alternative formats
American Express apologize for no alternative format
Sunday/April/2008 02:03 PM Filed in: alternative
formats | Business
BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 5
April 2008 at 1204 BST.
In the programme the lack of alternative formats was addressed. This was in relation to American Express offering bank statements in PDF formats that were not coded for visually impaired people to read via their screen readers. The issue has still not been fixed and is causing difficulties for the many people who use screen readers (Blind and visually impaired people, those with reading impairments who listen to the spoke word and people with learning difficulties who may also find it easier hearing items rather than reading them.
This is unlawful under the DDA and American Express apologized to the BBC stating that they are working to fix the problem that began last December.
In the programme the lack of alternative formats was addressed. This was in relation to American Express offering bank statements in PDF formats that were not coded for visually impaired people to read via their screen readers. The issue has still not been fixed and is causing difficulties for the many people who use screen readers (Blind and visually impaired people, those with reading impairments who listen to the spoke word and people with learning difficulties who may also find it easier hearing items rather than reading them.
This is unlawful under the DDA and American Express apologized to the BBC stating that they are working to fix the problem that began last December.
Alternative formats - again
I am currently about a month into a post graduate course as a disability practitioner/consultant and trainer. Disabled students can apply for a grant/allowance that covers disability related costs which can pose a financial barrier to education.
To get the grant you have to have an assessment and confirmation that you have an impairment e.g. GP letter etc. My consultant once again confirmed that no miracle had occurred since the last two times I had this grant to study and all that remained was the assessment.
I spent quite a few hours with an understanding person trying to make sure I was applying for all the right personal assistance and equipment I would need to complete the course on an equal footing with a none disabled person. Much emphasis was placed on how I use electronic formats e.g. e-mail and web forums for communication, notes from a laptop I also hope to get, I read journals on-line and can't write much more than a few words.
Now, due to difficulties in holding books and papers (and looking down to read the things which effects my neck) I have documents I can read on a computer screen - nothing special, just word or pdf documents sent via e-mail.
My assessor wrote all this down and what happened next.....
he sent a several page report on my access needs - in print copy only.
This is typical - and the fee for this person to write that report is deducted from my grant!!
Magazine apology to visually impaired readers
Friday/February/2008 02:27 PM Filed in: Leisure
| Equality News
As a dedicated family historian researching my
ancestry, I purchase a popular magazine called 'Your
Family Tree'.
In the last issue, they accidentally printed some of their articles in a pale font on a pale background and made it difficult for vision impaired people to read or 'those with poor eyesight' as they described.
Nice to see that not only have they apologized publicly but they have made an accessible downloadable version in a pdf for people who can access the Internet.
Congratulations to the Editor for apologizing and avoiding a potential DDA claim from it's readers. Perhaps others publications could take note... I''m off to have a read.
Read what the company said by clicking here.
I posted a comment on their website and added this note in reference to their SPAM detection:
(Apart from to publish this I had to answer a maths question which many disabled people would find difficult should they have a cognitive impairment)
In the last issue, they accidentally printed some of their articles in a pale font on a pale background and made it difficult for vision impaired people to read or 'those with poor eyesight' as they described.
Nice to see that not only have they apologized publicly but they have made an accessible downloadable version in a pdf for people who can access the Internet.
Congratulations to the Editor for apologizing and avoiding a potential DDA claim from it's readers. Perhaps others publications could take note... I''m off to have a read.
Read what the company said by clicking here.
I posted a comment on their website and added this note in reference to their SPAM detection:
(Apart from to publish this I had to answer a maths question which many disabled people would find difficult should they have a cognitive impairment)
No Alternative format
Tuesday/November/2007 12:27 PM Filed in: Business
Today I enquired about my insurance. I was sent a pdf
format which was not alterable. On asking for an
alternative version I could type into, I was told
they didn't have one.
The suggestion was to reference a typed document (that I was to type) to part of the form, print, sign and send both. This made it quite difficult so I had to resort to cutting and pasting each paragraph from the pdf into a word type document.
All the formatting was lost and I spent a long time making it look readable and then printing out two lots of a rather long document and wasting yet more paper and ink.
Why people need electronic formats (just a few examples):
1) You can change the font size and type e.g. in Word if you need larger or smaller print.
2) You can change the colour and background to make reading easier.
3) You can have a text to speech program read out your document or use speech to text to write on a form.
4) It is ideal for someone who can't write and needs to type out information for a form.
5) It is ideal for someone who can't use their arms / fingers or look downwards to read a document on their screen.
I personally find looking down at paper, holding it and writing with a pen difficult to impossible.
Electronic formats should be common practise and especially in large businesses like a major insurance company.
The suggestion was to reference a typed document (that I was to type) to part of the form, print, sign and send both. This made it quite difficult so I had to resort to cutting and pasting each paragraph from the pdf into a word type document.
All the formatting was lost and I spent a long time making it look readable and then printing out two lots of a rather long document and wasting yet more paper and ink.
Why people need electronic formats (just a few examples):
1) You can change the font size and type e.g. in Word if you need larger or smaller print.
2) You can change the colour and background to make reading easier.
3) You can have a text to speech program read out your document or use speech to text to write on a form.
4) It is ideal for someone who can't write and needs to type out information for a form.
5) It is ideal for someone who can't use their arms / fingers or look downwards to read a document on their screen.
I personally find looking down at paper, holding it and writing with a pen difficult to impossible.
Electronic formats should be common practise and especially in large businesses like a major insurance company.
