Darrell, while I doubt seriously that "full access" as you define it is
"critical" as many hams have their licenses and are blind, your point is well
taken.  Remember that Handi-Hams is an organization which requires membership
just as any other.  The fact that they provide books to members for a fee means
they are not required to follow ADA or related guidelines as would be the case
if the materials were open to all.  You have discussed Bookshare as a source for
a scan of materials but they are also a fee based service.  I don't see any
difference except in the product they sell.  To obtain the kind of access you
want does require specific and often expensive equipment thus making it
accessible to those who can afford the appropriate gear in large part.  Braille
or distribution through NLS would seem to be the way to go with this.

Just as the blindness community cannot agree on many things it is likely they
will not agree on this particular question but I very definitely agree that at
the very least if a book is made available the complete book should be available
from study aids to the index to title page information so that it can be used as
a reference if appropriate etc.  Bookshare seems an iffie source for accessible
texts available nowhere else as its use requires both that the user have an
accessible computer and know how to use it.  It also requires that the user be a
Bookshare member.  Such does not constitute accessibility to many people.  In
fact, most blind people do not use computers.  I do use a computer but, for
several reasons, do not belong to Bookshare.  If we are going to talk
accessibility, let's talk real accessibility and talk about availability via
NLS.  Books are available through their web site if you wish to go that way.

Tom


Tom Brennan  KD5VIJ, CCC-A/SLP
web page http://titan.sfasu.edu/~g_brennantg/sonicpage.html