[nfbcs] project tracking software

Sun May 12 22:22:44 UTC 2013

Actually, there's an unspoken aspect to all this that most of us do not even
dare to admit to ourselves: that is, while we want "equal access" --
whatever that is -- and believe that "the law" should be enough to guarantee
it, what gives us, a small minority, the right to dictate to the majority
(most workers) what software they can use? It puts us in an awkward position
when great emphasis is placed these days upon "team play" etc. to say that
most of the team can't use certain software because we can't access it. Of
course this begs the larger question as to whether such inaccessible
software should exist or not. But trying to mandate accessibility in an
absolute sense amounts to fixing what software development techniques and
tools can and cannot be used -- an effort that is, in the long run, doomed
to fail; one cannot stop innovation and by its very definition,
screen-reader manufacturers cannot adjust to innovations they don't know
about or that haven't been developed yet.

This doesn't mean that we shouldn't fight for access as the present lawsuit
does; we have no choice if we don't want to be returned to the
rocking-chair. But until someone develops Mr. Data of STNG, we are going to
be faced with that unspoken dilemma of which I write and it's not an easy
thing to figure out how to get around it.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tami Jarvis
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2013 9:13 AM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] project tracking software

Tracy,

Yeah, and I keep hearing these sorts of stories, where the laws are just 
flat out not followed.

So I'm really interested in how the lawsuit Mike F. mentioned in an 
earlier post will come out after the long slog... It's depressing in a 
way, though I guess not all that surprising, that it's going to take at 
least as much hard work and effort to get teeth put in those laws as it 
was to get the laws in the first place... Sigh. Then again, I remember 
when those laws were being developed and then finally passed back in the 
day. Since I knew I would be blind sooner or later, I paid attention. 
But, of course, I was not officially a disabled person then, so I got to 
hear the abled folks talk about the horrible imposition in the free way 
bigots talk when they assume you are one of Them... From what I recall 
of what of that was on my limited radar at the time, the reason the laws 
ended up toothless was that that was the only way they could be passed 
in the first place. Of course, I know a lot of you here had real skin in 
that game, so thanks! I've benefitted from your hard work.

But more remains now, for sure, to get penalties for violators. It's 
just unfortunate that it takes people who would rather be working for a 
living to have to take time out of their lives for lawsuits instead.

Tami

On 05/11/2013 05:48 AM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
> I know this is a ridiculous thing to say, but there is a law requiring
> the government to only purchase accessible software, right?  Yet they're
> using JIRA, which Susie says is inaccessible.  Thus, they're breaking
> the law.  I just thought it had to be said.
> Tracy
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stanzel, Susan - FSA, Kansas City,
> MO" <Susan.Stanzel at kcc.usda.gov>
> To: "NFB in Computer Science Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 5:57 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] project tracking software
>
>
>> The project lead sometimes has to use HP Quallity Center because the
>> Testing and Certification Office is part of our team. We submit our
>> software to them for their review before it goes to production. It
>> would be handy if I could use it, but more handy if I could use JIRA.
>>
>> Susie
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve Jacobson
>> Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 2:24 PM
>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] project tracking software
>>
>> Susie,
>>
>> That is interesting that the government is using HP Quality Center.  I
>> had trouble using it but it turned out I didn't have to so I did not
>> pursue it.  However, I thought it was more for developing and
>> executing test cases, although maybe that is just one use.
>> Whether it helps or not, if I have to use it, knowing it is used by
>> the government could give me more of a lever to get them to fix those
>> things that don't appear to be accessible.  Unfortunately, I think
>> some of the problem I have seen with HPQC may have to do with screen
>> readers not keeping up as well as they might with modern web approaches.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Steve Jacobson
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 10 May 2013 13:59:16 +0000, Stanzel, Susan - FSA, Kansas City,
>> MO wrote:
>>
>>> Good moring Everyone,
>>
>>> There are two different project and bug tracking programs used at USDA.
>>> They are JIRA which appears not to be accessible and HP
>> Quallity Center which I am not forced to use. Do any of you
>> successfully use project tracking software? I wish all I had to do in
>> my job was code (grin).
>>
>>> Susie Stanzel
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA
>>> solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized
>> interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the
>> information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator
>> to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this
>> message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email
>> immediately.
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfbcs mailing list
>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nfbcs:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/steve.jacobson%40vis
>>> i.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfbcs mailing list
>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfbcs:
>>
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/susan.stanzel%40kcc.usda.
gov
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfbcs mailing list
>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfbcs:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbcs mailing list
> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nfbcs:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/tami%40poodlemutt.com
>

_______________________________________________
nfbcs mailing list
nfbcs at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nfbcs:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com