[real-eyes] Re: Correspondence With Apple About Accessibility
- From: "Mitchell D. Lynn" <mlynn@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:12:16 -0500
Exactly. Leave Apple alone. They are doing fine without any intervention
from outsiders that hasn't been asked for. And I am not even an Apple user.
-----Original Message-----
From: real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Andrea Breier
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 11:15 PM
To: real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [real-eyes] Re: Correspondence With Apple About Accessibility
I myself don't think apple needs help from anyone because they have already
raised the bar for any of the other operation systems. If they want to get
involved, they should get after the fcc and get dvs on tv.
Hugs, AJ
Recipe for happiness: Live with enthusiasm, smile for no reason, love
without conditions, act with purpose, listen with your heart, and laugh
often.
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----- Original Message -----
From: "jose" <crunch1@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 9:40 AM
Subject: [real-eyes] Re: Correspondence With Apple About Accessibility
> with all do respect to any one reading this who happends to be an N.F.B.
> member.
>
> I was so happy as I red this thred. I was holppful that the N.F.B. was
> willing to allow a company (in this case apple.) a chance to work towards
> responding to the request with out the N.F.B. taking them to cort right
> out of the gate.
>
> After reading threw this linthy thred I am sad to say I was wrong.
>
> As I see this, N.F.B. emaileds apple outlining the problem with apps that
> can't be fully used with voice over. N.F.B. also informes apple
> regarding
> Resolution
>> 2011-03, passed at this year's National Federation of the Blind
>> Convention. I found that to be varry respectful and not threatening.
>
>
>
> Then Apple responds with the steps there taking to fix this problem.
>
> Then N.F.B. comes back with an email that to me sounds varry respectful
> and
> pasitive at first.
>
> I was all for this effert tell I got to the final statement.
>
> It sounds like the N.F.B. is putting apple on notice that they had better
> bring in the N.F.B. for apple to better understand the problem and how it
> should be fix. Apple has according to this varry email from the N.F.B.
> done
> wonderful work towards making there programs usable by all.
>
> Ok, sorry for the long preambel.
>
> Heres where the N.F.B. lost my respect in this effert.
>
> Like you, we believe in the power of education and encouragement--when
> they
>> produce the desired result. However, we believe that there are some
>> instances where encouragement alone is not enough. Some things simply
>> must
>> be required if they are to be implemented. This is why Apple and the
>> National Federation of the Blind need to enter into discussions so that
>> we
>> can come to an agreement as to what extent requirements need to be
>> applied
>> to the question of accessibility and compatibility with VoiceOver.
>
>
> Thats the end of the text I am speeking of.
> DEAR N.F.B.
>
> I with as much respect as I can say this, would like to remind you that
> Apple is a Business, as such they are able to run it any way they see fit.
> While there are some things that are required. There in no way required
> to work with any group.
>
> I wonder what the next step wil be from the N.F.B. Should Apple say
> thanks
> but no thanks
>
>
>
>
> Jose Lopez, President
> Lopez Language Services, LLC
>
> "We Speak Your Language"
> Call us anytime at 888.824.3022
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Claudia" <cdelreal1973@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 12:37 PM
> Subject: [real-eyes] Correspondence With Apple About Accessibility
>
>
>> This is just a little something I thought you'd like to see how the NFB
>> is
>> working with Apple and I think it also shows that the NFB is really
>> tackling
>> issues that are relevant to what is going on in the world today.
>>
>> Everette Bacon
>> >>> "Curtis Chong" <curtischong@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> <mailto:curtischong%40earthlink.net>> 9/25/2011 10:12 AM >>>
>> Greetings:
>>
>> On September 10, 2011, I sent an email to Apple regarding Resolution
>> 2011-03, passed at this year's National Federation of the Blind
>> Convention.
>> As you may know, Resolution 2011-03 expresses disappointment with Apple
>> for
>> permitting applications to be released which contains controls that are
>> not
>> accessible to VoiceOver users and calls upon Apple to work with the
>> National
>> Federation of the Blind to develop a set of requirements for
>> accessibility.
>>
>> The key word here is "requirements." There is little doubt that Apple has
>> done an excellent job of educating and encouraging app developers to
>> incorporate accessibility features into their software. Apple is also
>> making a change, to be released with iOS 5, which allows the end user to
>> apply custom labels to user interface elements so that VoiceOver can
>> identify them. It is also evident that many app developers are responding
>> affirmatively to Apple's efforts and are voluntarily incorporating
>> accessibility features into their software. There is, however, some
>> disagreement about whether or not it is appropriate to impose
>> requirements
>> of any form which compel app developers to do the right thing. What the
>> resolution says is that Apple is clearly not shy about imposing other
>> requirements before permitting apps to be released. Why not negotiate
>> with
>> the blind to come up with a set of requirements for accessibility?
>>
>> In any case, here is the chain of correspondence, presented in
>> chronological
>> order, for your information.
>>
>> Yours sincerely,
>>
>> Curtis Chong, President
>> National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science
>>
>> From: Curtis Chong
>> Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 10:30 AM
>> To: Chris Becherer; Sarah Herrlinger
>> Subject: NFB Resolution Regarding the Lack of Accessibility Requirements
>> in
>> Apple Products
>>
>> Dear Chris and Sarah:
>>
>> On July 7, 2011, at its 71st annual convention, the National Federation
>> of
>> the Blind adopted Resolution 2011-03 (copy attached). In summary, this
>> resolution express its "frustration and deep disappointment with Apple
>> for
>> allowing the release of applications that contain icons, buttons, and
>> other
>> controls that cannot be identified by the blind user of VoiceOver,
>> thereby
>> rendering them nonvisually inaccessible."
>>
>> This is a follow up to my correspondence with the two of you earlier this
>> year in which I indicated that this issue would be considered by the
>> National Federation of the Blind at its national convention. As you see,
>> the convention did consider this issue, and did decide to pass the
>> attached
>> resolution.
>>
>> I sincerely hope that Apple will consider the points raised in the
>> attached
>> resolution and take meaningful action to address the concerns it raises.
>>
>> Thank you kindly for your attention to this matter.
>>
>> Yours sincerely,
>>
>> Curtis Chong, President
>> National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science
>>
>> Resolution 2011-03
>> Regarding the Lack of Accessibility Requirements in Apple Products
>>
>> WHEREAS, Apple has made VoiceOver, a free and powerful screen access
>> program, an integral part of many of its products, including the Apple
>> Macintosh, the iPhone, the iPod Touch, Apple TV, and the iPad; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, VoiceOver has the potential of offering unprecedented
>> nonvisual access to thousands, if not tens of thousands, of applications
>> that are today available for these platforms; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, through presentations at developer conferences, specific
>> guidance issued through programming guides, and application programming
>> interfaces that are simple to implement, Apple has made it relatively
>> easy
>> for application developers to incorporate basic accessibility features in
>> their programs for VoiceOver users; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, Apple has clearly stated its desire to provide accessible
>> products to blind people and has even received an award from the National
>> Federation of the Blind for its work in making its products accessible to
>> the blind; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, despite Apple's efforts to encourage accessibility by such
>> examples as publishing a wealth of information providing clear and
>> unambiguous guidance to application developers to help them make their
>> software accessible to VoiceOver users, too many applications are still
>> not
>> accessible to the blind because of buttons that are not properly labeled,
>> icons whose meanings cannot be understood, and images of text which
>> VoiceOver cannot interpret; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, one example of an application with controls that are not
>> accessible to the blind is the AT&T Navigator, which contains several
>> screens with buttons that VoiceOver identifies only as "Button"; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, labeling buttons, menus, checkboxes, and other controls so
>> that VoiceOver can identify them is neither a technological impossibility
>> nor an unreasonably costly effort, and even the most visually intensive
>> application should have menus, buttons, and other controls that can be
>> operated nonvisually; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, Apple is not shy about placing requirements and
>> prohibitions on application developers: for example, developers who use
>> their applications to sell products must turn over a percentage of their
>> sales to Apple, and application developers cannot display an
>> application-specific desktop; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, regrettably Apple does not require application developers
>> to make their applications accessible to users of its VoiceOver program;
>> and
>>
>> WHEREAS, accessibility to all users of Apple products should be as
>> important as the other criteria on which Apple bases its decisions to
>> accept
>> or reject applications: Now, therefore,
>>
>> BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
>> assembled this seventh day of July, 2011, in the city of Orlando,
>> Florida,
>> that this organization express its frustration and deep disappointment
>> with
>> Apple for allowing the release of applications that contain icons,
>> buttons,
>> and other controls that cannot be identified by the blind user of
>> VoiceOver,
>> thereby rendering them nonvisually inaccessible; and
>>
>> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization urge Apple, in the
>> strongest possible terms, to work with the National Federation of the
>> Blind
>> to create and enforce a set of requirements for accessibility that will,
>> at
>> a minimum, compel application developers to label buttons, menus, icons,
>> selection lists, checkboxes, and other controls so that VoiceOver users
>> can
>> identify and operate them.
>>
>> From: Sarah Herrlinger
>> Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 12:22 PM
>> To: Curtis Chong
>> Cc: Chris Becherer
>> Subject: Re: NFB Resolution Regarding the Lack of Accessibility
>> Requirements
>> in Apple Products
>>
>> Dear Curtis,
>>
>> Apologies for the delayed response -- I've been on vacation for the last
>> 2
>> weeks.
>>
>> Thank you very much for sending this on. As always, we greatly appreciate
>> the NFB's feedback and will continue to share this with both the App
>> Store
>> and the Accessibility teams.
>>
>> We'd like to reiterate some of the previous points made as well as to
>> bring
>> you up to speed on some recent additions:
>>
>> 1) The iOS SDK has the basic foundation for making apps
>> VoiceOver-compatible built directly into the source code.
>> 2) Late last year, we sent out an article to every registered iOS
>> developer on the ease and value of making apps VoiceOver compatible
>> including links to the Accessibility Programming Guide.
>> 3) For the last three Apple Worldwide Developers Conferences, we've run
>> multiple sessions and follow-up labs on making applications VoiceOver
>> compatible for both the Mac and iOS devices that have been very well
>> attended.
>> 4) Since then, our Developer Relations team has worked one on one with
>> developers to continually educate them on the importance of accessibility
>> and provide tips, documentation, links to videos, code examples and
>> examples
>> of other developers who have had great success with making their apps
>> accessible all in an effort to make it as easy as possible for them to
>> ensure their apps are compatible with VoiceOver.
>> 5) We've added a new VoiceOver feature in our upcoming release of iOS 5
>> that allows users to apply custom labels to UI elements in their favorite
>> third-party apps. This way, even if the developer has not labeled their
>> buttons in a VoiceOver-compatible way, users have the ability to do this
>> directly. This won't slow our efforts encouraging developers to build
>> compatible apps using all the strategies outlined above, but we think it
>> will be a really useful feature for VoiceOver users.
>>
>> We will continue to invest time and resources into educating our
>> developer
>> community about accessibility in general, and specifically messaging what
>> they can do to ensure their apps are compatible with VoiceOver.
>>
>> Thank you again for your continued support,
>>
>> Sarah
>>
>> From: Curtis Chong
>> Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2011 5:41 PM
>> To: Sarah Herrlinger
>> Cc: Chris Becherer
>> Subject: RE: NFB Resolution Regarding the Lack of Accessibility
>> Requirements
>> in Apple Products
>>
>> Dear Sarah:
>>
>> Thank you for your September 23, 2011 response to my email. I very much
>> appreciate your willingness to keep our lines of communication open.
>>
>> In your response, you mention some very encouraging aspects of Apple's
>> efforts to promote accessibility and VoiceOver compatibility, among them:
>>
>> 1. that the iOS SDK has the basic foundation for making apps
>> VoiceOver-compatible built directly into the source code;
>>
>> 2. that late last year, you sent out an article to every registered iOS
>> developer on the ease and value of making apps VoiceOver compatible
>> including links to the Accessibility Programming Guide;
>>
>> 3. that during the last three Apple Worldwide Developers Conferences,
>> you ran multiple sessions and follow-up labs on making applications
>> VoiceOver compatible for both the Mac and iOS devices--sessions that were
>> very well attended; and
>>
>> 4. that since then, your Developer Relations team has worked one on one
>> with developers to continually educate them on the importance of
>> accessibility and provide tips, documentation, links to videos, code
>> examples and examples of other developers who have had great success with
>> making their apps accessible--all in an effort to make it as easy as
>> possible for them to ensure their apps are compatible with VoiceOver.
>>
>> I hope that you understand that we in the National Federation of the
>> Blind
>> in Computer Science have no doubt whatsoever as to your commitment to
>> accessibility by the blind to Apple products. In this context, we (like
>> you) are particularly encouraged by the new VoiceOver feature in your
>> upcoming release of iOS 5 that will allow users to "apply custom labels
>> to
>> UI elements in their favorite third-party apps." As you say, this will
>> make
>> it possible for users to label many buttons and controls for themselves,
>> thereby alleviating some accessibility problems.
>>
>> As I have been saying all along, Apple is doing a very good job of
>> "encouraging" app developers to do the right thing. Our views diverge
>> when
>> the question of accessibility requirements is raised. If you will go back
>> to the resolution adopted by the National Federation of the Blind at its
>> 2011 Convention, the last Resolve reads:
>>
>> "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization urge Apple,
>> in the strongest possible terms, to work with the National Federation of
>> the
>> Blind to create and enforce a set of requirements for accessibility that
>> will, at a minimum, compel application developers to label buttons,
>> menus,
>> icons, selection lists, checkboxes, and other controls so that VoiceOver
>> users can identify and operate them."
>>
>> Like you, we believe in the power of education and encouragement--when
>> they
>> produce the desired result. However, we believe that there are some
>> instances where encouragement alone is not enough. Some things simply
>> must
>> be required if they are to be implemented. This is why Apple and the
>> National Federation of the Blind need to enter into discussions so that
>> we
>> can come to an agreement as to what extent requirements need to be
>> applied
>> to the question of accessibility and compatibility with VoiceOver.
>>
>> Again, thank you for keeping the lines of communication open and for the
>> encouraging news about upcoming changes in iOS 5 and VoiceOver. I hope
>> that
>> I have helped you to gain a better understanding of our perspective on
>> this
>> entire question of accessibility.
>>
>> Yours sincerely,
>>
>> Curtis Chong, President
>> National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science
>>
>> __._,_.___
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>
>
>
> Jose Lopez, President
> Lopez Language Services, LLC
>
> "We Speak Your Language"
> Call us anytime at 888.824.3022
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sarah Jevnikar" <sarah.jevnikar@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 7:36 PM
> Subject: [real-eyes] Re: Correspondence With Apple About Accessibility
>
>
>>I see what you mean, but if Apple is making VO a built-in part of their
>> software, then shouldn't all apps work with that built-in software? Just
>> as
>> all apps should work with the screen specifications of the iDevice they
>> were
>> advertised for?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>> On Behalf Of Mitchell D. Lynn
>> Sent: September 26, 2011 7:24 PM
>> To: real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [real-eyes] Re: Correspondence With Apple About Accessibility
>>
>> I agree it would be nice if apps were labeled as VO-friendly, but I fail
>> to
>> see any reason why developers should be required to make their apps
>> accessible to VO.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>> On Behalf Of Sarah Jevnikar
>> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 1:05 PM
>> To: real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [real-eyes] Re: Correspondence With Apple About Accessibility
>>
>> I agree. And developers are variable in their efforts to make their apps
>> accessible. Hopefully something from Apple will have enough teeth to
>> produce
>> results.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>> On Behalf Of Kimberly A. Morrow, PhD
>> Sent: September 26, 2011 2:03 PM
>> To: 'real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
>> Subject: [real-eyes] Re: Correspondence With Apple About Accessibility
>>
>> I really appreciated this article. If anything, the Itunes Store needs to
>> indicate whether or not an app is accessible via voice over. I cannot
>> count
>> the number of times I have purchased an app, only to discover that I
>> cannot
>> use it. This alone would go a long way.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Kimberly A. Morrow, PhD
>> Communications Specialist
>> Unity
>> Message of Hope Ministry
>> 1901 NW Blue Parkway
>> Unity Village, MO 64065
>> Toll Free: 866-421-3066
>> Local: 816-251-3588
>> M-F, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (CT)
>>
>>
>> www.unity.org
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:real-eyes-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>> On Behalf Of Claudia
>> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 12:37 PM
>> To: real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [real-eyes] Correspondence With Apple About Accessibility
>>
>> This is just a little something I thought you'd like to see how the NFB
>> is
>> working with Apple and I think it also shows that the NFB is really
>> tackling
>> issues that are relevant to what is going on in the world today.
>>
>> Everette Bacon
>> >>> "Curtis Chong" <curtischong@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> <mailto:curtischong%40earthlink.net>> 9/25/2011 10:12 AM >>>
>> Greetings:
>>
>> On September 10, 2011, I sent an email to Apple regarding Resolution
>> 2011-03, passed at this year's National Federation of the Blind
>> Convention.
>> As you may know, Resolution 2011-03 expresses disappointment with Apple
>> for
>> permitting applications to be released which contains controls that are
>> not
>> accessible to VoiceOver users and calls upon Apple to work with the
>> National
>> Federation of the Blind to develop a set of requirements for
>> accessibility.
>>
>> The key word here is "requirements." There is little doubt that Apple has
>> done an excellent job of educating and encouraging app developers to
>> incorporate accessibility features into their software. Apple is also
>> making
>> a change, to be released with iOS 5, which allows the end user to apply
>> custom labels to user interface elements so that VoiceOver can identify
>> them. It is also evident that many app developers are responding
>> affirmatively to Apple's efforts and are voluntarily incorporating
>> accessibility features into their software. There is, however, some
>> disagreement about whether or not it is appropriate to impose
>> requirements
>> of any form which compel app developers to do the right thing. What the
>> resolution says is that Apple is clearly not shy about imposing other
>> requirements before permitting apps to be released. Why not negotiate
>> with
>> the blind to come up with a set of requirements for accessibility?
>>
>> In any case, here is the chain of correspondence, presented in
>> chronological
>> order, for your information.
>>
>> Yours sincerely,
>>
>> Curtis Chong, President
>> National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science
>>
>> From: Curtis Chong
>> Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 10:30 AM
>> To: Chris Becherer; Sarah Herrlinger
>> Subject: NFB Resolution Regarding the Lack of Accessibility Requirements
>> in
>> Apple Products
>>
>> Dear Chris and Sarah:
>>
>> On July 7, 2011, at its 71st annual convention, the National Federation
>> of
>> the Blind adopted Resolution 2011-03 (copy attached). In summary, this
>> resolution express its "frustration and deep disappointment with Apple
>> for
>> allowing the release of applications that contain icons, buttons, and
>> other
>> controls that cannot be identified by the blind user of VoiceOver,
>> thereby
>> rendering them nonvisually inaccessible."
>>
>> This is a follow up to my correspondence with the two of you earlier this
>> year in which I indicated that this issue would be considered by the
>> National Federation of the Blind at its national convention. As you see,
>> the
>> convention did consider this issue, and did decide to pass the attached
>> resolution.
>>
>> I sincerely hope that Apple will consider the points raised in the
>> attached
>> resolution and take meaningful action to address the concerns it raises.
>>
>> Thank you kindly for your attention to this matter.
>>
>> Yours sincerely,
>>
>> Curtis Chong, President
>> National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science
>>
>> Resolution 2011-03
>> Regarding the Lack of Accessibility Requirements in Apple Products
>>
>> WHEREAS, Apple has made VoiceOver, a free and powerful screen access
>> program, an integral part of many of its products, including the Apple
>> Macintosh, the iPhone, the iPod Touch, Apple TV, and the iPad; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, VoiceOver has the potential of offering unprecedented nonvisual
>> access to thousands, if not tens of thousands, of applications that are
>> today available for these platforms; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, through presentations at developer conferences, specific
>> guidance
>> issued through programming guides, and application programming interfaces
>> that are simple to implement, Apple has made it relatively easy for
>> application developers to incorporate basic accessibility features in
>> their
>> programs for VoiceOver users; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, Apple has clearly stated its desire to provide accessible
>> products
>> to blind people and has even received an award from the National
>> Federation
>> of the Blind for its work in making its products accessible to the blind;
>> and
>>
>> WHEREAS, despite Apple's efforts to encourage accessibility by such
>> examples
>> as publishing a wealth of information providing clear and unambiguous
>> guidance to application developers to help them make their software
>> accessible to VoiceOver users, too many applications are still not
>> accessible to the blind because of buttons that are not properly labeled,
>> icons whose meanings cannot be understood, and images of text which
>> VoiceOver cannot interpret; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, one example of an application with controls that are not
>> accessible
>> to the blind is the AT&T Navigator, which contains several screens with
>> buttons that VoiceOver identifies only as "Button"; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, labeling buttons, menus, checkboxes, and other controls so that
>> VoiceOver can identify them is neither a technological impossibility nor
>> an
>> unreasonably costly effort, and even the most visually intensive
>> application
>> should have menus, buttons, and other controls that can be operated
>> nonvisually; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, Apple is not shy about placing requirements and prohibitions on
>> application developers: for example, developers who use their
>> applications
>> to sell products must turn over a percentage of their sales to Apple, and
>> application developers cannot display an application-specific desktop;
>> and
>>
>> WHEREAS, regrettably Apple does not require application developers to
>> make
>> their applications accessible to users of its VoiceOver program; and
>>
>> WHEREAS, accessibility to all users of Apple products should be as
>> important
>> as the other criteria on which Apple bases its decisions to accept or
>> reject
>> applications: Now, therefore,
>>
>> BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
>> assembled this seventh day of July, 2011, in the city of Orlando,
>> Florida,
>> that this organization express its frustration and deep disappointment
>> with
>> Apple for allowing the release of applications that contain icons,
>> buttons,
>> and other controls that cannot be identified by the blind user of
>> VoiceOver,
>> thereby rendering them nonvisually inaccessible; and
>>
>> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization urge Apple, in the
>> strongest
>> possible terms, to work with the National Federation of the Blind to
>> create
>> and enforce a set of requirements for accessibility that will, at a
>> minimum,
>> compel application developers to label buttons, menus, icons, selection
>> lists, checkboxes, and other controls so that VoiceOver users can
>> identify
>> and operate them.
>>
>> From: Sarah Herrlinger
>> Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 12:22 PM
>> To: Curtis Chong
>> Cc: Chris Becherer
>> Subject: Re: NFB Resolution Regarding the Lack of Accessibility
>> Requirements
>> in Apple Products
>>
>> Dear Curtis,
>>
>> Apologies for the delayed response -- I've been on vacation for the last
>> 2
>> weeks.
>>
>> Thank you very much for sending this on. As always, we greatly appreciate
>> the NFB's feedback and will continue to share this with both the App
>> Store
>> and the Accessibility teams.
>>
>> We'd like to reiterate some of the previous points made as well as to
>> bring
>> you up to speed on some recent additions:
>>
>> 1) The iOS SDK has the basic foundation for making apps
>> VoiceOver-compatible
>> built directly into the source code.
>> 2) Late last year, we sent out an article to every registered iOS
>> developer
>> on the ease and value of making apps VoiceOver compatible including links
>> to
>> the Accessibility Programming Guide.
>> 3) For the last three Apple Worldwide Developers Conferences, we've run
>> multiple sessions and follow-up labs on making applications VoiceOver
>> compatible for both the Mac and iOS devices that have been very well
>> attended.
>> 4) Since then, our Developer Relations team has worked one on one with
>> developers to continually educate them on the importance of accessibility
>> and provide tips, documentation, links to videos, code examples and
>> examples
>> of other developers who have had great success with making their apps
>> accessible all in an effort to make it as easy as possible for them to
>> ensure their apps are compatible with VoiceOver.
>> 5) We've added a new VoiceOver feature in our upcoming release of iOS 5
>> that
>> allows users to apply custom labels to UI elements in their favorite
>> third-party apps. This way, even if the developer has not labeled their
>> buttons in a VoiceOver-compatible way, users have the ability to do this
>> directly. This won't slow our efforts encouraging developers to build
>> compatible apps using all the strategies outlined above, but we think it
>> will be a really useful feature for VoiceOver users.
>>
>> We will continue to invest time and resources into educating our
>> developer
>> community about accessibility in general, and specifically messaging what
>> they can do to ensure their apps are compatible with VoiceOver.
>>
>> Thank you again for your continued support,
>>
>> Sarah
>>
>> From: Curtis Chong
>> Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2011 5:41 PM
>> To: Sarah Herrlinger
>> Cc: Chris Becherer
>> Subject: RE: NFB Resolution Regarding the Lack of Accessibility
>> Requirements
>> in Apple Products
>>
>> Dear Sarah:
>>
>> Thank you for your September 23, 2011 response to my email. I very much
>> appreciate your willingness to keep our lines of communication open.
>>
>> In your response, you mention some very encouraging aspects of Apple's
>> efforts to promote accessibility and VoiceOver compatibility, among them:
>>
>> 1. that the iOS SDK has the basic foundation for making apps
>> VoiceOver-compatible built directly into the source code;
>>
>> 2. that late last year, you sent out an article to every registered iOS
>> developer on the ease and value of making apps VoiceOver compatible
>> including links to the Accessibility Programming Guide;
>>
>> 3. that during the last three Apple Worldwide Developers Conferences, you
>> ran multiple sessions and follow-up labs on making applications VoiceOver
>> compatible for both the Mac and iOS devices--sessions that were very well
>> attended; and
>>
>> 4. that since then, your Developer Relations team has worked one on one
>> with
>> developers to continually educate them on the importance of accessibility
>> and provide tips, documentation, links to videos, code examples and
>> examples
>> of other developers who have had great success with making their apps
>> accessible--all in an effort to make it as easy as possible for them to
>> ensure their apps are compatible with VoiceOver.
>>
>> I hope that you understand that we in the National Federation of the
>> Blind
>> in Computer Science have no doubt whatsoever as to your commitment to
>> accessibility by the blind to Apple products. In this context, we (like
>> you) are particularly encouraged by the new VoiceOver feature in your
>> upcoming release of iOS 5 that will allow users to "apply custom labels
>> to
>> UI elements in their favorite third-party apps." As you say, this will
>> make
>> it possible for users to label many buttons and controls for themselves,
>> thereby alleviating some accessibility problems.
>>
>> As I have been saying all along, Apple is doing a very good job of
>> "encouraging" app developers to do the right thing. Our views diverge
>> when
>> the question of accessibility requirements is raised. If you will go back
>> to
>> the resolution adopted by the National Federation of the Blind at its
>> 2011 Convention, the last Resolve reads:
>>
>> "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization urge Apple, in the
>> strongest
>> possible terms, to work with the National Federation of the Blind to
>> create
>> and enforce a set of requirements for accessibility that will, at a
>> minimum,
>> compel application developers to label buttons, menus, icons, selection
>> lists, checkboxes, and other controls so that VoiceOver users can
>> identify
>> and operate them."
>>
>> Like you, we believe in the power of education and encouragement--when
>> they
>> produce the desired result. However, we believe that there are some
>> instances where encouragement alone is not enough. Some things simply
>> must
>> be required if they are to be implemented. This is why Apple and the
>> National Federation of the Blind need to enter into discussions so that
>> we
>> can come to an agreement as to what extent requirements need to be
>> applied
>> to the question of accessibility and compatibility with VoiceOver.
>>
>> Again, thank you for keeping the lines of communication open and for the
>> encouraging news about upcoming changes in iOS 5 and VoiceOver. I hope
>> that
>> I have helped you to gain a better understanding of our perspective on
>> this
>> entire question of accessibility.
>>
>> Yours sincerely,
>>
>> Curtis Chong, President
>> National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science
>>
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