[Nfbmt] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Comments on Amazon Kindle App

[Dan Burke]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Freeh, Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org>
Date: Wed, 1 May 2013 20:54:08 +0000
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Comments on Amazon Kindle App
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
Cdanielsen at nfb.org<mailto:Cdanielsen at nfb.org>

National Federation of the Blind Comments on Amazon Kindle App

Baltimore, Maryland (May 1, 2013): The National Federation of the
Blind<http://www.nfb.org> (NFB), the nation's leading advocate for
access to technology and education for the blind, commented today on
Amazon's incorporation of new accessibility features into its
application for the iPhone and other devices using Apple's iOS
operating system.
Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the
Blind<http://www.twitter.com/NFB_voice>, said: "We are pleased that
Amazon has taken advantage of the inherent accessibility of Apple
products and Apple's clear guidelines for creating accessible
applications by finally releasing a version of its Kindle app that
allows blind readers to access Kindle content on Apple devices.
Continued improvement of this app is needed, however, in order to make
it appropriate for use in educational settings, and Amazon must also
make its Kindle devices fully accessible.  Amazon should also make its
future software, devices, and content available to the blind when
these products are released to the general public rather than
implementing accessibility at an unspecified later time.  Today's app
release is a significant step on the journey to full access to Kindle
content by the blind, but that journey is not over, and the National
Federation of the Blind will not rest until its completion."
The National Federation of the Blind has advocated for full access to
Kindle devices and Kindle e-books since Amazon introduced the Kindle.
Most recently, NFB members staged an informational protest in front of
Amazon's Seattle headquarters<https://nfb.org/kindle-books#Protest> to
explain why Kindle e-books should not be used in schools because they
do not provide equal access to all of the same information and
features by both blind and sighted students.  For more information on
this issue, please visit http://www.nfb.org/kindle-books.

###



About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, and
most influential nationwide membership organization of blind people in
the United States.  Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for the civil
rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops innovative
education, technology, and training programs to provide the blind and
those who are losing vision with the tools they need to become
independent and successful.  We need your support.  To make a
donation, please go to www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org/>.





-- 
Dan Burke, President
The National Federation of the Blind of Montana
www.nfbmontana.org
Visit us on Face Book at http://bit.ly/nfbmtfb
My Cell:  406.546.8546