Actually, the telecommunications act states one model in a company's phone line needs to be accessible, when it is not an undo burden on the company to do so. As for Microsoft, Code Factory has developed an app for Windows Phone which performs all the basic functions within the phone. It cannot access any other app, but Microsoft is now within legal bounds.
David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA Email: dchitten...@gmail.com Mobile: +64 21 2288 288 Sent from my iPhone > On 27 May 2014, at 4:25, Christopher J Chaltain <chalt...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Multiple US laws related to accessibility are being discussed here. > > The American's with Disability Act is meant to prevent discrimination against > the disabled with respect to employment. Employers are required to provide > reasonable accommodations for their employees. Unless your company requires > you to use this allergy app, it would not be covered under the ADA. If your > company did require you to use an allergy app, the pressure would be more on > the company to find an accessible alternative rather than force the developer > of this particular app to make it accessible. > > The Telecommunications Act says that telecommunications devices need to be > accessible. Note that just because a device isn't accessible doesn't mean > there isn't a law that's being violated. It may take someone taking Microsoft > to court over their inaccessible cell phones before the law is enforced and > Microsoft is forced to make their product accessible. > > The Rehabilitation Act requires that any products purchased by the federal > government or with federal dollars need to be accessible. > > Note that there's a lot of overlap here. For example, if your company > requires you to carry a cell phone than it needs to be accessible. If you > work for a company or an agency that gets federal dollars than anything it > purchases, such as a cell phone, needs to be accessible. > > It isn't the case that only apps and devices being marketed to the federal > government need to be accessible. Reasonable accommodations in the ADA, the > Telecommunications Act and even the Rehabilitation Act extend beyond federal > government agencies. > > I'm not sure how many smart phones there are now running something other than > Android or IOS or Windows Phone, but there have been and may still be some > feature phones from LG, Samsung and Motorola which are accessible. > >> On 5/26/2014 6:12 AM, David Chittenden wrote: >> No, companies are not required to make all apps and / or products blind, or >> deaf blind accessible. Some companies are required to make certain apps or >> products accessible. >> >> Don't believe me? Go purchase any new Nokia Phone running Windows Phone >> Seven or Eight and try to use it. Microsoft's most up-to-date phone software >> is not accessible. Purchase any Sony, Panasonic, or any other smart phone >> that is not Android and try using it. Absolutely zero of these phones are >> blind accessible. >> >> Unless the Allergy app is being marketed to the federal government, it does >> not need to be blind or deaf blind accessible. >> >> David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA >> Email: dchitten...@gmail.com >> Mobile: +64 21 2288 288 >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On 24 May 2014, at 20:05, todd patkus <tpat...@shellworld.net> wrote: >>> >>> All: >>> >>> This disappoints me a little. Under ADA regulations, companies are legally >>> required to make their products, including apps ACCESSIBLE, not only for >>> hearing-blind, but also for DEAFBLIND! >>> >>> If I were whoever the person having this issue, I would have shown the fat >>> heavy book under my right arm, pointing these folks the proof what ADA says! >>> >>> You see I asked Brian if the allergy alert app was accessible for Braille, >>> and he said he did not know! That is the point here. That is it. >>> >>> Thank you. >>> >>> Todd >>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Vicki Howell" <vicki1...@comcast.net >>>> To: <viphone@googlegroups.com >>>> Date sent: Thu, 15 May 2014 13:32:47 -0400 >>>> Subject: RE: Weather Channel App >>>> No, Scott, you didn't do anything wrong. The Weather channel app >>> is no >>>> longer accessible for the blind, but there is an app called >>> Degrees. I >>>> think that it may cost $.99, but I think that it is very good. I >>> am trying >>>> to remember if it is $99, or $1.99. I got this app last week. >>> My husband >>>> found it and told me how good it was. So, that may be an option >>> for you and >>>> others looking for a Weather App. >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] >>> On Behalf >>>> Of Mike Arrigo >>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 1:57 PM >>>> To: viphone@googlegroups.com >>>> Subject: Re: Weather Channel App >>>> Yes, it's no longer accessible, currently the only work around is >>> to use a >>>> different app. >>>> Original message: >>>>> Hi, >>>>> Sense the update to the Weather Channel app, two or three weeks >>> ago, I >>>>> have found it to be inaccessible with VO. Have others noticed >>> this or >>>>> did something go wrong with my update? Does anyone know of any >>> work >>>> around? >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> Scott Duck -- >>>>> The following information is important for all members of the >>> viphone >>>>> list. All new members to the this list are moderated by >>> default. If >>>>> you have any questions or concerns about the running of this >>> list, or >>>>> if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please >>> contact the >>>>> owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list >>> itself. >>>>> The archives for this list can be searched at >>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ >>>>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/>. >>>>> --- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>> Google >>>>> Groups "VIPhone" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from >>> it, send >>>>> an email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com >>>>> <mailto:viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com>. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com >>>>> <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>. >>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone >>>>> <http://groups.google.com/group/viphone>. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. >>>> -- >>>> The following information is important for all members of the >>> viphone list. >>>> All new members to the this list are moderated by default. If >>> you have any >>>> questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you >>> feel that a >>>> member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or >>> moderators >>>> directly rather than posting on the list itself. The archives >>> for this list >>>> can be searched at >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/. >>>> --- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>> Google Groups >>>> "VIPhone" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>> send an >>>> email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> -- >>>> The following information is important for all members of the >>> viphone list. All new members to the this list are moderated by default. >>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >>> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners >>> or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. The >>> archives for this list can be searched at >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/. >>>> --- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>> Google Groups "VIPhone" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>> send an email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> -- >>> The following information is important for all members of the viphone list. >>> All new members to the this list are moderated by default. If you have any >>> questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a >>> member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators >>> directly rather than posting on the list itself. The archives for this list >>> can be searched at http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/. >>> --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "VIPhone" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > -- > Christopher (CJ) > Chaltain at Gmail > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the viphone list. > All new members to the this list are moderated by default. If you have any > questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a > member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators > directly rather than posting on the list itself. The archives for this list > can be searched at http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/. > --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "VIPhone" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- The following information is important for all members of the viphone list. All new members to the this list are moderated by default. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. The archives for this list can be searched at http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
