[access-uk] Re: Buying specialist technology without accessible instructions
- From: "Wendy Sharpe" <w.sharpe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:36:41 +0100
Hi Steve
I do see what you mean. I read braille, have an Optacon and scanner for
print, have tape, CD and DAISY players, so I could cope with everything. I
also have a computer for e-mails and text instructions. However, I am just
too clever by half, and a lot of people are not!
Large print would cover the vast majority of people registered blind or
partially sighted. Tape is said to be dying out, although it probably would
still cover a large section of our population. DAISY would only cover TB
library members, which at present comes to 42,000 people. Do we know how
many of us have access to computers and use them as regularly as we do?
There are many facets to this problem of providing access to all kinds of
things. We get very frustrated when we can't get what we want, but on the
other hand, how can companies, whether specialist or not, hope to provide
all formats simultaneously?
Wendy
_____
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Steve Nutt
Sent: 18 October 2007 09:51
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Buying specialist technology without accessible
instructions
Hi Jackie,
I totally agree with you here. But I can also see the other side. If you
offer something by default in an alternative format, what format do you
offer it in? If you give someone a tape, they may not have a tape recorder.
Unlikely, but I have come across it. If you give someone a CD player, they
may not have the machine to play it on. Give them a Daisy book, and again
the same applies. Give them Braille, and they may not be able to read it.
So while I fully agree with you, what alternative format do you give them by
default? And I stress by default. If I sell you a Colorino, I know you
have a computer, so I can Email you the instructions. But what would be the
point in my giving you large print by default, if I know you are totally
blind? I would ask someone what their format of choice would be and try to
comply as best I can. But the default access method worries me. If you
give it to most, but not all, blind people, then at least someone sighted
may be able to read the print in the family, as a stop gap, until they can
request that alternative format. So I favour the individual requesting the
format of choice, then hopefully, but not always admittedly, they get it.
All the best
Steve
_____
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Jackie Cairns
Sent: 18 October 2007 09:41
To: Access UK Mailing List
Subject: [access-uk] Buying specialist technology without accessible
instructions
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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