[NFBCS] Important: Braille drivers in apple devices and operating systems

[Cricket X. Bidleman]

Thanks for the input.

I generally encourage resolution authors to provide legitimate sources
if available. It makes sure that resolutions committee members can do
their work (i.e revising resolutions) rather than fact-checking.

The author did not present any sources. They referenced a 2018
agreement between unnamed assistive technology companies and unnamed
mainstream technology companies. It also said that assistive tech
companies had publicized when Apple "walked away" from said agreement.
I combed the Google-verse for that agreement and any publicizing of
Apple ignoring it, but was unable to find any references to any of
that.

That should've been a sign to start fact-checking the whole thing, but
it's easy to whip people into the inaccessibility frenzy. And also, my
job is to revise, not to fact-check, so I assumed that anyone bringing
accusations of that nature would know their stuff.

My co-editor and I have been combing AppleVIs, and I called someone
who works at Apple. I'll contact Jonathan Mosen shortly--thanks for
the suggestion, Curtis. If the author is unable to present lots of
credible sources, I will have this resolution withdrawn. I don't want
to damage NFB's credibility or relationship with Apple, which
generally has been very reliable.

On 10/20/22, Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com> wrote:
> Greetings:
>
>
>
> The issue is not that drivers are being removed for braille devices. There
> are o drivers per se in Apple technology that need to be installed separate
> from the operating system. What is far more vexing is the continuing series
> of bugs that plague the braille interface even after multiple updates to
> the
> operating system. The website https://applevis.com <https://applevis.com/>
> is a good resource to learn what these bugs are.
>
>
>
> I also can suggest contacting Jonathan Mosen <jonathan at mosen.org> if you
> folks want more accurate information.
>
>
>
> Cordially,
>
>
>
> Curtis Chong
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Cricket X. Bidleman via
> NFBCS
> Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2022 3:26 PM
> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Cricket X. Bidleman <cricketbidleman at gmail.com>
> Subject: [NFBCS] Important: Braille drivers in apple devices and operating
> systems
>
>
>
> Hello all,
>
>
>
> Our affiliate has received a resolution alleging that Apple has
>
> removed Braille drivers and some other accessibility features from
>
> Apple devices and operating systems, especially in beta versions but
>
> also in general. The resolution proposes that we strongly urge Apple
>
> to fix these errors.
>
>
>
> In my experience, Apple has generally been reliable (after a certain
>
> point) about keeping and adding accessibility features. They also have
>
> a bunch of great accessibility testers, whom I think would be
>
> incredibly angry if Apple tried to do that. Before we leverage serious
>
> complaints against Apple, I want to check whether Braille drivers and
>
> other accessibility features were actually removed from Apple devices
>
> and operating systems, especially beta versions.
>
>
>
> If any of you knows whether or not this is true, please let me know as
>
> soon as possible. The resolutions revisions deadline is approaching
>
> very quickly, and if this resolution is false, we need for it to be
>
> withdrawn.
>
>
>
> If any of you has any articles or press releases, or solid proof of
>
> this removal, I would appreciate if you could send me that as well.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
> cricket
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Cricket X. Bidleman, B.A (she/her/hers)
>
> M.A Candidate | Stanford Journalism Class of 2022
>
> Co-Chair | Stanford Daily Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
>
> Member | Blind Advisory Committee, California Department of Vocational
>
> rehabilitation
>
>
>
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>


-- 
Cricket X. Bidleman, B.A (she/her/hers)
M.A Candidate | Stanford Journalism Class of 2022
Co-Chair | Stanford Daily Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Member | Blind Advisory Committee, California Department of Vocational
rehabilitation