You can download it with the BS Plus now, if you upgrade to software version
2 you are then able to authorize it for NLS Talking Books through the NLS
website by adding an additional player.
----- Original Message -----
From: "COLLEEN ROTH" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2012 6:36 PM
Subject: Re: Digital QST And Accessibility
> Hi,
> It probably never occurred to Arrl to put QST in a format we could use
> because the Arrl knows we get it from NLS. We even pay a lower rate for
> membership.
> Personally I like the NLS format and don't mind the fact that I get it a
> little later.
> If it could be downloaded with my Braille Sense Plus and would work for me
> I wouldn't mind geting it earlier.
> However I am not really interested in the Technical Articles, I like the
> Government policies and the Public Service Info as well as info on
> Emergency Communications.
> Colleen Roth, N8TNV;
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Buddy Brannan <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Tuesday, Mar 20, 2012 12:33:53 PM
> Subject: Digital QST And Accessibility
>
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> A fellow blind ham apparently spoke to someone at HQ recently to ask =
>> about the upcoming digital edition of QST. The person he spoke to seemed
>> =
>> to indicate, according to Scott, that not only was the digital edition =
>> of QST not going to be accessible, but there were no plans to make it =
>> accessibledd=20
>>
>> Needless to say, this is disappointing, if truedd=20
>>
>> However, it's possible that there is a misunderstanding of the issues =
>> involved here. We of course don't want a special edition, or something =
>> like that. However, it seems to me that an online edition of QST could =
>> be inherently usable by blind members. There are, of course, formats =
>> that just don't work well (or at all) with screen access technology. The
>> =
>> system that CQ Communications has chosen to implement, for instance, =
>> can't be used by screen readers. Your standard garden variety PDF, =
>> however, will read with most screen readers, assuming that the PDF isn't
>> =
>> solely an image scan of a paper documentdd=20
>>
>> I would be interested to know what digital format the ARRL will be using
>> =
>> for its electronic distribution. Knowing this will help determine =
>> whether or not I will be able to read it when it becomes availabledd=20
>>
>> While I wasn't on the call that I mentioned, I can tell you that my =
>> friend felt as though he was not valued as a member in good standing, =
>> that his membership was somehow less important because of his =
>> disability, perhaps that he was asking for something unreasonable. Bear =
>> in mind that, while we do get QST on tape from the Library of Congress, =
>> the issue comes about two months after the general public gets it. I, =
>> for one, would be willing to pay full freight for a membership that =
>> included a timely and accessible version of QST. However, if my =
>> membership as a blind ham is of no value to the League, perhaps i should
>> =
>> rethink that. Note that I have no reason yet to believe that this is the
>> =
>> case, but one of the staff's members has certainly left at least one =
>> member with this impression, not by the possible inaccessibility of the =
>> digital edition, but rather by the way the issue was handled. Or, =
>> rather, blown offdd=20
>>
>> I would love to discuss this further. We can start with what format the =
>> digital edition will take and go from theredd=20
>>
>> While I must admit to some disappointment that accessibility wasn't even
>> =
>> considered when the decision was made to go digital, and, to my =
>> knowledge, no blind members were contacted to get any input on the =
>> issue, I would like to believe that this is something that can be =
>> considered now. Better late than never.
>>
>> Vy 73,
>> --
>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
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