Hi, Norm. Thanks for sharing that - I thought it had only been local folks whose concerns were ignored. Jon -----Original Message----- From: Prof Norm Coombs [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 12:44 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Alva ceases development of outspoken and enlarge for mackinto sh: Some of us told Maine officials as they were considering the purchase that it was a disaster but no one wanted to listen. Someone in Maine must have got their palm greased in the deal. Norm At 10:30 AM 6/11/2003 -0400, you wrote: >Hi, Kathy. > >As you may know, the State of Maine purchased Apple iBooks for all public >school 7th graders before the lack of a viable screen reader was understood. >In the ensuing hoopla, Apple went to the trouble of bringing an ALVA >representative to Maine to explain that ALVA would be developing a screen >reader for OSX and that this would allow blind 7th graders to use the same >programs and to participate in the same education activities as their >sighted classmates. The development of that screen reader hasn't yet >happened, and it's not clear if ALVA's announcement means that they will >cease whatever Macintosh screen reader development work is currently in >progress, or if the announcement only applies to future development >projects. At any rate, ALVA's decision certainly isn't encouraging for >blind Macintosh computer users. > >Jon > >-----Original Message----- >From: Kathleen Cahill [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 10:16 AM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Alva ceases development of outspoken and enlarge for >mackintosh: > > >This is bad news for Mac users who are blind or visually impaired.....is >there any other company stepping in to fill the gap? And what is Apple >doing about this? Think of all the school systems that utilize Macs -- what >will their students do who need these types of assistive technology? > >Kathy > >At 09:17 AM 6/11/2003 -0400, you wrote: > >the full story is at: >http://www.aagi.com/news/news.asp?44 > > >++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >Kathy Cahill >MIT Adaptive Technology (ATIC) lab >77 Mass. Ave. 7-143 >Cambridge MA 02139 >(617) 253-5111 >[log in to unmask] > ------------------------ EASI Juluy Courses http://easi.cc/workshop.htm Beginner Barrier-free Web Design Train the Trainer ... . Norman Coombs CEO EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) (949) 922-5992 (cell)