[access-uk] Buying specialist technology without accessible instructions
- From: "Jackie Cairns" <cairnsplace@xxxxxxx>
- To: "Access UK Mailing List" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:41:07 +0100
On the subject of buying specialist technology with inaccessible instructions,
I'll be very careful how I phrase this because it's something I've beefed about
for years, and it still goes on.
In my personal and humble opinion, wherever a company - no matter who that
retailer is - sells a product or service to someone with a visual impairment,
the instructions accompanying that item should be in an alternative format to
standard print. How can we have the DDA in this country if those who have
direct influence to ensure accessibility is met don't in fact comply?
We have invested a lot of money on access technology over the years, yet I
still find myself having to request materials in my preferred format.
Using the examples of both the Colorino and talking tape measure from Caretec,
neither has accessible instructions, even though I have sussed out how to use
them satisfactorily. But that isn't the point. If I could read the
instructions, I could surely see to use an ordinary measure and not need a
detector to tell me my colours?
That's where I'm coming from anyway, and I mean no disrespect to any retailer
or individual on the list. Most companies that deal with specialist equipment
do offer alternative formats, whether it be through intuitive help on the
device itself, or instructions and quick start references that accompany it.
But there is still an issue with this.
Jackie
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