Amazon made its announcement about a new tablet-like device that will allow people to consume variety of content including books, videos, apps, games, and web sites. I had hoped that, unlike previous releases of Kindle devices, Amazon would have included accessibility for Kindle Firefor people with disabilities right from its design phase. Alas! Disappointment doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling after learning that there is no built-in accessibility for people with disabilities in this newly announced product. As a blind consumer who wants access to the nearly one million-book Kindle catalog or access to the 10 thousand plus instant video selections on a mobile device, I am angry.

Yes. I am absolutely angry. I am sick and tired of companies with billions of dollars in revenue taking the market of people with disabilities for granted. I am sick and tired of them thinking that we’re not important enough to be the “target” when the device or software is being developed for the first time. I am sick and tired of companies like Amazon passing on the blame on the lack of accessibility on other parties. I am sick and tired of these companies claiming that they are not being allowed to “innovate” if we ask them to create accessible products. What happened to accessibility being thought of as innovation in and of itself? What happened to servicing the customer’s needs?

I know that some people will claim that Amazon did not provide accessibility to the Kindle Fire because the underlying Android platform does not have sufficient support. Frankly, I could care less. It was a choice—a deliberate choice for technical and other reasons. Why did those technical reasons not include accessibility as part of the decision making process? I expect the overlying Kindle Fire interface to be as accessible as I expect the Samsung, Motorola, or HTC interface to be accessible on a phone or a tablet device.

Amazon has never considered people with disabilities as an important part of its market. Nor has it taken accessibility seriously for its previous generation of Kindle devices. The little accessibility work that it has done is lacking in seriousness. This fact is quite evident in its web site design as well as development of the Kindle software for devices such as the iPhone. There is no excuse for Amazon to have not built in accessibility on a platform which, by all accounts, provides one of the best support for people with disabilities. If Amazon had shown a concerted effort and a steady progress, then I would be willing to cut them some slack. But they have had ample time to consider these issues carefully and look at accessibility.

So yes, I’m angry. I’m angry at hearing excuses. I’m angry at seeing a consistent pattern. I’m angry at Amazon’s defense. And, I’m incredibly angry with people defending Amazon because they happened to have chosen Android.

And, because I’m so angry, I’m going to suggest a course of action to all people with disabilities who will not be able to use Kindle Fire. I want everyone to go out and order a Kindle fire. I want all to cancel that order. In the section that allows you to tell Amazon the reason why, let them know that you’re cancelling because there is no accessibility. Let Amazon see how much money they could be gaining. Let them know how much loyalty they’re losing. Because of this, I have just cancelled my Amazon Prime subscription. I will find my products somewhere else,

. #ACB11

LevelStar Orion 18 at the 2011 ACB Conference and Convention

The World at your fingertips: inside the smallest and coolest 18-cell Braille notetaker ever, powered by Android, and by the amazing voice of Ivona Speech. Empower yourself with Orion 18’s integrated cell phone, camera and print recognition, GPS navigation, Bookshare and NLS EBooks, classic note taking, and so much more.

Discover the new LevelStar Orion 18 Braille Tablet during the 2011 ACB Conference and Convention in Reno (Nevada), from July 9^th to July 14^th, at the John Ascuaga Nugget Hotel Resort.

Drop by the home of LevelStar Orion 18– table 44 in Pavillion — during exhibit hours, and experience the power of Orion live.

Do not miss any exciting Orion 18 presentations:

Information Access Committee (IAC), Saturday July 9^th, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Bonanza A.

·        Title: The Orion 18 Braille Tablet by LevelStar –Mobile Empowerment with an Android-based “Swiss Army knife”

Presenter: Guido Corona (LevelStar Director, Marketing)

Presentation Time: 3:45 – 4:00 PM.

Library Users Group / Braille Revival League, Wednesday July 13^th, 1:15 PM to 4:00 PM, Tahoe.

·        Title: Bookshare and more with the LevelStar Orion 18 Braille Tablet.

Presenter: Guido D. Corona (LevelStar Director, Marketing)

Presentation Time: 2:50 PM to 3:00 PM.

Orion 18 Braille Tablet by LevelStar – So much more than a notetaker

LevelStar LLC is proud to announce the powerful Orion 18 Braille tablet, developed in partnership with American Printing House for the Blind (APH). Sporting an 18-cell Braille display with router keys, and speaking with the stunningly natural Ivona Speech, Orion 18 is The World’s first notetaker for the blind powered by Android, the mobile environment that is taking the World by storm. With its highly ergonomic and quiet Braille keyboard, and packed with the most advanced features ever integrated into a Braille notetaker, the sleek Orion 18 Braille tablet is compact enough to fit in a purse or coat pocket.

Discover the Orion 18 Advantage

·        Talk with your friends, family, and colleagues from virtually anywhere, with Orion’s integrated cell phone.

·        Slide Orion 18 into its handsome carrying case, and then walk to work, to school, along busy city streets, or explore quaint vacation spots, assisted by its powerful GPS navigation.

·        Take a quick snapshot of a printed menu, a magazine, or even a book page with Orion’s built-in 5Mp camera, and then read them on the go.

·        Stay connected! Orion’s fast wireless and 3G broadband let you work, study, and play virtually anywhere you are.

·        Find and download your favorite Bookshare EBooks on the go; conveniently read them on Orion’s refreshable Braille display, or let Orion’s human-like speech read them to you.

·        Play your favorite music on Orion’s stereo speakers.

·        Quickly record a short voice note, or an entire lecture, with Orion’s integrated microphone.

·        Jot down notes for meetings and lectures, or comfortably write documents with Orion’s intuitive word processor, and then save files in popular formats.

·        Thanks to Orion 18’s staggering 32GB of internal solid-state storage, Experience the full power of Android, and enjoy third party programs.

Product availability: 4^th quarter 2011. Pricing to be announced.

Learn More

Join the LevelStar Orion discussion group: send a blank email to

Orion-discuss-request@freelists.org?subject=subscribe

For more information about Orion 18, and one chance to win an Orion 18 Braille tablet, E-mail Orion at orion@levelstar.com. Include your name, address, and phone number, or call LevelStar toll-free: (800) 315-2305, extension 1.

Visit LevelStar at http://www.levelstar.com

A little while ago, I posted on my Twitter account that I found out some great news about a potential accessibility Engineer position. But, as I could only provide some minor details via Twitter, I thought I’d use this forum to reach a wider audiance and expand to the extent I can.

At this time, I am unable to disclose the name of the company or its specific location. The company in question is seeking what it terms a “kickass Accessibility Engineer” with “ninja” skills. It is located in the Silicon Valley and is eager to hire the right person. Extremely generous benefits and compensation package will be made available.

As a front-end UI engineer, the successful candidate will be responsible for owning the accessibility process for the company. She will also provide external and internal communication regarding accessibility to the company. She will have at least 4 years of experience in UI Engineering, be able to look at, write, and consider cleanly designed code, have thorough familiarity with PHP, JS, CSS and HTML, as well as will have familiarity with object oriented JavaScript toolkits such as Dojo, MooTools, Prototype JS, etc.

Combined with a degree (MS or BS) in computer science or related field, the candidate will be a self-starter. She will be able to demonstrate experience in working with complex workflows while demonstrating the ability to work in complicated environments. Experience with assistive technologies such as speech recognition systems and screen readers when designing elegant, reusable UI components is a must.

The position is located in Palo Alto, California.

If interested, Send your CV to me at Pratik Patel no later than Monday April 11, 2011. Be sure to also send me a tweet, letting me know that you’re interested.

A Glimpse Of The LevelStar Orion SmartBooks

The future of note takers for the blind awaits you at CSUN.  Have a glimpse of Orion: the new LevelStar SmartBooks.  In just a few months, the amazing Orion and Orion 18 will be ready for your brailling fingertips.  Orion SmartBooks are integrated with Android, the mobile environment that is taking the world by storm; and they will be speaking to you with the most natural synthetic voice ever.

Orion Smartbook Power

·         Better than ever before, read your favorite books with integrated Braille or synthetic speech, or listen to them as digital talking books.

·        Take quick notes for meetings and lectures, or write term papers and other large documents.

·        Continue to enjoy many of the great programs you love on the LevelStar Icon.

And The most exciting surprises are yet to be announced!

Partnership Power

The Orion SmartBooks are made possible by a strategic partnership between the American Printing House for the Blind and LevelStar.  Other key partners include Ivona Text to Speech and Option Wireless Technology.  LevelStar is grateful to the National Federation of the Blind for contributing its deep insight to the project, and to Pratik Patel (Chairman of the ACB’s Information Access Committee) for lending his rare technical expertise.

Glimpse at Orion Power

Visit LevelStar and its partners during CSUN 2011 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego:

§  LevelStar LLC – Douglas 523

§  American Printing House (APH) – Douglas 700

§  Ivona Text to Speech – Manchester 53

Win an Orion SmartBook

Sign up now for a chance to win an Orion SmartBook on its release day.  Visit us at CSUN booth 523 or e-mail us at orion@levelstar.com, or call 800-315-2305, (extension 1).  Include your name, address, and phone number.

Follow the progress of the LevelStar Orion on the web at:

http://www.levelstar.com

Guido D. Corona

Director Marketing

Levelstar LLC.

685 South Arthur Ave. Unit 1A

Louisville, Colorado

80027

Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to share the following information regarding the White House fall Internship program application. 

The application deadline for the White House Internship Program’s fall 2011 session is Sunday, March 13.  Please take the time to think of five future young leaders you believe would serve as great White House interns, and personally encourage them to apply.

A White House internship provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills. This hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate today’s young leaders, strengthen their understanding of the Executive Office of the President and prepare them for future public service involvement.

Below is more information that might be helpful to prospective White House interns:

- Check out this blog from a former White House intern with a disability: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/24/people-you-meet-white-house-internship-program

- Visit the White House internship website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships/

- Apply to the White House internship program: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships/apply/

- Learn more about the selection process: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships/selection/

Please encourage all eligible young leaders to take advantage of this incredible opportunity!

Sincerely,

Alexa Posny, Ph.D.

The Department of Disability and Human Development, in the College of Applied Health Sciences, at the University of Illinois at Chicago is inviting applications for 1-2 year postdoctoral advanced leadership training and research mentoring experiences in The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Interdisciplinary Training Program. It aims to prepare future leaders who will serve children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (with an emphasis on autism spectrum disorders) and their families through coordinated, culturally competent, and family-centered clinical care, as well as through public health services and policy systems change. Additionally, this program emphasizes preparing scholars to conduct research on progressive ways to serve this population.

The training program includes: a) didactic preparation, b) close mentoring by highly qualified clinicians and researchers, c) immersion in ongoing research, and d) field placement in carefully selected clinical sites and organizations that serve children with disabilities. Trainees undergo a structured and closely-supervised training process with a range of opportunities for didactic and experiential training and with common expected milestones.

Applicants must have received their doctoral or M.D. degrees within the past four years in any of the following disciplines: Pediatrics, Child Psychiatry, Disability Studies, Nursing, Nutrition, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, Speech and Hearing. Trainees receive a competitive salary and full benefits, tuition support for any courses taken and a modest travel budget. Applicants should submit a curriculum vita and three reference contacts. Copies of relevant publications and a brief statement of research and leadership experience and goals must be provided for full consideration. Applicant must be a US citizen, or must have been admitted to the US with a permanent resident visa.

Applications are due by February 15, 2011.

To apply for this position, please visit the URL below:

<https://jobs.uic.edu/default.cfm?page=job&jobID=5033>

This post comes from the ACB list.  This was forwarded by Michael Katzmann.  The full description can be found at the following link:

NLS Braille Specialist at USA Jobs

As the Chair of American Council of the Blind’s Information Access Committee, I, along with Eric Bridges—ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs—travelled to Redmond in order to attend a roundtable discussion that Microsoft held on October 26, 2010. The Notes below provide a summary of that day-long discussion. We recognize that this summary will raise a number of questions, requiring us to provide some technical discussion and an analysis. While this analysis of the discussion and thoughts on the future of the Windows Phone 7 platform will be forthcoming, we want to make available to our members and the community the summary that Microsoft provided. The summary represents quite accurately the discussions and the results of those discussions.

We appreciate and welcome your discussions surrounding this important issue. Indeed, it was in response to many of your concerns that ACB’s Information Access Committee drafted and passed a resolution at the 2010 convention in Phoenix that addresses Microsoft’s future and product accessibility.

Here, without further comment, is the meeting summary:

Hello All,

I would like to thank each of you for taking the time to travel, in many cases, great distances to Redmond, Washington to meet with members of Microsoft’s mobile and accessibility teams. Your engagement, feedback, and guidance are genuinely appreciated.

As a follow-up to the Mobile Accessibility Roundtable, I wanted to provide you with summary notes from the event and a statement from Andy Lees, President of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business, outlining Microsoft’s accessibility goals for the Windows Phone operating system. Please feel free to share the statement with your members and constituents.

Overview of the event:

The Mobile Accessibility Roundtable was a daylong event held on October 26, 2010, at Microsoft’s corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington, U.S.A. The event included guests from the following organizations representing the blind and low-vision communities: National Federation of the Blind, American Council of the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, CNIB, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Vision Australia, and ONCE. Microsoft’s participation included facilitated dialogue and presentations by: Andy Lees, President of Microsoft’s Mobile Business, Rob Sinclair, Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer, Chuck Bilow, Microsoft’s Senior Program Manager responsible for Windows Phone accessibility, and me, Richard Suplee, a Senior Product Planner in Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business.

Current status of Windows Phone 7 (WP7):

At the Roundtable event, Chuck Bilow and others discussed some of the technical features of WP7, as well as some of the challenges we have faced in bringing this new product to market. Some of these points, outlined below, are important to keep in mind as we continue the dialogue about the future of WP7:

• Windows Phone 7 is a fundamental top-to-bottom rewrite from previous Microsoft mobile operating systems and in many ways is like a first version product. It is an entirely new operating system and user interface. Therefore, no applications from earlier Microsoft mobile operating systems will run on Windows Phone 7 and features had to be re-created for use on the new platform. No handset that currently runs Windows Mobile 6.5 can run the Windows Phone 7 operating system. There is no upgrade path to Windows Phone 7 for the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, the current hardware or existing applications. Windows Phone 7 is a new platform from the ground up.
• We are not yet where we want to be with accessibility features in Windows Phone 7. With that said, we are able to support a number of eyes-free calling scenarios, contrast and color adjustments, and pinch and zoom support in e-mail, web-browsing and Office applications. The eyes-free calling support utilizes wired headsets, speech recognition and text-to-speech in its Voice Activated Dialing scenario.
• With this first release, because of the inherent increased complexity, it was not feasible to build some of the infrastructure we need to support a screen reader (for example, multi-tasking, inter-process communication, and user interface focus). These features impact the ability to support many types of applications, including accessibility applications like a screen reader.
• Because this is an entirely new system, we are still examining how best to implement certain functionality. For example, we are still examining how to enable simultaneous applications (i.e., multi-tasking) in the Windows Phone operating system. This limitation in the V1 platform does not allow applications to run in the background and control touch input or any other aspect of the user interface. The initial operating system lacks features such as Copy/Paste, support for enterprise scenarios, some email and web browsing plug-ins, and some assistive technologies like traditional screen readers.

Feedback from guests at the event:

• The highest product priority is for Microsoft to enable a built-in screen reader that works across the Windows Phone experiences. The screen reader should be free to users and work “out of the box” on all Windows Phones.
• In addition to a built-in screen reader, Microsoft should provide programmatic access for developers, including assistive technology (AT) vendors, to extend the capabilities of the built-in screen reader.
• Microsoft should work with its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and mobile operator partners to promote the availability of Windows Mobile 6.5 phones with optional screen readers until Windows Phones have a screen reader.
• The Microsoft mobile team should use the Microsoft’s Windows Phone “Chassis spec”, the hardware guidance Microsoft provides to OEMs, to help promote accessible hardware. The example given was using the chassis to ensure Microsoft’s OEM partners use displays with sufficient screen contrast.
• Attendees expressed some skepticism in Microsoft’s current capacity to build a high-quality screen reader, but felt if Microsoft applied sufficient research, design, and usability resources to the problem, Microsoft should be able to enable a high quality screen reading experience.
• The Microsoft mobile engineering team should incorporate input from people who are blind to ensure a high quality screen reading experience is enabled.
• Microsoft should engage with external groups that represent the blind community to test and review the accessibility features Microsoft enables.
• Accessibility information is not available on the Windows Phone website and should be.
• Microsoft should continue a dialog with the assembled group.
• Guests also provided rich planning information during a device ecosystem workshop and mobile accessibility futures sessions. This information will be used by Microsoft’s mobile planning and user research team for building out “Day in the life” portraits and scenario development.

Next steps:

• Provide a meeting summary with guest feedback from the Roundtable and a statement from Andy Lees. Below is a statement from Andy Lees, President of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business, that you should feel free to share with your members and constituents:

Microsoft’s goal is to deliver platforms, products, and services that are accessible. We recognize that there is more we can do in this respect, and our goal is to develop Windows Phone into a compelling option for people who are blind or visually impaired. Windows Phone 7 is exciting because it introduces an entirely new way for consumers to interact with their mobile phones. It is a complete change from Microsoft’s past mobile systems – different than anything else on the market. This new approach presents both challenges and opportunities for visual accessibility. The Windows Phone 7 operating system already provides some features that enable basic accessibility for blind and low-vision users. As we move forward, we will continue to make Windows Phone handsets easier for blind and low-vision individuals to use. These plans include further expanding use of speech functionality to create a better eyes-free phone experience, and building on this technology to enable screen reading functionality specifically tailored to the one-of-a-kind Windows Phone interface. Looking to the future of mobile computing, we believe there is a great opportunity to embrace new technologies to help all people better navigate their world. We hope to shape and define this future in partnership with the blind and visually-impaired communities.

• Microsoft will host an additional Mobile Accessibility Roundtable at the beginning of the next major Windows Phone product planning cycle. This will give the blind and low-vision communities an opportunity to provide feedback and priorities as Microsoft develops its next plan of record for Windows Phone. The next Roundtable would likely be at least a year away.
• Microsoft will extend its Windows Phone testing program to include individuals within your organizations. We will send details after our next Windows Phone testing program is established.
• Microsoft will communicate accessibility updates through the Trustworthy Computing team’s newsletter (Accessibility Update). This could include information on operating system updates, new third party applications or new phones.

On behalf of Microsoft, thank you again for participating in the Mobile Accessibility Roundtable. We think the Roundtable was a positive step towards a richer engagement between Microsoft and your respective organizations and the blind and low-vision communities you represent.

Richard Suplee
Senior Product Planner, Microsoft

This 20 author medly from @audible_com that they’ve asked to dinner is amazing: http://tinyurl.com/m6gane