Hi All,

A couple weeks ago I asked subscribers to this list about access technology
as it related to donations of computer equipment being made by the Gates
Library Foundation.  At the risk of being accused of talking to myself
<chuckle> I'll answer my own question and say that it is my impression that
accessibility is being given little if any consideration in the grants
being made.  Before I continue I'll again say that if anyone has better
information than what I've discovered please let me know.

I had a lengthy conversation with a Cathy Young from the foundation earlier
today.  She told me she was the office manager and that everyone else was
out of the office travelling.  She seemed very knowledgeable about the
foundation's operation and goals.

The theme that was repeated to me over and over was that it was the goal of
the foundation to get hardware, software  and internet connections to
libraries who couldn't afford the technology themselves.  When I asked
about including access technology such as screen readers as part of the
equipment being donated I was told that it was being left up to the
individual libraries to purchase that equipment on their own outside of
grant funding.  I further asked if a plan for making the equipment
accessible was part of the criteria for receiving a grant and was told no.
When I asked if the foundation's attitude was akin to offering to construct
a building for someone who couldn't afford to do it themselves but telling
them it was their responsibility to pay for wheelchair ramps, braille signs
and such I was told that my analogy was incorrect.  I asked for a more
appropriate comparison and was offered none.

Obviously the foundation can spend their money however they see fit but I
find it disappointing to say the least that accessibility is again
considered an add on component, not part of the basic equipment being
donated.  It is sad to see part of the infrastructure of the information
age being built without no regard to accessibility.  This happens far too
often.  I find it quite revealing in terms of the true beliefs of Bill
gates on accessibility to have a foundation baring his name and intended to
help the most financially strapped not think accessibility is important
enough to fund or considerr part of the basic requirements of an equipment
donation.

If you want more information or have an opinion you want to share with the
foundation, contact information is at the end of this post.

I expressed my disappointment in the foundation's lack of consideration of
accessibility.  If the libraries to which they are donating this equipment
are receiving it partly because of lack of funds, is it realistic to expect
that the libraries will be able to afford access technology?  Why not
ensure that people with disabilities are included in the benefits of access
to information that the foundation has as a stated goal?

I hope the leadership of the disability community will take this issue
seriously.  I urged the person I spoke with to do so and will be writing to
the foundation's director to express the same idea.  The board of the
foundation has representatives from a wide range of professions and
populations but none from the disability community.  At the very least I
think our population should be represented.

As an aside I mentioned the inaccessibility of the foundation's web site
which can be found at:

http://www.glf.org

Shortly after the conclusion of my conversation I received a call back from
the person I had spoke with.  She told me she had just got off the phone
with the foundation's president and said that she, the president, was aware
of the inaccessible web site and had it on her list of things to do.  I
asked about a time line and was given none.  I asked about the other points
I raised and was told they had been taken down.

Kelly


Contact Information:

The Gates Library Foundation
P. O. Box 3189
Redmond, Washington 98073

phone:(425) 882-1200fax: (425) 556-0218

email: [log in to unmask]