Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!David.Andrews
From: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Graphical user interfacing
Message-ID: <14596@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 2 Oct 90 13:15:14 GMT
Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP
Reply-To: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Distribution: misc
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA
Lines: 41
Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP

Index Number: 10764

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

CC>   I am getting real concerned about the developments in  
 CC> graphical user interfacing. Not only Aplle, but  
 CC> IBM and even Unix. This could put a real cramp in speech access since I
 CC> know of no substantial speech access hooks in new stuff and only  
 CC> so so activity with present happenings. I have written to  
 CC> President Bush to see if he can jump start the feds where some  
 CC> very good people are having problems getting anywhere with  
 CC> this. Maybe others should be writing too. The A.D.A. and  
 CC> Section 508 of the Rehab Act should be suficient, but nobody pays
 CC> attention, then nothing happens.Folks interested in my editorial
 CC> on it, can call 617-451-5327 during non-business hours and look  
 CC> at bulletin #2. 
  

You have certainly brought up a problem that needs dealing with.
At the NFB convention in Dallas, IBM was talking about a version of
its Screen Reader which wuld work with Presentation Manager.  They
expected to have something out for testing by the end of this
year.  As I understand it, Section 508 says that any equipment and
software that the Federal government buys has to be able to be made
accessable.  Presentation Manager and other GUI's certainly do not
fall into this category.  Somebody, such as your agency, the
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind is going to have to play
hard ball with either the Feds and/or software manufacturers.  I
have mentioned this problem to my boss, Fred Schroeder, Director of
the New Mexico Commission for the Blind, and while he is interested
in it, we are a small agency, with limited resources.  We currently
do not have a technology specialist, I am trying to fill in, and no
Attorney on staff.  Maybe this is an issue for one of the
organizations of state agencies serving the blind, AERBVI, AFB or
someone like that, to take up.  David Andrews

... Your Sound Alternative

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!David.Andrews
Internet: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org