[rehab] National Federation of the Blind Commends Apple for Including VoiceOver on iPad

[Freeh, Jessica]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org




National Federation of the Blind Commends Apple
for Including VoiceOver on iPad



Baltimore, Maryland (January 28, 2010): The National Federation of 
the Blind, the nation's leading consumer organization of blind 
persons, today commended Apple Inc., for including its VoiceOver 
application on its latest device, the iPad, which was unveiled 
yesterday.  VoiceOver is a screen access application that uses 
text-to-speech technology in conjunction with the device's 
touch-screen interface so that blind people can independently operate 
the device.  VoiceOver is also integrated into Apple's Mac operating 
system and is included on the iPhone 3GS and recent models of the iPod Touch.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "The National Federation of the Blind commends Apple for 
including the VoiceOver screen access application on its 
highly-anticipated new device, the iPad.  Blind consumers, like our 
sighted friends and colleagues, will be able to share in the 
experience of using this new device from the moment we take it out of 
the box.  By integrating accessibility into its products, Apple is 
setting an example that we believe the rest of the electronics 
industry should follow.  Furthermore, the fact that Apple has 
successfully integrated a screen access solution with its 
touch-screen technology demonstrates that touch screens need not be a 
barrier to the use of electronic devices by the blind."



On September 22, 2009, the National Federation of the Blind presented 
Apple with a special award to honor the company for making the iPhone 
accessible.







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About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind 
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
people in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = 
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />United States.   The 
NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, 
research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and 
self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field 
today and the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB 
opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the 
first research and training center in the United States for the blind 
led by the blind.




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