Here's some info on organizing going on in Main to challenging the
state's decision to center its educational program around the Apple
I-Book computer which is inaccessible to the blind.  Perhaps they need to
implement a state version of Section 508.  maybie your state may be next
on the list of Apple's marketers.

Kelly

From: "Steve Hoad" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2002 8:29 PM
Subject: Apples in Your Local Schools, Homes and Stores?


Hello from Maine!

I'm sending this notice to you folks to give you a
heads up!  Apple is aggressively selling IBook
computers to all the places in the U.S. that they can
get people's hands on them.  Schools are being
targetted, but networks in stores and home users also
are being targetted.  These Apple laptop IBooks are
barely accessible to blind users.

It is time for Apple to make accessibility an early
function of software development rather than a "Johnny
come lately" after software has been out a while.

Are there Apple IBooks being sold to any of your local
school systems?  Our state(Maine)  has bought them for all
seventh graders, and we need to make a lot of noise.

Do some research for the good of this project and find
out where the Apples are and where they might be
coming in your local area.

Forward this message to anyone who might help.

The contact address in the protest message is small in
storage, so no big attatchments, please!

Let's find Apple's pocketbook and pinch it!

Wednesday, April 24 Beginning at 8 A.M. The National
Federation of the Blind of Maine will inform the
legislature and press one person at a time

About the inaccessibility of Apple Technology that is
being deployed statewide next September!

Maine's $25 million will be spent for devices that
aren't accessible to blind students, teachers or
parents!

Please come and join us. Whether or not you are blind,
we need bodies, minds and voices to join us at the
Statehouse.

You can help by passing out literature, or just
standing in solid support of this very important
access issue for the blind in education!

For more information E-mail
[log in to unmask]
or phone (207) 445-5983 to speak with Steve Hoad,
President of NFB Maine!


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