[Nfbmt] ! Partnership!

[James Aldrich]

Hi all,

This truly is an acccessibility historic event! The NFB is to be 
commended for this in whatever part was played by our organization in 
bringing this about!  I think too Serotek Corporation may have 
influenced this as well as they tried to bring down the cost of screen 
readers.  NVDA was another screen reader available for free throughout 
the world!

This came through on the State President's list!  Truly Microsoft and 
GW Micro are to be congradulated for this!

Jim

 Subject:National Federation of the Blind Commends Microsoft and GW 
Micro for Groundbreaking Accessibility Partnership


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



National Federation of the Blind Commends Microsoft and GW Micro for 
Groundbreaking Accessibility Partnership



Window-Eyes Screen Reader Now Available for Free
 to Many Microsoft Office Users



Baltimore, Maryland (January 14, 2014):The National Federation of the 
Blind, the nation’s leading advocate for equal access to technology by 
the blind, today commended Microsoft Corporation and GW Micro for their 
announcement of a partnership that makes GW Micro’s Window-Eyes screen 
reader available for free to users of Microsoft Office 2010 or higher.  
More details about this groundbreaking offer are available at 
www.WindowEyesForOffice.com.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: “The announcement of this historic partnership between Microsoft 
and GW Micro is truly revolutionary.  For the first time, users of 
Microsoft Office 2010 or later will not have to pay hundreds of dollars 
in order to obtain an accessibility solution that will allow them to 
take advantage of the features of Office and Windows.  This partnership 
has the potential to make access to employment, education, and other 
opportunities more readily available to blind people everywhere.



“The usefulness of any screen reader product, of course, is limited by 
the degree to which other products are compatible with it,” Dr. Maurer 
continued.  “The National Federation of the Blind seeks collaboration 
with software manufacturers, Web developers, and other technology 
innovators in order to ensure that blind users have full and equal 
access to their products and services.  Microsoft and GW Micro are 
removing a significant barrier to obtaining screen access technology.  
Developers of mainstream technology, as well as the businesses, 
institutions, and governmental entities that use it, must continue to 
do their part by making sure that screen reader users have full access 
to what they produce, procure, and deploy.”





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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.