From: "Cynthia Ice" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2001 11:35 AM


Where is the source of this information?  I totally disagree with the
assertion that people with assistive technologies have to participate at
this point in the development cycle to give AOL feedback on what they are
doing to improve accessibility.  AOL should be testing internally with
assistive technologies.  Or alternatively, should be hiring people with
disabilities to do the testing for them.  What a novel thought--hire a
few people to meet a business need and not expect people to do it for
free!

Cynthia,

The source for the info was Curtis Chong of the National Federation of
the blind.  I saw it posted on another list and I have copied the entire
text of his response below.   your idea is actually being implemented by
many of the large software companies.  They are working with the
producers of screen readers and their dealer and training  networks.
These are highly skilled end users who are very familiar with the needs
and concerns of the many blind users of their products in their
community.  Yes, the companies pay for this relationship and when they
beta test with individual blind end users they do not charge or demand
that people fork over a credit card number to beta test.The other
software companies also take full responsibility for the accessibility of
their software or online services.  They do not, as Curtis Chong does
below for AOL time Warner, tell the blind community that if large numbers
do not participate in the beta test, blind persons and the blind
community as a whole will be to blame for the accessibility of the
software, no matter how inaccessible the product or no matter what it
does to one's system.  Unfortunately, that is the access position taken
by the National Federation of the blind and its elected leaders.

Kelly

Greetings:

     Questions have been raised about America Online's (AOL's) recently
announced Focused Beta Test for accessibility.  Some people have asked
about
the National Federation of the Blind's position regarding this test in
light
of the Federation's lawsuit filed against AOL in November of 1999.
Others
have asked why, as beta test participants, they have to give AOL personal
information such as credit card numbers, mailing addresses, etc.

     Let me begin by updating you about the status of the Federation's
lawsuit against AOL.  In late July of last year, we agreed to withdraw
the
suit after receiving assurances from AOL of its commitment to improve the
accessibility of its Windows client software (AOL 5.0 at the time).  When
AOL 6.0 was released in the fall of 2000, some marginal accessibility
improvements were in fact included in the software--in particular,
improvements in the ease of installation and in the use of email.
However,
it was clearly understood that AOL needed more time to complete its work.
The Federation reserved the right to file another lawsuit against AOL
after
one year if, in its judgment, sufficient progress had not been made
toward
making the AOL client accessible to the blind but agreed to withdraw the
lawsuit in the interest of harmony and cooperation.

     AOL is now calling for testers to participate in what it calls a
Focus
Beta Test for Accessibility.  To quote AOL, "The Focused Beta Test for
accessibility is a call to Assistive Technology users to report on their
AOL
experience using Assistive Technologies such as screen readers, screen
magnifiers, voice recognition, speech output, and alternatives to the
standard keyboards and mouses."  To our knowledge, this is the very first
time that a major company of this type has conducted a beta test
specifically targeted at users of assistive technology.  Some people
might
argue that beta testing software that is known not to work well with
assistive technology in effect places the cart before the horse.  The
reality is that without this beta testing and active participation from
users of assistive technology, AOL will not be able to take the positive
steps it must take to ensure that the next version of its client software
will work for us as well as it should.  AOL needs to receive concrete and
widespread verification that either it is or is not doing the right thing
in
terms of making the next version of its client software accessible to
everyone.

     Anyone wanting to participate in the AOL Focused Beta Test for
Accessibility needs to sign up as an AOL member; this requirement is true
for anyone beta testing AOL software, issues of accessibility
notwithstanding.  However, once a person signs up for the beta test
process,
all membership fees are waived.  In other words, other than your time,
there
is no cost to you to participate in AOL's focused beta test for
accessibility.  Once you have finished doing what testing you feel
inclined
to do, you can cancel your AOL membership.

     The National Federation of the Blind supports this effort and
encourages anyone who can to participate.  This is a critical step toward
the achievement of accessible software from America Online.  The time to
act
is now.  We urge anyone participating in AOL's Focused Beta Test for
Accessibility to report each and every problem encountered in the use of
the
software.  This is the best way for AOL's software developers to obtain
the
feedback they need to develop code that will truly work for
everyone--blind
and sighted alike.

Yours sincerely,

Curtis Chong, Director of Technology
National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland  21230
Phone: (410) 659-9314, Extension 349
Fax: (410) 685-5653
Email:
[log in to unmask]

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