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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif">Hi Krista,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif">I want to reply to your
points as I can, without violating your privacy on a mailing
list.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif">First, I want to stress
that myself and the other director working on this project are
blind; as a
result, we know what it is to apply for job after job and be
turned down. This
usually is made clear through silence, because most companies
don't send a
letter or a note letting you know you were declined. We took
this experience
and tried to reshape how we run this hiring process, because
applying for any
type of position is stressful, and leads to anxiety and
frustration. We
committed to sending responses based on each stage a candidate
reaches so that
they know the exact status of their application. If you recall
the email you
received, you were also invited to get in touch if you have
questions about
your application or why it was declined; the person handling
this has made it a
goal in past positions to be open and honest, and to help each
candidate. This
is also something I've rarely ever received when an
application was declined,
and if I did receive a response, it was very scripted and
wouldn't help me
better myself.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif">I also want to push back
against your comment about a disadvantaged background. We have
had a few
interviews thus far, with people who are quite humbling to
interview, who bring
their background and discuss it with us. We do not
discriminate on backgrounds,
and short of what we are provided in the application form and
resumes, we
decide whether or not to move a candidate forward in the
process. I would also
like to stress that we have received over 30 applications when
we are looking
to hire 10-13 people for these positions, and the window is
just over half over
for applications. This means that as much as we want to help
everyone, we are
only able to accept a specific number of people into this
program.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif">Thank you for your time
and for your application. I wish you the best of luck, and
again, please feel
free to reach out if you are interested in more specifics.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif">Thanks,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New
Roman",serif">Ty</span></p>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 5/14/2023 12:09 PM, Krista Pennell
via NFBCS wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:B34C341D-1953-4671-8251-2ACF6C843180@gmail.com">
<pre class="moz-quote-pre" wrap="">Hi,
I'm going to put this as diplomatically as possible here. You are not helping people "build on their resume" if they come to you because they already don't have a lot there, need the experience, and need the work. If you only had certain people in mind to do the work, please only ask those individuals you wish do so. It's a little unhelpful for those of us who live in disadvantaged areas and are trying to get a job when we send you our resume and you toss it out with the trash.
A bit of backstory on me. Because I live in a disadvantaged area, and did not start out at the best of universities, I was told that because I was a girl and because of that dreaded B word I could never do STEM. As an adult, I'm double-timing now, trying to take certificate courses, because I now have a human services degree that I can't use for remote work, which I need, BECAUSE of the disadvantaged area, so I can get out of here. I live with my 77 old grandparents, because my only other choice is my mother, who thinks I should stop showering daily and start spending my money on nothing but food deliveries. Again, because of the no job no money thing. So again, moral of this story is, if it's just for a particular subset of people, don't post it for everyone.
Thanks,
Krista
Sent from my iPhone
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre class="moz-quote-pre" wrap="">On May 13, 2023, at 8:25 PM, Nicole Torcolini via NFBCS <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:nfbcs@nfbnet.org"><nfbcs@nfbnet.org></a> wrote:
Until they change their approach completely, I don't buy any of this.
There is very little that can be done across *all* websites to actually improve each website without applying some kind of learning model to the specific website because, although similar problems occur on many websites, the specifics of each instance are very different. I know this because I have made my own extension for Firefox to clean up websites like Amazon, and the only way that I have found to make it work correctly is to customize each solution to almost every problem with only some overlap; I can share more specifics if desired.
I realize that this was done with the intention of helping, but not all ideas work--if I had a dollar for every time that someone did something that they thought would help with accessibility that actually made it worse, I would not a job.
It's a good start, but it is not enough. You have to walk it like you talk it.
Nicole
-----Original Message-----
From: NFBCS <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:nfbcs-bounces@nfbnet.org"><nfbcs-bounces@nfbnet.org></a> On Behalf Of Ty Littlefield via NFBCS
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2023 3:47 PM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:nfbcs@nfbnet.org"><nfbcs@nfbnet.org></a>
Cc: Ty Littlefield <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:tyler@tysdomain.com"><tyler@tysdomain.com></a>
Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Opinion On AccessiBe's apology
Hi,
I've worked closely with Shir off and on for the past two years. The one thing I have to give him, is he was always willing and open to sitting down and having a conversation with me. So many companies refuse to do that, or even to listen. He has been willing to take input, feedback and advice and work with it. We haven't always agreed, but we've been able to have good creative discussions.
I can also tell you that I went into our initial meeting pretty upset and frustrated with AccessiBe, which colored my view and thoughts of them, and how I approached the meeting. The one ultimate lesson I've learned through my dealings with the company, and Shir himself is that I have to keep an open mind, and approach each new issue and chance to advocate as if it's a new start. This means that it's unfair to assume that companies simply don't care. At best, I was very unkind, and when I reflect on my treatment of Shir himself, I hate to think that I was that person.
Before I give my final thoughts, I want to disclaimer that I am currently working with the company. I've spent a lot of time thinking and worrying about the ethics of the decision, and whether or not I am causing more harm to the community. I eventually came to the decision, mostly in part through my discussions with Shir that I can impact the company and do some good. I have also been given the chance to hire and recruit other blind and low vision screen reader users, which is a chance to help people build their resume, hold employment, and earn a bit of money while doing so. However you may feel about overlays, they're not going away, and there's not really anything we as a community can do about it. So my goal is from this point to help drive the product forward with constructive and realistic feedback, because there are a lot of nuances and pitfalls in the accessibility industry.
My goal is to help make the product the best that it can be, so that websites that employ the overlay will be more usable by people who use assistive technology.
I understand there is a lot of fear, anger and other bad feelings around this company. I also have to say that I don't remember seeing a single company reflect and then change so much. I encourage people to take this letter for what it is: a request to realize that the company is changing. This doesn't mean we forget, and forgiveness is something that will be slowly earned through better practices; AccessiBe will need to continue demonstrating that they are open to feedback, and bettering themselves.
Thanks,
Ty
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre class="moz-quote-pre" wrap="">On 5/13/2023 5:20 PM, Aaron via NFBCS wrote:
"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"
(<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://accessibe.com/purpose-statement">https://accessibe.com/purpose-statement</a>). 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 at <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:ekshir@accessibe.com">ekshir@accessibe.com</a>.
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
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://nfb.org//images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2305/bm230503.htm">https://nfb.org//images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2305/bm230503.htm</a>
Reddit Link
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/13eno41/what_is_your_opinion_o">https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/13eno41/what_is_your_opinion_o</a>
n_the_apology_issued_by_the/
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om
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