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

[David Andrews]

I suspect this is about the new standards for interfacing Braille 
displays with phones etc., which were developed a few years back by 
AT vendors and others. I think it is called HITT. Some companies have 
adopted it some not. I think Apple has, but not positive.  There was 
a bunch of noise recently, because Android didn't implement them 
after signing on. I would check applevis. I would be careful with 
this one, not sure it is correct.

Dave

At 05:40 PM 10/20/2022, Cricket X. Bidleman via NFBCS wrote:
>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credible sources, I will have this resolution withdrawn.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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> >
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> >
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> >
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> >
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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