the following originally appeared on the BASR-L list--subscription information
for and a description of BASR-L follow the forwarded message...  subscription
information for and a description of the BCAB list, which is affiliated
with the British Computer Association of the Blind, has also been appended
to the end of this post...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 05:10:41 -0600
From: Steve Plumpton <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Text Assist and Creative Labs

Hi folks,

A couple of weeks ago, a note appeaed on this list suggesting that Creative
Labs were going to discontinue support for Text Assist.  As the chairman of
the British Computer Association of the Blind, which has 200 or so members,
I was very concerned as this decision would be likely to affect many, if not
all (eventually) of our members.  One of our committee members has dealt with
Creative Labs before, for other business and so, I asked him to use his
contacts to find out more.

I am pleased to tell you all that the AWE64 Gold, a new card which either is
about to be, or has just been released, supports Text Assist and our contact
assures us, that as far as he can find out, Creative Labs have no plans to
drop TA in the future.

I willkeep you posted if and when I hear more.

Regards

Steve Plumpton (Chairman BCAB)
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--- end of forwarded message ---
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BASR-L: The Browser and Screen Reader Listserve

BASR-L is a professional mailing list for the discussion of blind web access
issues. The main focus of BASR-L is to improve the access blind people
have to the World Wide Web. (It is not a list for support on existing
products and features, since other lists, such as access-l, blind-l,
guispeak, webwatch-l, lynx-learners, amongst others, already provide that
service.)

BASR-L aims at promoting dialogue between blind individuals, web professionals,
adaptive technology industry professionals, software developers, and other
individuals interested in improving blind people's access to the web.

If you are a blind consumer interested in working with browser companies to
develop an understanding of how blind people could use browsrs most
effectively, you are invited to join BASR-L.  Certainly, no such effort
can hope to succeed without your active participation.

If you are a professional associated with the development of web and
browser technology, and would like to help blind people gain the best
access possible to the web, you are invited to join BASR-L.  You will
learn how blind people use computers to access information they usually can't
get any other way. Our effort will not succeed without the active
participation of professionals from the industry that brings web browsers
to market.

If you are an access technology developer or professional who is interested in
developing approaches for World Wide Web access, you are invited to join
BASR-L. This listserve would be an excellent forum for developing mutual
strategies with browser developers.  Your experience in providing blind
people access to information technology will be invaluable to this group's
efforts.

If you are a researcher in these or associated fields, and you are interested
in testing the limits of non-visual web browsing, you are invited to join
BASR-L. You will learn about the practical opportunities available in
non-visual information technology today.  And, we need your vision of a better
tomorrow to insure the best browsing products possible.

Specially adapted computer interfaces based on synthetically generated
speech (and on refreshable braille displays) have transformed the
lives of many blind people over the past twenty years.  BASR-L has been
formed to provide a professional forum for developing the necessary
ideas and contacts to insure that these gains in technology continue
for blind people's quality of life and success in employment in the
information age.

Some of the potential topics of discussion include:

    1. Is a combination of browser and screen reader the best approach to
       web access for blind people? If so, what aspects of information
       access are the browser's responsibility? Which are the screen
       reader's?

    2. What should be on a list of desirable browser features? What
       features should a browser provide for optimal access?

    3. What changes to HTML are needed?

    4. What new techniques have been discovered in relevant academic
       research?

    5. What are the best ways of insuring that blind people's access
       needs can and will be incorporated into new web technologies?

To subscribe to BASR-L, send an emessage with a blank subject line to:

     [log in to unmask]

In the body of the emessage, type:

     subscribe basr-l firstname lastname

To contact the listowner, Janina Sajka, email:

     [log in to unmask]
     _________________________________________________________________

BCAB

BCAB is the emailing list of the British Computer Association of the
Blind.  Membership in BCAB is not, however, a prerequisite for subscribing
to this list.

To subscribe to BCAB, send an emessage to:

     [log in to unmask]

leave the subject heading blank, but in the body of the emessage type:

     subscribe bcab

The BCAB email list is administered at the University of Manchester.

ABOUT BCAB:
The British Computer Association of the Blind (BCAB) was formed in 1969 and
gained company and charitable status in 1995.  The objectives of the
Association are to promote the special needs and interests of the visually
impaired who either work in the computing field or have an active interest in
computing.  Particular emphasis is given to the advancement of education
and provision of specially adapted training/courses through the use and
application of computing and information technology.  BCAB has
approximately 200 members and the diversity of experience represented by the
membership means that the Association can lend effective support to those
seeking help and advice.  The Association is affiliated to the British
Computer Society and has close links with the Royal National Institute for
the Blind (RNIB).  For further details and an application form, please
write to the Secretary,

     BCAB, BCM, P.O.BOX 950, LONDON WC1N 3XX

or send an E-Mail message to the secretary, Derek Naysmith at:

     [log in to unmask]

More information about BCAB can be found at RNIB's web site:

     http://www.rnib.org.uk

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