Hello,

I apologize if you have received multiple copies of this message as it has been cross-posted to several listserves. Please feel free to repost to other lists if appropriate.

I'm posting this at the request of colleagues at America Online.

AOL is looking for Beta Testers to test new accessibility 
features 

America Online 6.0, released in October 2000, marked a number of significant 
milestones in AOL's efforts to make our service accessible to all users.  We 
have spent the last several months building upon these accessibility features 
and are now ready to beta test these improvements using AOL's most 
super-charged testing, a "Focused Beta Test." 

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 ensure the success of this effort, AOL would like to invite people who use 
Assistive Technologies in their day-to-day computer use to be a part of this 
evaluation.  Individuals with this experience will play an important role in 
providing feedback to AOL Product Developers so we can continue toward our 
mission of building a more accessible AOL. 

Here's how you (or any Assistive Technology user) can participate: 

To become a Beta Tester you must first have an AOL account.  If you are not 
an AOL member, you may join using one of our free AOL 6.0 CDs, which may 
offer you up to 700 free hours of usage. You can call to order a CD at 
1-800-827-6364 or download the software at www.aol.com. You are under no 
obligation to continue with the AOL service at the end of your trial period, 
but must contact us if you wish to cancel in the future. 

-- Once logged online to the AOL service, visit AOL Keyword: Beta to 
register.  Then, select the America Online 7.0 Beta link and click the "Focus 
Tests" button to find the link to the "Accessibility Focus Test."  (Note for 
screen reader users: use the Tab key to navigate all beta application screens 
also use the Spacebar instead of the Enter key to open windows.) 

-- You will be asked to review and sign AOL's non-disclosure form and to 
provide information on the type(s) of Assistive technology you use to access 
the AOL service. Although you will have access to the Beta area immediately 
upon completing the application, please allow us one business day to process 
the application. 

As an AOL Beta Tester you will receive instructions weekly regarding specific 
products you can choose to test. You will be asked to provide feedback about 
the products functionality, and to fill out a bug report if you find 
something does not work.  (Note to JAWS and Window Eyes users:  to most 
effectively use AOL with your screen reader, you will need to copy AOL 
screenreader files into your screenreader directory. Information on how to do 
this is available in the "Accessibilty Focus Test" area at AOL Keyword: Beta.) 

We are looking for testers for the Accessibility Focus Test who use Assistive 
Technology in their day-to-day computer use.  If you don't have this 
experience, but have any family members or friends who are AOL members and 
use Assistive Technology, tell them about the new tests available at AOL 
Keyword: Beta.   

AOL is committed to continuing to build more accessibility into America 
Online and its products and service, and we thank you for your help and 
support in this endeavor. 

Thank you. 
Debbie Fletter 
America Online 
Director, Accessibility 
tel: 703-265-3469