the use of students that does not contain features 
that make it accessible to the blind.  While this new device has the 
ability to read text aloud, its controls and user interface are not 
accessible to blind people; therefore, blind students will not have 
access to electronic textbooks available for the device.  If the 
controls on the Kindle are made accessible to the blind, however, 
blind students will have equal access to textbooks at the same time 
as their sighted peers for the first time in history.  We therefore 
urge Amazon to introduce a user interface for the Kindle that is 
accessible to the blind as soon as possible.  Until such an 
accessible interface is introduced by Amazon, no college or 
university should deploy this device for use by its students, since 
doing so will place blind students at an unfair disadvantage compared 
to their sighted peers and will violate state and federal laws 
requiring equal access to textbooks and course materials for students 
with disabilities."

###

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