[access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw: [vicsireland] Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually Impaired

  • From: "Mike Moore" <mikeis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:43:36 +0100

Jonathan,

Interesting indeed! This is part of what we were talking about, I know that a 
quote from them for teaching JFW use and Internet Explorer was running out at 
£1000 for 4 half days training, yet they have volunteers able to go to people's 
houses to give training directly, totally free of charge!!

Again, as we seen in previous postings, for anything to do with AFW, they are 
paying through the nose!

Again, this is not an isolated case, this is across the board in so many 
aspects of disability.

Kind regards,

Mike


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jonathan 
  To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:47 AM
  Subject: [access-uk] Re: Affordable Accessibility, was Re: Fw: [vicsireland] 
Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System Advances Independence For Visually Impaired


  I think I'm beginning to see why products for the blind are often so 
expensive!


  I produce low-cost 5-page template sites to WACG-WAI Level 2 Priority AAA 
guidelines (the same as Surf Right) and thought the Surf Right logo would be a 
good thing to have to show my commitment to accessibility.


  However, the RNIB quotation for looking over the site has come back at £1,128 
- or £225 per page, roughly £4.51 per word, for half a day's work.


  I've applied for matched funding from the government, but this still leaves 
me with £564 to fund out of my own pocket, and as this is a largely 
not-for-profit venture, there's no margin here, and I don't want to push the 
cost to charities up that much.


  Secondly, this article might be of interest too (article summary below link)
  http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/fundraising/news/content/6803


  The RNIB has dismissed allegations that its refusal to endorse a cheap drug 
found to prevent a type of blindness is related to the fact that it receives 
donations from the maker of a rival, more expensive drug.


  Research by Moorfields Eye Hospital released last week shows that the cancer 
drug Avastin can help to prevent wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), 
which can lead to blindness. Avastin is significantly cheaper than the current 
treatment Lucentis, produced by Novartis. 


  The RNIB was accused of conflicted interests, in a blog which followed the 
research. The writer, Jim Edwards, suggested that there was “a connection” 
between RNIB's status as a recipient of funds from Novartis and its support of 
the company’s products against cheaper rivals. 


  But the RNIB steadfastly denied any allegations of bias. In a statement, the 
charity said that its position on the drugs “is in absolutely no way linked to 
any funding the charity might receive from pharmaceutical companies”.

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