<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>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.<br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On Nov 26, 2012, at 7:37 PM, Eric Guillory <<a href="mailto:ericguillory@aol.com">ericguillory@aol.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div>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.<br><br>Eric<br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On Nov 26, 2012, at 7:11 PM, Carlton Anne Cook Walker <<a href="mailto:attorneywalker@gmail.com">attorneywalker@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Dear
friends,</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4"> 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.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4"> 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.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4"> 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. </font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4"> 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.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-left:0.49in;margin-bottom:0in">“<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">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.”</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-left:0.49in;margin-bottom:0in"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4"> 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.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Carlton
Anne Cook Walker</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">President,
National Organization of Blind Children</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Attorney
at Law</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="4">Teacher
of Students with Blindness/Visual Impairment</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif">From
Chris Danielsen's request:</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"> “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.”</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><br>
</p><div><br></div>-- <br>Carlton Anne Cook Walker<br>Attorney at Law<div>President, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children <br>Teacher of Students with Blindness/Visual Impairment<div>105 Creamery Road</div>
<div>Boiling Springs, PA 17007<br>Voice: <a href="tel:717-658-9894" value="+17176589894" target="_blank">717-658-9894</a><br>Twitter: braillemom</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,0)"><b>This message is not intended or offered as legal advice. </b> These materials have been prepared for educational and information purposes only. They are not legal advice or legal opinions on any specific matters. Transmission of the information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship between this site, the author(s), or the publisher, and you or any other user. Internet subscribers and online readers should not act, or fail to act, upon this information without seeking professional counsel. No person should act or fail to act on any legal matter based on the contents of this site. Unless expressly stated otherwise, no document herein should be assumed to be produced by an attorney licensed in your state. </span><br>
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