[Ohio-talk] another sample E-reader letter

[Cheryl Fischer]

I was a little intimidated by the legal language and because of my general
ignorance about the joy of E-readers, but I managed to write something and I
hope the FCC will consider it as applicable. I also feel more confident
knowing that someone at the National Center will tweak it if need be. 

 

I thought I'd share it in hopes of encouraging others to give it a go. It is
copied below and also in an attachment.

 

 

I understand that a cohilition of E-reader manufacturers has requested a
waiver from the FCC of their responsibility to make their products usable by
blind people. 

 

I am blind, and most of my sighted friends use E-readers not only to read
books, but to look things up on the internet, explore lists of books and
purchase E-books, to discuss books with groups of friends, to recommend
books to friends, and even to loan or share books with each other. I cannot
do any of this because the E-readers are not accessible to me.

 

Many of my friends meet for book discussions, usually of books newly on the
market. Most use E-readers and some use print books from the library to read
the selections, but I am almost always left out altogether because the
Library for the Blind hasn't produced the book on audio yet and most likely
will take at least a year to do so, if ever. 

 

I am told that the E-reader manufacturers are saying their products are not
intended for ACS or that those features are incidental and ancillary.  That
claim is ridiculous. If they were to remove the web browsers and social
media features, none of my sighted friends would use or  purchase another
one of their products or recommend their products to other people.   

 

Cheryl Fischer

 

 

 

 

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