[Nfbc-info] social networking website resolution

Sat Dec 6 01:39:51 UTC 2008

I believe that's what the technology committee is supposed to do.  That
is, evaluate if a website is "inaccessible" and if so start a dialog
with the website authors.

I believe that several people have sent feedback to facebook with no
result.

Who authored the resolution?  I'm afraid I've forgotten.

Jim

On Fri, Dec 05, 2008 at 05:24:30PM -0800, Angela fowler wrote:
> Have Facebook or Myspace, to anyone's knowledge, even been approached about
> accessibility yet?
> It could be, if we build a strong case that the sites aren't accessible and
> provide practical solutions to this problem that these guys will work with
> us. In that case, legal action wouldn't be necessary.  
> If they have been approached, and they have refused to work with us however,
> then maybe we should break out the law books. 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Tim Elder
> Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 3:32 PM
> To: 'NFB of California List'
> Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] social networking website resolution
> 
> I agree with you Brian.  And the intent of a facebook suit would also be to
> bridge the gap.  However, Target, was a cutting edge decision that barely
> made it through by the skin of its teeth.  The judge narrowly held that only
> those web-based services that have some connection to the physical store are
> covered by the ADA.  Without this nexus, a judge would have to go out on a
> serious limb, against standing law to re-interpret the language of the ADA
> to include websites.  Bottom line, a facebook suit is possible, but we would
> be seriously pushing our luck.  A suit against facebook could be so
> radically distinguishable from Target that it would go against us.  A bad
> decision in a facebook case might prevent us from nudging the Target logic
> to the next baby step.  Say, applying the ADA to all web-based services that
> are even related to a physical location.  A suit against facebook would skip
> this step and might slam the door on pushing the Target logic forward a bit.
> 
> 
> My last post was focusing on the potential success of a facebook suit, given
> no physical location whatsoever and high probability of user error.  We
> really need a federal amendment to the ADA or at least some regs/guidelines
> that incorporate websites into the ADA on some level.  I would love to see a
> requirement that websites with a certain traffic amount or sales volume be
> required to comply with the ADA.  What a Washington Seminar issue that would
> be for next year...  
> 
> Regards,
> Tim      
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Brian Miller
> Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 3:03 AM
> To: 'NFB of California List'
> Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] social networking website resolution
> 
> Hi Tim,
> 
> I think part of the intent of the Target lawsuit was to try and establish
> the principle of online sites as facilities equivalent to brick and mortar
> stores, therefore being covered under the ADA, addressing the point you
> succinctly make below.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Tim Elder
> Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 12:06 AM
> To: 'NFB of California List'
> Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] social networking website resolution
> 
> Unlike Target.com, there is no Brick and Mortar physical Facebook store to
> link a law suit to facebook.  The Target suit was only successful because
> they  have physical stores which are in fact covered by the ADA.  Without
> physical stores overlapping the web-based services, there isn't much good
> law to base a suit upon.  So far, the reach of the ADA to web-only services
> is extremely limited.
> 
> That being said, updating to the latest version of your browser (Internet
> Explorer 7, Firefox etc.)and the Flash player plug-in version 10 makes a big
> difference in accessibility of facebook.  Also, Jim Barber mentioned on
> another list that m.facebook.com is another good alternative way to access
> facebook.
> 
> I did have one question for the list though:  For those using facebook with
> some success, I am wondering if the chat function is accessible.  As far as
> I can tell, the chat function isn't usable, even though I can access most
> other functions.  Jim?
> 
> Tim
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Lisamaria Martinez, NOMC
> Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 6:32 PM
> To: NFB of California List
> Subject: [Nfbc-info] social networking website resolution
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I was wondering what we've done about the social networking website
> resolution.
> 
> I have desperately tried to learn the layout of the new FaceBook, but I
> swear the page is refreshing. Plus, certain aspects of the page just don't
> read well with JAWS. for instance, JAWS will say, "---- has accepted your
> friend request." I have no idea who may have accepted my friend request
> because JAWS doesn't read it. But something is there.
> 
> It is getting to be quite frustrating especially since many groups,
> organizations, etc. are on FaceBook. My high school class reunion is
> starting to organize on FaceBook and I can't access everything.
> 
> If we sued Target, why aren't we suing FaceBook?
> 
> LM
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbc-info mailing list
> Nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfbc-info:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/tim%40timeldermus
> ic.com
> 
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.10/1810 - Release Date: 11/24/2008
> 2:36 PM
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbc-info mailing list
> Nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfbc-info:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/brian-r-miller%40
> uiowa.edu
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbc-info mailing list
> Nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfbc-info:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/tim%40timeldermus
> ic.com
> 
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.10/1810 - Release Date: 11/24/2008
> 2:36 PM
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbc-info mailing list
> Nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfbc-info:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/fowlers%40syix.co
> m
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbc-info mailing list
> Nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbc-info:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/jbarbour%40barcore.com