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

[Aaron Cannon]

One more counter-point regarding this resolution, Apple seems to be
actively recruiting for someone to work on this very thing:

https://www.a11yjobs.com/jobs/daR9P-accessibility-and-braille-software-engineer-apple

Aaron

On Thu, Oct 20, 2022 at 11:05 PM David Andrews via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> 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credible sources, I will have this resolution withdrawn.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
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > >
> > > 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:
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> > >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/chong.curtis%40gmail.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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