[NFBMT-Parents] Ravalli Republic Newspaper Accessibility via Alexa via NFB Newsline

[president at nfbofmt.org]

Hi Clint,

 

As Robert Jaquiss said, NFB Newsline is no longer available in Montana due to funding problems.  Sheila Hogan, the Director of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, refused to continue funding for NFB Newsline.  The National Federation of the Blind of Montana has been doing our best reverse Hogan’s decision, but, so far, we have had no success.  We are not giving up because NFB Newsline is so important to blind and visually impaired Montanans and others with print disabilities.  If you and your mother would like to lend a hand getting NFB Newsline re-established in Montana, here’s what you can do:

 

Send an email to the following and ask each to restore NFB Newsline.  Be sure to tell what NFB Newsline means to you.

 

Chanda Hermanson-Dudley

Montana Vocational Rehabilitation Director and Administrator of the Disability Employment and Transitions Division 

chandahd at mt.gov <mailto:chandahd at mt.gov> 

 

Sheila Hogan

Director of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services 

sheilahogan at mt.gov <mailto:sheilahogan at mt.gov> 

 

Governor Steve Bullock

https://directory.mt.gov/contact-us

 

Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney

https://directory.mt.gov/contact-us

 

Governor's Citizens Advocate Office

citizensadvocate at mt.gov <mailto:citizensadvocate at mt.gov> 

 

Note:  the webmail form for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor is not easily accessible with screen readers.  One must fill out all required fields on the form, and some are difficult to complete, such as the topic of the email.  Also, the form allows only 2000 characters, so the e message must be very short.

 

 

 

 

Jim Marks

President

National Federation of the Blind of Montana

president at nfbofmt.org

(406) 438-1421

www.nfbofmt.org

 

You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

 

From: Clint Combe [mailto:clint.combe at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2020 2:21 PM
To: fpodobnik at mt.gov; nopbcpres at gmail.com; nfbmt-parents at nfbnet.org; president at nfbofmt.org; jim.strauss at lee.net; Lpollard at ravallirepublic.com; jodi.lopez at ravallirepublic.com; gwen.florio at missoulian.com; jessica.abell at missoulian.com; michelle.mcconnaha at lee.net; pbackus at ravallirepublic.com; dsaltzman at ravallirepublic.com
Subject: Ravalli Republic Newspaper Accessibility via Alexa via NFB Newsline

 

Hello,

 

My mother is blind and listens to publications via Alexa via the NFB Newsline Alexa Skill.

 

Prior to a recent change to the Ravalli Republic website she could/would listen to the Ravalli Republic newspaper articles (Obituaries, local letters, local news, etc) via Alexa via the My Pocket Alexa Skill (thru integration with the IFTTT app).  Since the change to the Ravalli Republic website, using the My Pocket Alexa Skill no longer allows her to listen to articles.

 

Will you please make the Ravalli Republic newspaper available to be read via the NFB Newsline Alexa skill?

 

I see the Missoulian newspaper has an NSB Newsline feed already but it needs some work (ie erroneous tags being read "{{featured_button_text}"

 

Thanks,

Clint Combe

 

 

 

 

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