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Bill seeks to make electronics accessible to blind, deaf
WP ^ | 08/17/10 | Cecilia Kang

Posted on 08/17/2010 6:52:14 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

Bill seeks to make electronics accessible to blind, deaf

By Cecilia Kang

Washington Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, August 17, 2010; A10

Blind and deaf consumers, who have fought to make home phones and television more accessible, say they are being left behind on the Web and many mobile devices. Touch-based smartphone screens confound blind people who rely on buttons and raised type. Web video means little to the deaf without captioning.

But legislation is in the works to put pressure on consumer electronics companies that revolutionized an earlier generation of technology for the vision- and hearing-impaired.

"Whether it's a Braille reader or a broadband connection, access to technology is not a political issue -- it's a participation issue," said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), the author of a House bill aimed at making the Internet more accessible to people with disabilities. "We've moved from Braille to broadcast, from broadband to the BlackBerry. We've moved from spelling letters in someone's palm to the PalmPilot. And we must make all of these devices accessible."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: disabled; regulation; smartphone; web
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To: SJSAMPLE; OregonRancher

I’ve been a member there for ten years, I work out three times a week and I’ve never seen or heard ANY hint of that. The bathroom is centrally located, upstairs, right by the treadmills, there’s no way that happens there...

Unless I’m completely crazy, naive, ignorant or all three!!!

Ed

Oregon Rancher, you work out at that Y, is what they’re saying possibly true???


41 posted on 08/17/2010 12:33:18 PM PDT by Sir_Ed
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To: Sir_Ed

We just got back from a trip to the east coast and haven’t
popped into the “Y” yet so I haven’t the faintest idea.

I do know, as a matter of principle, that I won’t bend over
in any public restroom or shower, even our “Y”.

Laughing.....Ed, I’ll be at the guy next Monday morning!

Screw the city.


42 posted on 08/17/2010 1:33:17 PM PDT by OregonRancher (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints)
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To: OregonRancher

Hmmm...what’s happening Monday?

See ya’,

Ed


43 posted on 08/17/2010 2:15:38 PM PDT by Sir_Ed
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To: Sir_Ed

Nutten....Just Monday I’ll start back to the gym...laughing.


44 posted on 08/17/2010 2:57:56 PM PDT by OregonRancher (Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints)
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To: oblomov

No, I’m not a statist, and other than enjoying captions on the TV, I haven’t personally benefitted from the ADA. The ADA requirements certainly aren’t that imposing. Is it too much to ask for you to purchase a $100 captioned telephone to help your employee do a better job on the phone? That’s the only thing you’d be required to do. You dont have to hire the HOH or deaf perhaps they remind you too much of your own disability and your lack of understanding or compassion. You’d probably be against installing toilets for your employees if it weren’t required by law. I could go on but the ADA is a great idea. Yes, it’s been abused by some, but like OSHA, it is good for business.


45 posted on 08/18/2010 10:21:25 AM PDT by crymeariver (Good news...in a way)
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To: oblomov

No, I’m not a statist, and other than enjoying captions on the TV, I haven’t personally benefitted from the ADA. The ADA requirements certainly aren’t that imposing. Is it too much to ask for you to purchase a $100 captioned telephone to help your employee do a better job on the phone? That’s the only thing you’d be required to do. You dont have to hire the HOH or deaf perhaps they remind you too much of your own disability and your lack of understanding or compassion. You’d probably be against installing toilets for your employees if it weren’t required by law. I could go on but the ADA is a great idea. Yes, it’s been abused by some, but like OSHA, it is good for business.


46 posted on 08/18/2010 10:21:32 AM PDT by crymeariver (Good news...in a way)
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To: crymeariver

The question of whether the ADA has benefited me or others is beside the point. Whether or not it is a good idea, the federal government simply does not have the legitimate authority to enforce such a law against private businesses that receive no federal money.

Compliance with this law is hardly confined to the purchase of a $100 telephone, despite your assertion that “that’s the only thing you’d be required to do”. The ADA applies not only to accommodating employees, but potential customers as well. Although a good corporate manager would gladly accommodate both disabled employees and customers, I do not think it is the federal government’s role to demand goodness.


47 posted on 08/18/2010 6:46:06 PM PDT by oblomov
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