[nfbwatlk] FW: National Federation of the Blind Comments on Amazon Kindle App

[Mike Freeman]

-----Original Message-----
From: Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh at nfb.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 1:54 PM
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Comments on Amazon Kindle App

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.

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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.  We need your
support.  To make a donation, please go to www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org/>.