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

Fri Oct 21 16:50:20 UTC 2022

I'm usually skeptical when people make assertions about any mainstream
company. About the situation at Apple, I would be more convinced if people
could provide specifics about which Braille displays are being affected. I
have used many Braille displays with various iPhones and have experienced
consistent performance with each one. I don't dispute the fact that
There are bugs which need attention but would like to point out I also see
general bugs with any operating system which have nothing to do with
accessibility. This seems to be the nature of software development. I think
the best thing to do would be documenting specific examples and contacting
Apple. If Apple isn't responsive, then I think a resolution might be in
order.

Dan

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of David Andrews via NFBCS
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2022 11:04 PM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>; Curtis Chong
<chong.curtis at gmail.com>
Cc: David Andrews <dandrews920 at comcast.net>; NFB in Computer Science Mailing
List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Important: Braille drivers in apple devices and
operating systems

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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> > ail.com
> >
> >
>
>
>--
>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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