[NFBCS] Opinion On AccessiBe's apology
Sabra Ewing
sabra1023 at gmail.com
Wed Jul 26 04:42:56 UTC 2023
I'm still not impressed. The only solution is for them to go out of business, or produce a new product.
Sabra Ewing
> On Jul 2, 2023, at 10:24 AM, dan.tevelde at comcast.net wrote:
>
> I listened to an interview with them on the Living Bllindfully podcast and am not persuaded they will do anything. There's an old expression 'the leopard doesn't change its spots.'
>
> Dan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of S via NFBCS
> Sent: Sunday, July 2, 2023 8:23 AM
> To: Sabra Ewing <sabra1023 at gmail.com>; NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: S <Starry_sky at live.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Opinion On AccessiBe's apology
>
> It is now July and the AS website still did not post this "apology" on its website. Where is the press release? Where are the reports on changes related to that "apology"? Their website still has the same dangerous claim about instant legal compliance with a 2 minute integration which Shir acknowledges is not true.
>
> Even the AS website is not fully accessible. The web developers did not always use the proper semantics. What's worse is that they even took the time to use some basic tricks and workarounds to hide things from screen readers instead of spending that time and effort to properly clarify them to screen reader users. You may know how to trick automated testing tools but that doesn't make your website accessible or inclusive.
>
> When an apology is genuine, they would instantly work to correct the thing that they felt the need to apologize for. The only "start over"
> they want is for us to stop calling them out. NFB should have waited for AS to demonstrate their apology is genuine before printing it. NFB needs to publish another full notice to correct its error in publishing this empty "apology" that was only meant to deceive the NFB community.
>
>
>> On 5/17/2023 2:39 AM, Sabra Ewing wrote:
>> I am considered a threat to them as I have been blocked from commenting on their Facebook advertisements. They never answered me and they would rather stop blind people from commenting then actually answer you. It really shows how they are that they are silencing me for talking about my experience with their overlays and their false advertising.
>>
>> Labeling your buttons with artificial intelligence does not make it WCAG compliant. Yes there is one guideline that says as long as your photos and buttons are labeled you are compliant, but then there's another guideline called robust, and I believe that guideline would stop you from giving buttons random descriptions and labels. Not to mention that there artificial intelligence doesn't label everything anyways) screen readers have built-in artificial intelligence that is the exact same one they use. I have noticed no difference when you're going to screen reader mode.
>>
>> And if they're going to do the overlay, do you think they could just have one option but they make you pick between screen reader mode, seizure mode, 80HD mode and blah blah blah.
>>
>> Sabra Ewing
>>
>>>> On May 16, 2023, at 9:38 PM, Ty Littlefield via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> First, while we haven't screened people for their visual impairments, I don't believe that we have any sighted applicants. If they are sighted, they would make the same pay.
>>>
>>> I'm not sure where you are finding the average QA rate. I personally know QA interns and testers being paid less than $36 an hour at multiple reputable companies. When I had a part-time QA position my pay was closer to $25/$30, and that was in Boston. That said, this is not a QA engineer position, we are looking for usability testers. There is vastly more expected of a QA engineer. We offer fairly frequent raises with the ability to earn more, as well.
>>>
>>>
>>> On the low end, salary.com shows that QA specialists make $23.07 an hour, and other references show much lower. Some sources indicate closer to $30 per hour, and our raise structure accounts for this. I was also approached as I graduated with a computer science degree for QA positions that paid nearly minimum wage, where I would be expected to write a decent amount of automation. We really are committed to paying as competitively as we can in this field while hiring a diverse set of usability testers. I would be happy to review any information you can provide that shows differently.
>>>
>>> I am aware of the issues you are speaking about with regards to the website. I am not an AccessiBe employee, but I can tell you that I raised these issues in a meeting with Shir, and I fully expect I will continue to raise these issues as long as they persist. Part of my work here, although it's not really in my contract description is to help bring issues like this to their attention and try to resolve them.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Ty
>>>> On 5/16/2023 11:06 PM, S wrote:
>>>> Ty, the average rate for QA testers is around $36/hr with entry level approx $28/hr. If the role is temporary, then the rate is higher to compensate for the lack of stability or benefits. And if the tester has specialized skills like screen reader expertise, the rate would go up even higher. Are the sighted testers also only paid $22.50 an hour?
>>>>
>>>> Accessibe still has not posted Shir's "apology" on its website. And the first thing on the homepage is still the claim for immediate "WCAG & ADA compliance" which even Shir admits is not true. None of the claims of progress or course correction is demonstrated anywhere.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Date: Mon, 15 May 2023 08:27:45 -0400
>>>>> From: tyler Littlefield<tyler at tysdomain.com>
>>>>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List<nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Cc: Jim Barbour<jbar at barcore.com>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Opinion On AccessiBe's apology
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Jim:
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm not going to argue with most of this, because I agree fully.
>>>>> The only thing I can say is that they are working with blind people
>>>>> to do usability testing in a lot of capacities. The program I'm
>>>>> leading is hiring 13 people to do so at a starting pay of $22.5 an
>>>>> hour, which feels pretty reasonable with all the raises built in as
>>>>> an analyst grows and succeeds.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Otherwise, I'm on board with you here. They have a long way to go.
>>>>> I hope that this letter is a start, but I think this is one of
>>>>> those cases where we have to watch to find out. I do note that
>>>>> their website (as someone else mentioned) still makes the ADA claims.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>> Ty
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 5/15/2023 1:30 AM, Jim Barbour via NFBCS wrote:
>>>>>> Hey Everyone,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My opinion is that getting the technical part right isn't really the important part. After all, R and D is an important part of any new product. Finding a niche that your product is aimed at and then building a market for your product is all part of product development.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My real problem with AccessiBe is that they took advantage of people's lack of understanding of how website accessibility works to sell a product. Our fear was that this would lead to a lot of inaccessible websites and a likely black eye for the blind community when we start calling them on it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When we started talking with AccessiBe about this, we were not just ignored, but told we didn't know what we were talking about. This is, in a word, triggering to many blind people as this is how "blindness professionals" have treated us for years.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So, to summarize, AccessiBe has been rude, exploitative, and condescending to the blind community. Their attempts to apologize are not trusted. Their actions are going to have to speak for them. So far, they are not. I think we'd need to see some real attempts to honestly talk about what their product will and won't do, back off on their claims that their product will solve all accessibility needs, and hire blind folks to do usability testing on their product.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Until then, their apology isn't moving me to feel any differently about them.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, May 14, 2023 at 09:39:47PM -0400, Sean McMahon via NFBCS wrote:
>>>>>>> Opinion? They can?t even get the technical part right and that
>>>>>>> was before they failed to consider our feelings. I think they
>>>>>>> should take some kind of introductory coding class first and I
>>>>>>> think this is a challenge for one of us to fill the void that
>>>>>>> true Internet accessibility faces.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> From: NFBCS<nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Aaron via
>>>>>>> NFBCS
>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2023 5:20 PM To:nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> Cc: Aaron<blind247365 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> Subject: [NFBCS] Opinion On AccessiBe's apology
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "Hello everyone,
>>>>>>> I wanted to get your thoughts on the recent apology issued by the
>>>>>>> founder of AccessiBe, which was published in the May issue of the
>>>>>>> NFb Braille Monitor. I also posted the same question on the
>>>>>>> R/Blind subreddit for blind and visually impaired people, and
>>>>>>> most people there didn't believe the sincerity of the apology.
>>>>>>> You can find the link to the Reddit post at the bottom of the apology.
>>>>>>> It will be interesting to see if AccessiBe issues a similar
>>>>>>> apology in the American Council of the Blind (ACB) Braille Forum,
>>>>>>> which is the ACB's version of the NFB's Braille Monitor."
>>>>>>> Braille Monitor May 2023
>>>>>>> A Heart-felt Apology and a Chance to Start Again by Shir Ekerling
>>>>>>> ?****From the Editor: There isn't much I need to say because this
>>>>>>> letter says it all. I admire people who can say they are sorry
>>>>>>> and want to start again. I hope and believe this is a real step forward.
>>>>>>> Dear Members of the Federation,
>>>>>>> My name is Shir, and I am the founder of accessiBe. I am writing
>>>>>>> to address our past actions and to offer our deepest apologies
>>>>>>> for the way we previously communicated and reacted. I also want
>>>>>>> to outline what we are doing and have done to change and improve
>>>>>>> in response to feedback from Federation members and individuals
>>>>>>> in the broader disability space.
>>>>>>> Before I go further, I want to share with you that I have a deep
>>>>>>> personal understanding of what it feels like to be dependent on
>>>>>>> assistive technology. I am a person who relies daily on multiple
>>>>>>> assistive medical technologies due to my Type 1/juvenile
>>>>>>> diabetes. My medical journey has been challenging at times, and
>>>>>>> thus I am driven by a singular conviction when it comes to my
>>>>>>> work and accessiBe. I can personally relate to struggling with
>>>>>>> assistive technology, and this is one of the reasons it is
>>>>>>> essential for me to be the best ally that I can be to you.
>>>>>>> When I founded accessiBe, other than in the very technical
>>>>>>> aspects, I was a newcomer to the accessibility and disability
>>>>>>> communities. As software engineers, we incorrectly believed that
>>>>>>> the technicalities were all that we needed to know. When some
>>>>>>> community members voiced their concerns, my colleagues and I
>>>>>>> became defensive and resistant, and we mistakenly treated it with
>>>>>>> dismissal or, at times, even anger. As the founder of accessiBe,
>>>>>>> I want to take full responsibility for these reactions, and I
>>>>>>> wish to outline how, in the past two years, feedback from
>>>>>>> Federation members and many individuals and disability rights
>>>>>>> activists has guided me and accessiBe through a meaningful transformative process.
>>>>>>> After several years of learning, and as I reflect on our choices
>>>>>>> during that time, I recognize that the way we reacted to concerns
>>>>>>> did not demonstrate my commitment to my conviction. Even though
>>>>>>> we failed to respond appropriately, we did hear you. We have been
>>>>>>> learning a lot from your feedback and have been changing our
>>>>>>> approach and how we do things because of it. For our improper
>>>>>>> reactions and responses, we want to express our deepest apologies
>>>>>>> to everyone who has been affected, and we are committed to
>>>>>>> responding with openness, gratitude, and accountability going
>>>>>>> forward. I also want to apologize for emphasizing our marketing
>>>>>>> on avoiding legal action, when it should have been on making one's website usable to users who would otherwise be left out.
>>>>>>> We have many things to do until we get there, but I hope that
>>>>>>> soon, you will trust us enough to call us your ally and bestow
>>>>>>> that honor and responsibility on us. I am committed to that goal
>>>>>>> and to receiving all available guidance and learning to support that work.
>>>>>>> At the core of what we do is our belief that creating an
>>>>>>> inclusive environment for all individuals requires work from each
>>>>>>> of us individually and from us as a collective. As a company
>>>>>>> handling digital accessibility, it is our responsibility to work
>>>>>>> alongside you, to demonstrate why it is so crucial for businesses
>>>>>>> to provide online access at all times, especially in a rapidly changing digital space.
>>>>>>> This is why we strive to provide solutions that make it easier
>>>>>>> for businesses, from the smallest family business to the biggest
>>>>>>> enterprise, to provide equal access and opportunities to all
>>>>>>> their users and customers, with or without a disability. We want
>>>>>>> to provide businesses with tools that help them recognize that
>>>>>>> accessibility and usability are possible for them, and that even
>>>>>>> if they lack resources, providing accessibility will be a
>>>>>>> positive decision that drives their business forward. I'm not
>>>>>>> writing this to advertise accessiBe, but to provide background on what we are trying to do.
>>>>>>> I'm writing this letter to ask you, Federation members, for a
>>>>>>> second chance to build a relationship with you. I am aware of
>>>>>>> your concerns about overlays, privacy and security, advertising,
>>>>>>> and more. Some of these concerns are addressed here; others are
>>>>>>> too complex for a short letter, and I wish to remain focused on
>>>>>>> the communication and people aspect, and on our commitment. I am,
>>>>>>> however, going to address these and any other concerns you bring
>>>>>>> to my attention as we move forward in our communication, conversation, and the work we put out to the world.
>>>>>>> Over the past two years, we focused on seeking guidance and
>>>>>>> training from disabled leaders, activists, individuals, and
>>>>>>> disability-led organizations willing to teach us where we fell
>>>>>>> short and what we needed to do to revise our approach. This work is ongoing.
>>>>>>> We took the time for a deep review and are making significant
>>>>>>> changes that include complete employee training, disability
>>>>>>> history, civil rights activism, disability justice workshops, and
>>>>>>> guidance on accessibility and disability communication. We are
>>>>>>> committed to building an inclusive culture from the core and to
>>>>>>> being directed by the disability community in the work that we
>>>>>>> do. We want disability to be present in all aspects of accessiBe.
>>>>>>> Making significant changes takes time, and we understand that
>>>>>>> building trust is a lengthy process. We strive to continue
>>>>>>> learning and making further improvements that demonstrate our
>>>>>>> commitment as we move forward. The experience of every individual
>>>>>>> is unique. We cannot capture every perspective or understand
>>>>>>> every situation. Therefore, we will continue to learn and improve.
>>>>>>> Accessibility is not only about technology but mostly about
>>>>>>> people, culture, and education. We are committed to inclusion
>>>>>>> both internally and externally.
>>>>>>> We are also committed to being transparent about our journey, and
>>>>>>> I want to begin by sharing our "Purpose statement"
>>>>>>> (https://accessibe.com/purpose-statement). This twenty-page
>>>>>>> document details the journey we have been on, delving deep into
>>>>>>> the changes we have made, and our focus for the future. We
>>>>>>> encourage you to read it to learn more about our efforts. Here are some highlights:
>>>>>>> Our marketing department has undergone a significant overhaul
>>>>>>> that encompasses communication, activities, and team structure.
>>>>>>> We have replaced our chief marketing officer and discarded previous campaigns.
>>>>>>> We have shifted our focus toward education, and our goal is to
>>>>>>> provide a platform for the disability community to reach our
>>>>>>> customer network and directly educate the business community
>>>>>>> without us speaking for or representing the community in any way,
>>>>>>> yet providing it an opportunity to educate millions of people and
>>>>>>> businesses directly. We are committed to supporting, elevating,
>>>>>>> and amplifying your voice and advocacy efforts. We strongly
>>>>>>> believe that educating people and businesses about disabilities,
>>>>>>> accessibility, and inclusion is crucial to creating an inclusive society.
>>>>>>> By offering individuals and businesses education, in cooperation
>>>>>>> with the disability community, we can collectively take steps
>>>>>>> toward bringing the digital world closer to where we all want it to be.
>>>>>>> We recognize that web accessibility is not a one-size-fits-all process.
>>>>>>> Therefore, today, our approach is to provide a variety of
>>>>>>> accessibility tools and solutions to help businesses address
>>>>>>> accessibility comprehensively. We are creating an ecosystem of
>>>>>>> tools, services, products, and educational platforms for
>>>>>>> businesses of all sizes to develop and implement inclusive
>>>>>>> business practices and successfully incorporate web accessibility
>>>>>>> in their projects. We also provide comprehensive accessibility
>>>>>>> services, including human audits, accessibility consulting,
>>>>>>> technical accessibility training, user testing, and ongoing
>>>>>>> support to ensure that accessibility is maintained over time.
>>>>>>> We are incorporating talented professionals from the disability
>>>>>>> community and their expertise into every aspect of our company.
>>>>>>> Everything we do is made with, and often by, a person with a
>>>>>>> disability in the process. This is true from research and
>>>>>>> development to the way we deliver services, build products and
>>>>>>> solutions, and come up with campaigns and communications for
>>>>>>> businesses and customers. Every layer of accessiBe relies on
>>>>>>> leadership and talent from people with disabilities, including input, education, guidance, and review.
>>>>>>> As the founder of accessiBe, I have a responsibility to lead by
>>>>>>> example. I am committed to listening to your feedback and
>>>>>>> concerns and to taking actions that reflect that. I am also
>>>>>>> committed to being accountable for our reactions and to being a
>>>>>>> part of the solution. For that reason, I want to offer a direct
>>>>>>> line of communication with me for your concerns or questions.
>>>>>>> Please do not hesitate to email me directly atekshir at accessibe.com.
>>>>>>> We have a long way to go, but we are committed to making the
>>>>>>> necessary changes and doing better. We believe that accessibility
>>>>>>> and inclusion are critical foundational components of society and
>>>>>>> should therefore be essential and achievable for businesses of
>>>>>>> any size. We must create resources, solutions, and services that
>>>>>>> support this goal while providing the best user experience to
>>>>>>> each person. We look forward to working with you on creating a
>>>>>>> more accessible and inclusive future for everyone.
>>>>>>> Sincerely, Shir
>>>>>>> Braille Monitor Source link
>>>>>>> https://nfb.org//images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2305/bm230503.
>>>>>>> htm
>>>>>>> Reddit Link
>>>>>>> https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/13eno41/what_is_your_opin
>>>>>>> ion_on
>>>>>>> _the_apology_issued_by_the/
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> 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/tyler%40tysdoma
>>>>>> in.com
>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> Message: 2
>>>>> Date: Mon, 15 May 2023 14:56:04 -0500 (CDT)
>>>>> From: Mike Gorse<mike at straddlethebox.org>
>>>>> To: Jim Barbour via NFBCS<nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Opinion On AccessiBe's apology
>>>>> Message-ID:<4c8c7518-6fa2-12fb-2a7c-10ca5f444f7b at straddlethebox.org
>>>>>>
>>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm wondering if they are trying to come to the NFB convention
>>>>> again and if that will be allowed, now that they made their apology.
>>>>>
>>>>> Backing off from their claims about what their product can do would
>>>>> be a significant change to their marketing pitch. Anyway, I
>>>>> agree--apologizing is a first step and not sufficient to build
>>>>> trust; the real question is what kinds of changes they make going forward.
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, 15 May 2023, Jim Barbour via NFBCS wrote:
>>>>>> Hey Everyone,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My opinion is that getting the technical part right isn't really the important part. After all, R and D is an important part of any new product. Finding a niche that your product is aimed at and then building a market for your product is all part of product development.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My real problem with AccessiBe is that they took advantage of people's lack of understanding of how website accessibility works to sell a product. Our fear was that this would lead to a lot of inaccessible websites and a likely black eye for the blind community when we start calling them on it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When we started talking with AccessiBe about this, we were not just ignored, but told we didn't know what we were talking about. This is, in a word, triggering to many blind people as this is how "blindness professionals" have treated us for years.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So, to summarize, AccessiBe has been rude, exploitative, and condescending to the blind community. Their attempts to apologize are not trusted. Their actions are going to have to speak for them. So far, they are not. I think we'd need to see some real attempts to honestly talk about what their product will and won't do, back off on their claims that their product will solve all accessibility needs, and hire blind folks to do usability testing on their product.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Until then, their apology isn't moving me to feel any differently about them.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, May 14, 2023 at 09:39:47PM -0400, Sean McMahon via NFBCS wrote:
>>>>>>> Opinion? They can?t even get the technical part right and that
>>>>>>> was before they failed to consider our feelings. I think they
>>>>>>> should take some kind of introductory coding class first and I
>>>>>>> think this is a challenge for one of us to fill the void that
>>>>>>> true Internet accessibility faces.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> From: NFBCS<nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Aaron via
>>>>>>> NFBCS
>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2023 5:20 PM To:nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> Cc: Aaron<blind247365 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> Subject: [NFBCS] Opinion On AccessiBe's apology
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> "Hello everyone,
>>>>>>> I wanted to get your thoughts on the recent apology issued by the
>>>>>>> founder of AccessiBe, which was published in the May issue of the
>>>>>>> NFb Braille Monitor. I also posted the same question on the
>>>>>>> R/Blind subreddit for blind and visually impaired people, and
>>>>>>> most people there didn't believe the sincerity of the apology.
>>>>>>> You can find the link to the Reddit post at the bottom of the apology.
>>>>>>> It will be interesting to see if AccessiBe issues a similar
>>>>>>> apology in the American Council of the Blind (ACB) Braille Forum,
>>>>>>> which is the ACB's version of the NFB's Braille Monitor."
>>>>>>> Braille Monitor May 2023
>>>>>>> A Heart-felt Apology and a Chance to Start Again by Shir Ekerling
>>>>>>> ?****From the Editor: There isn't much I need to say because this
>>>>>>> letter says it all. I admire people who can say they are sorry
>>>>>>> and want to start again. I hope and believe this is a real step forward.
>>>>>>> Dear Members of the Federation,
>>>>>>> My name is Shir, and I am the founder of accessiBe. I am writing
>>>>>>> to address our past actions and to offer our deepest apologies
>>>>>>> for the way we previously communicated and reacted. I also want
>>>>>>> to outline what we are doing and have done to change and improve
>>>>>>> in response to feedback from Federation members and individuals
>>>>>>> in the broader disability space.
>>>>>>> Before I go further, I want to share with you that I have a deep
>>>>>>> personal understanding of what it feels like to be dependent on
>>>>>>> assistive technology. I am a person who relies daily on multiple
>>>>>>> assistive medical technologies due to my Type 1/juvenile
>>>>>>> diabetes. My medical journey has been challenging at times, and
>>>>>>> thus I am driven by a singular conviction when it comes to my
>>>>>>> work and accessiBe. I can personally relate to struggling with
>>>>>>> assistive technology, and this is one of the reasons it is
>>>>>>> essential for me to be the best ally that I can be to you.
>>>>>>> When I founded accessiBe, other than in the very technical
>>>>>>> aspects, I was a newcomer to the accessibility and disability
>>>>>>> communities. As software engineers, we incorrectly believed that
>>>>>>> the technicalities were all that we needed to know. When some
>>>>>>> community members voiced their concerns, my colleagues and I
>>>>>>> became defensive and resistant, and we mistakenly treated it with
>>>>>>> dismissal or, at times, even anger. As the founder of accessiBe,
>>>>>>> I want to take full responsibility for these reactions, and I
>>>>>>> wish to outline how, in the past two years, feedback from
>>>>>>> Federation members and many individuals and disability rights
>>>>>>> activists has guided me and accessiBe through a meaningful transformative process.
>>>>>>> After several years of learning, and as I reflect on our choices
>>>>>>> during that time, I recognize that the way we reacted to concerns
>>>>>>> did not demonstrate my commitment to my conviction. Even though
>>>>>>> we failed to respond appropriately, we did hear you. We have been
>>>>>>> learning a lot from your feedback and have been changing our
>>>>>>> approach and how we do things because of it. For our improper
>>>>>>> reactions and responses, we want to express our deepest apologies
>>>>>>> to everyone who has been affected, and we are committed to
>>>>>>> responding with openness, gratitude, and accountability going
>>>>>>> forward. I also want to apologize for emphasizing our marketing
>>>>>>> on avoiding legal action, when it should have been on making one's website usable to users who would otherwise be left out.
>>>>>>> We have many things to do until we get there, but I hope that
>>>>>>> soon, you will trust us enough to call us your ally and bestow
>>>>>>> that honor and responsibility on us. I am committed to that goal
>>>>>>> and to receiving all available guidance and learning to support that work.
>>>>>>> At the core of what we do is our belief that creating an
>>>>>>> inclusive environment for all individuals requires work from each
>>>>>>> of us individually and from us as a collective. As a company
>>>>>>> handling digital accessibility, it is our responsibility to work
>>>>>>> alongside you, to demonstrate why it is so crucial for businesses
>>>>>>> to provide online access at all times, especially in a rapidly changing digital space.
>>>>>>> This is why we strive to provide solutions that make it easier
>>>>>>> for businesses, from the smallest family business to the biggest
>>>>>>> enterprise, to provide equal access and opportunities to all
>>>>>>> their users and customers, with or without a disability. We want
>>>>>>> to provide businesses with tools that help them recognize that
>>>>>>> accessibility and usability are possible for them, and that even
>>>>>>> if they lack resources, providing accessibility will be a
>>>>>>> positive decision that drives their business forward. I'm not
>>>>>>> writing this to advertise accessiBe, but to provide background on what we are trying to do.
>>>>>>> I'm writing this letter to ask you, Federation members, for a
>>>>>>> second chance to build a relationship with you. I am aware of
>>>>>>> your concerns about overlays, privacy and security, advertising,
>>>>>>> and more. Some of these concerns are addressed here; others are
>>>>>>> too complex for a short letter, and I wish to remain focused on
>>>>>>> the communication and people aspect, and on our commitment. I am,
>>>>>>> however, going to address these and any other concerns you bring
>>>>>>> to my attention as we move forward in our communication, conversation, and the work we put out to the world.
>>>>>>> Over the past two years, we focused on seeking guidance and
>>>>>>> training from disabled leaders, activists, individuals, and
>>>>>>> disability-led organizations willing to teach us where we fell
>>>>>>> short and what we needed to do to revise our approach. This work is ongoing.
>>>>>>> We took the time for a deep review and are making significant
>>>>>>> changes that include complete employee training, disability
>>>>>>> history, civil rights activism, disability justice workshops, and
>>>>>>> guidance on accessibility and disability communication. We are
>>>>>>> committed to building an inclusive culture from the core and to
>>>>>>> being directed by the disability community in the work that we
>>>>>>> do. We want disability to be present in all aspects of accessiBe.
>>>>>>> Making significant changes takes time, and we understand that
>>>>>>> building trust is a lengthy process. We strive to continue
>>>>>>> learning and making further improvements that demonstrate our
>>>>>>> commitment as we move forward. The experience of every individual
>>>>>>> is unique. We cannot capture every perspective or understand
>>>>>>> every situation. Therefore, we will continue to learn and improve.
>>>>>>> Accessibility is not only about technology but mostly about
>>>>>>> people, culture, and education. We are committed to inclusion
>>>>>>> both internally and externally.
>>>>>>> We are also committed to being transparent about our journey, and
>>>>>>> I want to begin by sharing our "Purpose statement"
>>>>>>> (https://accessibe.com/purpose-statement). This twenty-page
>>>>>>> document details the journey we have been on, delving deep into
>>>>>>> the changes we have made, and our focus for the future. We
>>>>>>> encourage you to read it to learn more about our efforts. Here are some highlights:
>>>>>>> Our marketing department has undergone a significant overhaul
>>>>>>> that encompasses communication, activities, and team structure.
>>>>>>> We have replaced our chief marketing officer and discarded previous campaigns.
>>>>>>> We have shifted our focus toward education, and our goal is to
>>>>>>> provide a platform for the disability community to reach our
>>>>>>> customer network and directly educate the business community
>>>>>>> without us speaking for or representing the community in any way,
>>>>>>> yet providing it an opportunity to educate millions of people and
>>>>>>> businesses directly. We are committed to supporting, elevating,
>>>>>>> and amplifying your voice and advocacy efforts. We strongly
>>>>>>> believe that educating people and businesses about disabilities,
>>>>>>> accessibility, and inclusion is crucial to creating an inclusive society.
>>>>>>> By offering individuals and businesses education, in cooperation
>>>>>>> with the disability community, we can collectively take steps
>>>>>>> toward bringing the digital world closer to where we all want it to be.
>>>>>>> We recognize that web accessibility is not a one-size-fits-all process.
>>>>>>> Therefore, today, our approach is to provide a variety of
>>>>>>> accessibility tools and solutions to help businesses address
>>>>>>> accessibility comprehensively. We are creating an ecosystem of
>>>>>>> tools, services, products, and educational platforms for
>>>>>>> businesses of all sizes to develop and implement inclusive
>>>>>>> business practices and successfully incorporate web accessibility
>>>>>>> in their projects. We also provide comprehensive accessibility
>>>>>>> services, including human audits, accessibility consulting,
>>>>>>> technical accessibility training, user testing, and ongoing
>>>>>>> support to ensure that accessibility is maintained over time.
>>>>>>> We are incorporating talented professionals from the disability
>>>>>>> community and their expertise into every aspect of our company.
>>>>>>> Everything we do is made with, and often by, a person with a
>>>>>>> disability in the process. This is true from research and
>>>>>>> development to the way we deliver services, build products and
>>>>>>> solutions, and come up with campaigns and communications for
>>>>>>> businesses and customers. Every layer of accessiBe relies on
>>>>>>> leadership and talent from people with disabilities, including input, education, guidance, and review.
>>>>>>> As the founder of accessiBe, I have a responsibility to lead by
>>>>>>> example. I am committed to listening to your feedback and
>>>>>>> concerns and to taking actions that reflect that. I am also
>>>>>>> committed to being accountable for our reactions and to being a
>>>>>>> part of the solution. For that reason, I want to offer a direct
>>>>>>> line of communication with me for your concerns or questions.
>>>>>>> Please do not hesitate to email me directly atekshir at accessibe.com.
>>>>>>> We have a long way to go, but we are committed to making the
>>>>>>> necessary changes and doing better. We believe that accessibility
>>>>>>> and inclusion are critical foundational components of society and
>>>>>>> should therefore be essential and achievable for businesses of
>>>>>>> any size. We must create resources, solutions, and services that
>>>>>>> support this goal while providing the best user experience to
>>>>>>> each person. We look forward to working with you on creating a
>>>>>>> more accessible and inclusive future for everyone.
>>>>>>> Sincerely, Shir
>>>>>>> Braille Monitor Source link
>>>>>>> https://nfb.org//images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2305/bm230503.
>>>>>>> htm
>>>>>>> Reddit Link
>>>>>>> https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/13eno41/what_is_your_opin
>>>>>>> ion_on
>>>>>>> _the_apology_issued_by_the/
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> NFBCS mailing list
>>>>>> NFBCS at nfbnet.org
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>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBCS:
>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/mike%40straddle
>>>>>> thebox.org
>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> Subject: Digest Footer
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> NFBCS mailing list
>>>>> NFBCS at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> End of NFBCS Digest, Vol 228, Issue 12
>>>>> **************************************
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