Hi, Norm.

Thanks for sharing that - I thought it had only been local folks whose
concerns were ignored.

Jon

-----Original Message-----
From: Prof Norm Coombs [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 12:44 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Alva ceases development of outspoken and enlarge for
mackinto sh:


Some of us told Maine officials as they were considering the purchase that
it was a disaster but no one wanted to listen.  Someone in Maine must have
got their palm greased in the deal.
Norm
At 10:30 AM 6/11/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>Hi, Kathy.
>
>As you may know, the State of Maine purchased Apple iBooks for all public
>school 7th graders before the lack of a viable screen reader was
understood.
>In the ensuing hoopla, Apple went to the trouble of bringing an ALVA
>representative to Maine to explain that ALVA would be developing a screen
>reader for OSX and that this would allow blind 7th graders to use the same
>programs and to participate in the same education activities as their
>sighted classmates.  The development of that screen reader hasn't yet
>happened, and it's not clear if ALVA's announcement means that they will
>cease whatever Macintosh screen reader development work is currently in
>progress, or if the announcement only applies to future development
>projects.  At any rate, ALVA's decision certainly isn't encouraging for
>blind Macintosh computer users.
>
>Jon
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Kathleen Cahill [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 10:16 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Alva ceases development of outspoken and enlarge for
>mackintosh:
>
>
>This is bad news for Mac users who are blind or visually impaired.....is
>there any other company stepping in to fill the gap?  And what is Apple
>doing about this?  Think of all the school systems that utilize Macs --
what
>will their students do who need these types of assistive technology?
>
>Kathy
>
>At 09:17 AM 6/11/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>
>the full story is at:
>http://www.aagi.com/news/news.asp?44
>
>
>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>Kathy Cahill
>MIT Adaptive Technology (ATIC) lab
>77 Mass. Ave. 7-143
>Cambridge MA 02139
>(617) 253-5111
>[log in to unmask]
>
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