[Pibe-division] Kindle letters needed

Tue Nov 27 14:37:37 UTC 2012

Now that the Barnes and Noble iOS app for Nook has been made accessible to blind and low vision users, it is even more imperative that we call Amazon's attention to the Glaring lack of Kindle accessibility. Amazon is generally a great company with whom to do business. But, with regard to the Kindle, I hope they will recognize the regrettable delays in accessibility and take immediate steps to amending this.

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 26, 2012, at 7:37 PM, Eric Guillory <ericguillory at aol.com> wrote:

> Thank you for posting this to the list, Carlton. In fact, Many of us have doubtless received the communication regarding the writing of letters, but I daresay that many also have not. And, your post is a wonderful reminder to those who need to get this done. If we sit idly by, we are guaranteed that the status quo will not change. Only through action Can we guarantee accessibility for all and truly change what it means to be blind.
> 
> Eric
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Nov 26, 2012, at 7:11 PM, Carlton Anne Cook Walker <attorneywalker at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Dear friends,
>> You have likely received information about the upcoming protest that the NFB is holding at Amazon headquarters next month.  The reason for this protest is Amazon's new push to place Amazon Kindle Fires, Kindle ebooks, and a Whispercast software in schools throughout the country – and Amazon's continued refusal to make Kindle products and associated technologies accessible to blind students. It is particularly these associated technologies that are problematic: Kindle books are NOT accessible even when used on accessible devices.
>> A few weeks ago, Mr. Chris Danielsen put out a call for letters.  I set forth a portion of his email at the bottom of my message.
>> I heartily encourage each of you to write a letter asking Mr. Jeff Bezos, the founder and president of Amazon, to make Kindle products, including ebooks, accessible to all, including the blind. Educational programming based upon inaccessible technology will necessarily lead to a separate and unequal education for students with blindness/visual impairment. Battles fought now will help shape the future of technology – will it be accessible or will accessibility become only an option? Please send your letter to Chris, as outlined below, NO LATER than December 1, 2012.
>> I set forth, below, a portion of my letter to Mr. Bezos. Please do not copy it – we need to send real letters from real people, not form letters. Write from your heart – it will show.
>> “This matter hit home with me just a few months ago. Prior to the start of sixth grade, my daughter came to me crying. In addition to the typical fears of entering middle school, she was petrified of her school's plan to utilize Kindle technology throughout her classes. She knew that Kindles are inaccessible to her. She knew the Kindle ebooks are inaccessible, even when she attempts to use them on her accessible devices. My little girl saw Kindles as yet another way she would be excluded from her peers. Please make the Kindle and its ebooks accessible so that my daughter may experience the wealth of learning and collaboration opportunities Kindle and its associated products offer.”
>> 
>> I thank you for your consideration of this request. By protecting our students' right to accessible educational technology, we protect their right to an education and to a world in which they may be judged by their intelligence and creativity rather than by their ability to see.
>> 
>> Carlton Anne Cook Walker
>> President, National Organization of Blind Children
>> Attorney at Law
>> Teacher of Students with Blindness/Visual Impairment
>> 
>> 
>> From Chris Danielsen's request:
>> “We are asking each of you, and/or your blind children, to write a letter to Amazon’s founder and chief executive officer, Mr. Jeff Bezos, explaining the harmful impact that the use of this inaccessible technology in the classroom will have on blind students . . . We plan to deliver the hard copy letters directly to Jeff Bezos at an informational protest, so please send the letters to us at National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230, Attention Chris Danielsen, Director of Public Relations.  To be included in our delivery to Mr. Bezos, we must receive your letter no later than December 1, 2012.”
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Carlton Anne Cook Walker
>> Attorney at Law
>> President, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children 
>> Teacher of Students with Blindness/Visual Impairment
>> 105 Creamery Road
>> Boiling Springs, PA   17007
>> Voice: 717-658-9894
>> Twitter: braillemom
>> 
>> 
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>> 
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