That is my view and I sincerely hope that many of us will support it and write to Apple.
Regards, Neil Barnfather Talks List Administrator Twitter @neilbarnfather TalkNav is a Nuance, Code Factory and Sendero dealer, as well as an Apple iOS, Macintosh and Android accessibility specialist. For all your accessible phone, PDA and GPS related enquiries visit www.talknav.com URL: - www.talknav.com e-mail: - serv...@talknav.com Phone: - +44 844 999 4199 On 11 Sep 2013, at 15:27, Ray Foret jr <rfore...@att.net> wrote: > This is so well written as is, that barring the personalization of it, I > think it could well stand as it now exists. This is a measure which all > blind Apple users should support. > > > Sent from my mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the blind > built-in! > Sincerely, > The Constantly Barefooted Ray > Still a very proud and happy Mac and Iphone user! > > On Sep 11, 2013, at 8:58 AM, Neil Barnfather - TalkNav <for...@talknav.com> > wrote: > >> The below should prove a concern to all Apple accessibility feature users, >> and I would urge as many of you who can do so, to please write to Apple >> yourselves to express your concern along the same lines where possible… >> (accessibil...@apple.com). >> >> For years now Apple has led the way in accessibility standards and >> application of methods in interacting with all of its product range. >> Internationally within many disability arenas Apple is celebrated as the >> defacto standard and is widely acknowledged as users preferred platform for >> persons with accessibility issues. >> >> Whether or not the App Store had an unofficial policy towards customers with >> accessibility needs or not, is unknown to me. What I am aware of is that >> where I've bought Apps which turn out not to be accessible, Apple App Store >> has always been prompt to refund the purchase immediately without question. >> >> Since Apple do not enforce accessibility standards, nor in anyway whatsoever >> offer a method of a disabled user to know whether or not an App is, or is >> not, accessible in advance of purchase, this seemed to be a most reasonable >> compromise. >> >> However, in correspondence over the past week with Apple iTunes support >> staff via e-mail in relation to an App I have purchased which is >> inaccessible, Apple's stance has been both surprising and frankly highly >> dismissive of our needs and vulnerability when using Apple's App Store. >> >> I have been point blank refused a refund upon this occasion, with staff >> suggesting that I could leave a review for the App which others could read, >> and or write to the developer. Whilst I understand that the second >> suggestion may illicit a positive response, and sometimes it does… In many >> instances developers haven't even heard of Voice Over let alone understand >> what it does and how they aught to address compliance with Apple's >> Accessibility API's. >> >> Of course, the best approach would be for Apple to make compliance with its >> Accessibility API's a requirement for all new Apps being approved to the App >> Store, indeed a range of other options would also work, such as; a discount >> on the 30% cut that Apple takes for compliant Apps, a penalty higher fee >> (35% etc) for those that do not comply and perhaps indicating with a marker >> in the App store which Apps do meet the requirements. >> >> Since Apple do none of these, despite so publicly professing to up holding >> and supporting some of the most well implemented accessibility innovation >> and support seen in the industry, it seemed like a fair compromise that >> Apple voluntarily and without complication offered a refund to customers who >> had accessibility needs where an App proved to be inaccessible. >> >> The situation now, though is that Apple is refusing in an uncompromising and >> frankly shocking way to refund such purchases, with patronising and >> unsympathetic suggestions as to how we, as blind users, go about reviewing >> Apps etc. >> >> I would ask that Apple firstly developed a robust policy in this regard, and >> secondly, reviews options as to improving the compliance uptake of >> developers within their iOS and Mac App Stores. >> >> So that I can convey your response to the ViPhone, Macvisionaries and other >> Apple Accessibility user forums promptly, I would sincerely appreciate your >> earliest feedback and response on this issue. >> >> Yours kindly. >> >> Regards, >> >> Neil Barnfather >> >> http://www.NeilBarnfather.com >> >> >> >> >> Regards, >> >> Neil Barnfather >> >> Talks List Administrator >> Twitter @neilbarnfather >> >> TalkNav is a Nuance, Code Factory and Sendero dealer, as well as an Apple >> iOS, Macintosh and Android accessibility specialist. For all your >> accessible phone, PDA and GPS related enquiries visit www.talknav.com >> >> URL: - www.talknav.com >> e-mail: - serv...@talknav.com >> Phone: - +44 844 999 4199 >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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