[Stylist] NFB Access Campaign?

Wed May 23 17:34:46 UTC 2018

Thea:

I can assure you that there are indeed accessibility issues with screen magnification software, so far I have just been lucky enough not to have any with Aamzon/Createspace.  Also, one of the tenents of the NFB is that regardless of what residual vision we may have individually, we are all Blind and are all equal.  Likewise, the NFB does have international reach so we may be able to help with this issue regardless of where you are located, but I would suggest letting Eric know where you are located when you contact him as this may enable him to connect you with specific resources in your local area that can also provide assistance.  Hope this helps, and best of luck in your writing endeavors.  I hope to see that you've published more of your work soon!!

Todd Elzey, Indepdent Author
www.beinformedbooks.com
telzey at twc.com or Todd at beinformedbooks.com
---- Miss Thea via Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote: 
> Hi, Todd.
I don't know about this for sure, but they always say In the land of the 
blind, the one-eyed man is king.
That is, any amount of sight you have that you can use and magnify, you 
won't be facing the same problems of someone totally without sight.
If you can see well enough to use Amazon independently, or anything else you 
like, you're blessed.
Anyway, thanks for Eric's number and email.
I'll send him a message.
Mind you, I'm not American, and don't know what NFB can do.
However, Amazon.com is, so maybe it doesn't matter where the original writer 
is from.
There must be others who use screenreaders exclusively.
Truth to tell, since NFB has a writers' division, I'm surprised they haven't 
yet taken up this challenge.
Thea

-----Original Message----- 
From: Todd Elzey via Stylist
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 12:46 PM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List
Cc: telzey at twc.com
Subject: Re: [Stylist] NFB Access Campaign?

Good afternoon!  I have published via both Amazon and CreateSpace and 
haven't yet encountered any issues, but I use a screen magnifier (Zoomtext) 
not a screen reader such as JAWS.  The NFB does indeed work to improve 
access to websites and software programs.  In fact, the NFB has a staff 
person who takes on these challenges when appropriate. I would strongly 
suggest that any individuals who have experienced problems with Amazon's 
self-publishing platform (or any others) raise the issue with this 
individual.  His contact information is:  Mr. Eric Duffy, eduffy at nfb.org, 
410-659-9314.  I have known Eric for more years than either of us would 
probably like to admit and know that if he can, he will help find a solution 
to the issues you are facing with Amazon's self publishing platform.

Sincerely,

Todd Elzey, Independent Author
www.beinformedbooks.com
telzey at twc.com or Todd at beinformedbooks.com

---- Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> The NFB is working on Tech access, which includes all tech and websites, 
> so, self-publishing would be emcompassed in this.

-----Original Message-----
From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Miss Thea via 
Stylist
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 8:45 AM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Miss Thea <thearamsay at rogers.com>; writingblind at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Stylist] NFB Access Campaign?

What’s up, writers?
Over the last few days, I’ve been trying to work with Amazon’s publishing 
tools.
Kindle Create is so inaccessible as to be not worth mentioning.
Anyway, someone told me I could publish a Word file.
Even so, I ran into some access issues:
Poo In The Face: A Murray B. Dolphin Adventure is now live on Amazon for a 
dollar and change.
I didn’t ask more because it’s a short story, and according to my research, 
such stories are offered for free or 99 cents.
Which is what I chose, but I guess Amazon added their thirty-five percent 
royalties, so I end up getting 99 cents a pop.

Secondly, I didn’t want anyone paying much for the story, because although I 
believe I’m a pretty good writer, and I’m sure you’ll like the story, (it’s 
fun, humorous and light-hearted), I’m equally sure the visuals will not be a 
turn-on.
Amazon’s cover creator turned out to be as inaccessible as it gets; no 
tagged images, no interaction between screenreader and program, so I could 
turn out something I was really proud of on all fronts.

Does anyone know of an NFB or other organization of the blind campaigning 
for the access rights of blind authors?
There’s plenty for blind readers, but I haven’t seen much on blind authors, 
or much for them, for that matter.
I know some of you use lulu and other author services.
I myself am using Tellwell to publish Lucy.
(Remember the little girl with the weird, blind teacher, who escaped her 
world’s final holocaust by escaping to Andorpha?) Well, I paid a lot of 
money I don’t have, thinking I was going to get lots of help, and still ran 
into access issues.
But that’s another story.
I was hoping Murray B. Dolphin would swim in smoother seas, but no such 
luck. The only thing I can say is that it didn’t cost me anything to put him 
in Amazonian waters.
Except I know I didn’t create the product I would have liked.
I would have liked to create a visually-appealing (I’m not even sure it’ll 
be legible on your device), fun story you can read over lunch hour or while 
you’re riding home on the bus.
I wanted to find an engaging picture of a dolphin and put him on my cover, 
write the title in ocean-blue ink, and promote the hell out of it.
I really enjoy this kind of work.
But when screenreader won’t interact with the program, and access becomes a 
stumblingblock, well, it isn’t much fun.
I just wondered who, if anyone, is the lone voice in the wilderness of blind 
authors, preparing the way for us.
Thea Ramsay
_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
Stylist mailing list
Stylist at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bkpollpeter%40gmail.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
Stylist mailing list
Stylist at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/telzey%40twc.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
Stylist mailing list
Stylist at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/thearamsay%40rogers.com 

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
Stylist mailing list
Stylist at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/telzey%40twc.com