[nfbmi-talk] Fw: [Nfbnet-members-list] Inaccessible Kindle Books and K-12 Schools

[Gkitchen]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: David Andrews 
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org 
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 2:28 PM
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Inaccessible Kindle Books and K-12 Schools


Dear Fellow Federationists:



This e-mail provides logistical details for our Amazon protest scheduled for Wednesday, December 12.  Subsequent e-mails will provide additional messaging details.  



Background

Amazon.com is undertaking a massive effort to incorporate inaccessible Kindle books into K-12 schools across the United States.  They have built a system called Whispercast that allows teachers and school administrators to distribute Kindle content to devices other than Kindles.  The problem with all of these plans is that the Kindle books are not accessible to students who are blind.  Since school districts have an obligation under federal law to purchase or deploy only accessible technology and content, Amazon must either make Kindle books accessible or cease and desist from its efforts to have them used in the classroom. 



We will provide signs, flyers, and chants for the protest.  We will also be delivering letters from blind students, parents, and friends to Mr. Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, as part of the protest.  You are urged to send these letters to Chris Danielsen before December 1 at the Jernigan Institute.  You are also urged to send us a YouTube video of the student reading the letter.



Date: Wednesday, December 12

Time:  11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Pacific Time

Protest Location (Amazon Headquarters): 426 Terry Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109

Pre-meeting:  For those of you who can make it, we will have a final briefing the day of the protest at the hotel listed below at 8:30 AM.  

Protest day schedule:

8:30-9:30AM Pre-briefing at the hotel

10:30AM Line up and depart hotel

11:00AM Protest begins

Dress:  Professional attire is preferred but be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothes appropriate for marching outdoors for two hours. 

Hotel:  We'll be staying at the Holiday Inn Seattle, located at 211 Dexter Ave North in the Seattle's South-Lake Union neighborhood only a couple blocks from the protest location.  As a result of the event being so soon, we have decided not to negotiate a room block. The Holiday Inn's website is currently quoting a standard nonsmoking room with two queen beds at $124 per night.  Please make your reservations as soon as possible by calling (206) 728-8123 or by visiting http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/seattle/seasc/hoteldetail.

Airport/Transportation:  Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) is the closest airport to the hotel. 

Taxi Charge (one way) from SEA: $ 45.00 USD

Time by Taxi: 20 minutes

Take I-5 Northbound to exit 167 (Mercer St). At the end of the exit you will turn left onto Fairview Ave. Follow Fairview Ave to Denny Way and turn right on Denny Way. Follow Denny Way to Dexter Ave. and turn right on Dexter Ave. N. It's on the left.



I look forward to seeing you in Seattle.  





John G. Paré Jr. 
Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives 
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 
200 East Wells Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230 
Telephone: (410) 659-9314, ext. 2227
Cell phone: (410) 917-1965 
Fax: (410) 685-5653 
Email: jpare at nfb.org 



-- 
Follow me on Twitter @dandrews920

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


_______________________________________________
Nfbnet-members-list mailing list
Nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org