COAT advocates for accessibility and usability of technology for people with disabilities. Enacting the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (21st CVAA) was a huge step forward and we are working to implement this new law. COAT’s overall aim is to ensure accessibility, usability, and affordability of all broadband, wireless, and Internet technologies for people with disabilities.
DOJ Shuts Down Universities' Use of Inaccessible Amazon Kindle & Other E-Book Readers
On January 13, 2010 the U.S. Department of Justice announced settlements with three universities -- Pace University in New York, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland,OH, and Reed College in Portland, OR -- to stop using the Amazon Kindle DX or other electronic book readers because they are not fully accessible to users with vision and print disabilities.
Although the Kindle DX in the universities' E-book pilot programs had the Text-to-Speech (TTS) function, the menu to navigate using this electronic communications device was not usable to blind students. The settlement allows the universities to finish the pilot programs this spring but they cannot expand them until they use fully accessible e-book readers. COAT actively supports TTS and accessible/usable menus on all devices and appliances.
COAT leading organization ACB was instrumental in bringing this case, along with NFB. Many COAT affiliates are also members of the Reading Rights Coalition (RRC) that works to ensure accessibility for people with print disabilities. Copies of settlement agreements are on the RRC website.
CNET news story, with photo of Kindle E-book reader.
Closed Caption button on remote.
it is about time the justice
it is about time the justice department stood up for accesibility as usually they are spineless wimps
It'll be an even better day
It'll be an even better day if the FCC would get off their haunches and enforce compliance of Closed Captioning for the Deaf !!