I can assure you that we will be on their case here in CT especially Betsey
who is SM for CT. (k1eic)
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of richard fiorello
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 11:21 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Inaccessible Reader Medium for Ham Radio Publications
Hello;
Our radio club was visited by some arrl folks earlier this year and they
mentioned the digital qst upcoming next year. I mentioned that it would be
a real plus if it could be accessed by a screen reader and although no
promises were made they sounded very positive.
Richard
----- Original Message -----
From: Patrick Tice <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Friday, Dec 16, 2011 06:10:21 PM
Subject: Inaccessible Reader Medium for Ham Radio Publications
>
>
> Greetings, Listers!
>
> I've been away from the list for a while, mostly depending on the list
> archives to help me answer questions Handiham members ask me. Now I'm
> = back again because I want to bring forward a troubling new
> development. We = all know that we are on the cusp of a major change
> in the publishing world.
> While digital publication can greatly enhance accessibility to blind
> computer users, we cannot necessarily assume that new publishing
> formats will necessarily be compliant with accepted accessibility
> standards. To illustrate this, I am pasting the following message
> that I received from = the Zinio Support folks, then I will fill you
> in a bit more. Here is the e-mail:=20
>
> Hello,
>
> Thank you for contacting Zinio Customer Support.=20
>
> Unfortunately Zinio publications are not compatible with screen
> readers, = we apologize for the inconvenience.
>
> If I can be of further assistance, please let me know.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Eric Folsom
> Zinio Customer Support
>
> Okay, this is pretty much what I suspected because I was unable to =
> highlight any text in the Zinio Reader, and the browser-based version
> gave similar results. However, the publications Zinio supports are
> searchable for keywords, so there must be some sort of embedded text
> underlying the graphical text presentation. I am by no means a
> screenreader user = myself since I can see the pages, but NVDA hadn't
> a clue as to the main body = text in any of the pages when tested with
> Worldradio Online Magazine, which = does use the Zinio system along
> with CQ and many other magazines. The Zinio Reader does include easy
> to use font resizing, but the lack of = screenreader support is
> troubling. =20
>
> As I said, we are going to find more and more publications on line in
> = the coming years, most sooner rather than later. In the January
> 2012 QST = there is a mention of the anticipated mid-year rollout of a
> digital version of QST. I want to emphasize that I have no
> information on which publishing platform ARRL will be using and
> whether it will be screenreader = accessible, but it is painfully
> apparent that inaccessible design can be carried = forward into the
> new publishing medium. This is shown clearly in the step = backwards
> from Worldradio Online in PDF with embedded text several issues ago =
> prior to the change to the Zinio Reader versus the current "apologize
> for the inconvenience" situation we have now. =20
>
> I don't fault the Worldradio Online people for this - they are simply
> = using an on line publishing company. And in fair disclosure, I do
> write the = "With the Handihams" column that appears regularly in WR.
> But I think that = any company that delivers online media, especially
> digital print = publications for heaven's sake, should be able to
> provide screenreader access.=20
>
> Can we start a civil discussion about this, and put together some kind
> = of informational message and action plan about what should be
> expected regarding accessibility? I know that the ADA does not
> necessarily = require accessibility, but we all know that it is the
> right thing to do, and = that it is also not a good business plan to
> exclude potential readers. =20
>
> 73,
> Pat
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Regards,=A0
>
> Patrick Tice, M.A. | Manager, Courage Handiham System | PH:
> 763.520.0511 =
> |
> Courage Center | 3915 Golden Valley Road | Golden Valley, MN 55422
>
> [log in to unmask] | CourageCenter.org
>
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