Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Christina C.]

I would make sure the school is doing everything they can to help. Also, try 
contacting as many people in the company because the person responding to you 
may not be the right person. Who knows, maybe someone on the development team 
might feel compelled to investigate making their app more accessible. Apple has 
not left developers in the dark when it comes to accessibility. I don’t know 
how large or small the company is but the person responding to you is giving 
you very generic answers without any real help as if they don’t actually have 
much of a say or understanding. I could be wrong though :) It’s just a guess 
based on my perceptions.

Good luck,
Christina

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Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[englishrider91]

The way I understood things, and accessible PDF is an accessible PDF, no matter 
what you use to read it. As for the app being in aggregator for all types of 
different content in PDF format, that's a whole other can of worms entirely.


Thanks,
Ari

> On Feb 21, 2016, at 8:46 PM, Mary Otten <motte...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> The problem may well be more complicated than that. If this app is an 
> aggregator, that is it excepts all these PDFs from various producers, it 
> probably doesn't have control over what those producers put into their file, 
> that is how they construct their PDF. Also, adobes guidelines about 
> accessibility are all about windows. Max need not apply.  Adobes 
> accessibility guidance is not flexible. And Apple is not flexible. And there 
> you go.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Feb 21, 2016, at 8:28 PM, englishride...@gmail.com wrote:
>> 
>> There is absolutely no reason that either of these companies can't make 
>> accessible PDFs. Seeing as there are accessible PDFs out there, they can be 
>> made. A PDF does preserve formatting, that's the whole point of a PDF; it 
>> retains the formatting that the author put into it, regardless of the 
>> computer that it's viewed on. PDF is a perfectly fine format for these apps 
>> to you use to display their newspaper contents, it just needs to be an 
>> accessible PDF. And as we all know that accessible PDFs can be made, they 
>> really have no excuse. I believe Adobe provides guidance on making PDFs 
>> accessible to screen reader users.
>> 
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Ari 
>> 
>>> On Feb 21, 2016, at 4:42 PM, Flor Lynch <florl...@iol.ie> wrote:
>>> 
>>> My local (weekly) newspaper produces a PDF in its iOS app, but it can’t be 
>>> exported to Dropbox (or a similar organ) for transfer, as there’s no option 
>>> for that in it. I’d like to be able to try putting it through KNFBReader 
>>> OCR, but cannot, for that reason anyway.
>>>  
>>> From: Scott Berry
>>> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 6:14 PM
>>> To: Vi Phone
>>> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
>>> VoiceOver Accessibility
>>> Christin et al,
>>>  
>>> I really want to thank you for bringing this to our attention.  Here is my 
>>> response.  I am already upset with another company so this didn’t  help but 
>>> I am one to speak my mind and here is what I had to say.
>>>  
>>> Hello there,
>>>  
>>> I understand that another one of your people from the blind community has 
>>> already wrote you.  I think that you guys are very inconsiderate and I 
>>> would not review your app due to the fact that you don’t feel that 
>>> Voiceover support is important.  Why should I feel that your app is 
>>> important to my daily needs.  I don’t want any sales tactics I have heard 
>>> them all.  I  want the same support as anyone else would get.
>>> Secondly, I am a developer on IOS platforms and there is no reason you 
>>> could not make an option to at least scan those with some great accuracy in 
>>> to an rtf document.  I really feel your a lowsy company and never come 
>>> knocking on my door until you have made your app acessible to everyone.
>>>  
>>> Scott Berry
>>>  
>>>  
>>>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com> 
>>>> wrote:
>>>>  
>>>>  
>>>> Dear All:
>>>>  
>>>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, 
>>>> newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who 
>>>> is also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper 
>>>> which is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, 
>>>> trying to get around the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that 
>>>> any of the available resources is accessible.
>>>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>>>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
>>>> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
>>>> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
>>>> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
>>>> platform accessible.
>>>> Christine
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>>>  
>>>>> Fr

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Kevin Chao]

EPUB is a far better format to work with from a developer and user point,
especially when it comes to accessibility---it builds on web technologies:
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, ARIA). PDF accessibility outside of Windows Adobe
Acrobat/Reader and NVDA is is impossible (true accessible structured tags).
On Sun, Feb 21, 2016 at 8:46 PM Mary Otten <motte...@gmail.com> wrote:

> The problem may well be more complicated than that. If this app is an
> aggregator, that is it excepts all these PDFs from various producers, it
> probably doesn't have control over what those producers put into their
> file, that is how they construct their PDF. Also, adobes guidelines about
> accessibility are all about windows. Max need not apply.  Adobes
> accessibility guidance is not flexible. And Apple is not flexible. And
> there you go.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Feb 21, 2016, at 8:28 PM, englishride...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> There is absolutely no reason that either of these companies can't make
> accessible PDFs. Seeing as there are accessible PDFs out there, they can be
> made. A PDF does preserve formatting, that's the whole point of a PDF; it
> retains the formatting that the author put into it, regardless of the
> computer that it's viewed on. PDF is a perfectly fine format for these apps
> to you use to display their newspaper contents, it just needs to be an
> accessible PDF. And as we all know that accessible PDFs can be made, they
> really have no excuse. I believe Adobe provides guidance on making PDFs
> accessible to screen reader users.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Ari
>
> On Feb 21, 2016, at 4:42 PM, Flor Lynch <florl...@iol.ie> wrote:
>
> My local (weekly) newspaper produces a PDF in its iOS app, but it can’t be
> exported to Dropbox (or a similar organ) for transfer, as there’s no option
> for that in it. I’d like to be able to try putting it through KNFBReader
> OCR, but cannot, for that reason anyway.
>
> *From:* Scott Berry <sb356...@gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Friday, February 19, 2016 6:14 PM
> *To:* Vi Phone <viphone@googlegroups.com>
> *Subject:* Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding
> VoiceOver Accessibility
> Christin et al,
>
> I really want to thank you for bringing this to our attention.  Here is my
> response.  I am already upset with another company so this didn’t help but
> I am one to speak my mind and here is what I had to say.
>
> Hello there,
>
> I understand that another one of your people from the blind community has
> already wrote you.  I think that you guys are very inconsiderate and I
> would not review your app due to the fact that you don’t feel that
> Voiceover support is important.  Why should I feel that your app is
> important to my daily needs.  I don’t want any sales tactics I have heard
> them all.  I want the same support as anyone else would get.
> Secondly, I am a developer on IOS platforms and there is no reason you
> could not make an option to at least scan those with some great accuracy in
> to an rtf document.  I really feel your a lowsy company and never come
> knocking on my door until you have made your app acessible to everyone.
>
> Scott Berry
>
>
>
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
> Dear All:
>
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines,
> newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is
> also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which
> is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to
> get around the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the
> available resources is accessible.
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My
> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the
> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely
> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If
> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their
> platform accessible.
> Christine
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From: *"Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
> *Subject: **Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility*
> *Date: *February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
> *To: *Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
> *Reply-To: *issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>
> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>
> [image: Christine]
> *Christine Grassman*
>
> Feb 19, 16:16
>
> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available
> to developers, free of charge, guidelines for mak

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Mary Otten]

The problem may well be more complicated than that. If this app is an 
aggregator, that is it excepts all these PDFs from various producers, it 
probably doesn't have control over what those producers put into their file, 
that is how they construct their PDF. Also, adobes guidelines about 
accessibility are all about windows. Max need not apply.  Adobes accessibility 
guidance is not flexible. And Apple is not flexible. And there you go.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 21, 2016, at 8:28 PM, englishride...@gmail.com wrote:
> 
> There is absolutely no reason that either of these companies can't make 
> accessible PDFs. Seeing as there are accessible PDFs out there, they can be 
> made. A PDF does preserve formatting, that's the whole point of a PDF; it 
> retains the formatting that the author put into it, regardless of the 
> computer that it's viewed on. PDF is a perfectly fine format for these apps 
> to you use to display their newspaper contents, it just needs to be an 
> accessible PDF. And as we all know that accessible PDFs can be made, they 
> really have no excuse. I believe Adobe provides guidance on making PDFs 
> accessible to screen reader users.
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> Ari 
> 
>> On Feb 21, 2016, at 4:42 PM, Flor Lynch <florl...@iol.ie> wrote:
>> 
>> My local (weekly) newspaper produces a PDF in its iOS app, but it can’t be 
>> exported to Dropbox (or a similar organ) for transfer, as there’s no option 
>> for that in it. I’d like to be able to try putting it through KNFBReader 
>> OCR, but cannot, for that reason anyway.
>>  
>> From: Scott Berry
>> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 6:14 PM
>> To: Vi Phone
>> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
>> VoiceOver Accessibility
>> Christin et al,
>>  
>> I really want to thank you for bringing this to our attention.  Here is my 
>> response.  I am already upset with another company so this didn’t help but I 
>> am one to speak my mind and here is what I had to say.
>>  
>> Hello there,
>>  
>> I understand that another one of your people from the blind community has 
>> already wrote you.  I think that you guys are very inconsiderate and I would 
>> not review your app due to the fact that you don’t feel that Voiceover 
>> support is important.  Why should I feel that your app is important to my 
>> daily needs.  I don’t want any sales tactics I have heard them all.  I want 
>> the same support as anyone else would get.
>> Secondly, I am a developer on IOS platforms and there is no reason you could 
>> not make an option to at least scan those with some great accuracy in to an 
>> rtf document.  I really feel your a lowsy company and never come knocking on 
>> my door until you have made your app acessible to everyone.
>>  
>> Scott Berry
>>  
>>  
>>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com> 
>>> wrote:
>>>  
>>>  
>>> Dear All:
>>>  
>>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, 
>>> newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is 
>>> also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which 
>>> is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to 
>>> get around the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the 
>>> available resources is accessible.
>>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
>>> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
>>> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
>>> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
>>> platform accessible.
>>> Christine
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>>  
>>>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
>>>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>>>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>>>> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
>>>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>>>>  
>>>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>>>>  
>>>>
>>>> Christine Grassman
>>>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>>>> 
>>>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available 
>>>&g

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[englishrider91]

There is absolutely no reason that either of these companies can't make 
accessible PDFs. Seeing as there are accessible PDFs out there, they can be 
made. A PDF does preserve formatting, that's the whole point of a PDF; it 
retains the formatting that the author put into it, regardless of the computer 
that it's viewed on. PDF is a perfectly fine format for these apps to you use 
to display their newspaper contents, it just needs to be an accessible PDF. And 
as we all know that accessible PDFs can be made, they really have no excuse. I 
believe Adobe provides guidance on making PDFs accessible to screen reader 
users.


Thanks,
Ari 

> On Feb 21, 2016, at 4:42 PM, Flor Lynch <florl...@iol.ie> wrote:
> 
> My local (weekly) newspaper produces a PDF in its iOS app, but it can’t be 
> exported to Dropbox (or a similar organ) for transfer, as there’s no option 
> for that in it. I’d like to be able to try putting it through KNFBReader OCR, 
> but cannot, for that reason anyway.
>  
> From: Scott Berry
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 6:14 PM
> To: Vi Phone
> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
> VoiceOver Accessibility
> Christin et al,
>  
> I really want to thank you for bringing this to our attention.  Here is my 
> response.  I am already upset with another company so this didn’t help but I 
> am one to speak my mind and here is what I had to say.
>  
> Hello there,
>  
> I understand that another one of your people from the blind community has 
> already wrote you.  I think that you guys are very inconsiderate and I would 
> not review your app due to the fact that you don’t feel that Voiceover  
> support is important.  Why should I feel that your app is important to my 
> daily needs.  I don’t want any sales tactics I have heard them all.  I want 
> the same support as anyone else would get.
> Secondly, I am a developer on IOS platforms and there is no reason you could 
> not make an option to at least scan those with some great accuracy in to an 
> rtf document.  I really feel your a lowsy company and never come knocking on 
> my door until you have made your app acessible to everyone.
>  
> Scott Berry
>  
>  
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>>  
>>  
>> Dear All:
>>  
>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
>> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
>> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
>> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
>> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
>> resources is accessible.
>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
>> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
>> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
>> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
>> platform accessible.
>> Christine
>> 
>> 
>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>  
>>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
>>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>>> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
>>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>>>  
>>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Christine Grassman
>>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>>> 
>>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>>> absolutely no reason not to do this.
>>> Christine
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Angel (Help Center)
>>> Feb 19, 11:51 
>>> 
>>> Hi Christine,
>>> 
>>> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
>>> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
>>> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
>>> any time soon. I'm so very sorry  about that.
>>> 
>>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
>>> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help center 
>>> (

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Kevin Chao]

TalkBack has 1,000,000,000 - 5,000,000,000 installs:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.marvin.talkback=en
On Sun, Feb 21, 2016 at 5:14 PM Kevin Chao <kevincha...@gmail.com> wrote:

> This is a similar story to:
> http://www.applevis.com/blog/advocacy-ios-apps-opinion/accessibility-not-feature-and-developers-should-never-treat-it-such
>
> On Sun, Feb 21, 2016 at 3:04 PM Richard Turner <
> richardturne...@outlook.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Here is a little longer response with a suggestion of how to get people
>> to vote on the idea at the end.
>>
>> [image: Morgan]
>>
>> *Morgan* (Help Center)
>>
>> Feb 19, 19:34
>>
>> Hi Richard,
>>
>> Thank you for sending this in. I appreciate your candid opinion about
>> this, and I definitely understand your not wanting to us our app if we
>> don't provide voiceover support.
>>
>> As I just mentioned to Scott, another user who mentioned that you would
>> be writing in, unfortunately at this time we haven't been informed of any
>> plans to add that functionality any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
>>
>> I'd be happy to add this request to the feature request list that we
>> share with the product team.
>>
>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an
>> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help center (
>> help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.
>>
>> My team adds tags to all feature requests for specific features (for
>> customers who write in as well as any who post on our community forums),
>> and we do email them when the feature goes live.
>>
>> I would also recommend that you add this on our Feature Requests
>> <http://help.issuu.com/forums/22783268-Got-a-feature-idea-Do-share-> forum
>> so other users can vote on it and add their voice to this request.
>>
>> Thank you once again, and don't hesitate to write back if you have any
>> other comments, or visit our helpcenter at help.issuu.com.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Morgan
>>
>>
>>
>> (Sent from my iPhone 5S)
>>
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:05 AM, Eric Oyen <eric.o...@icloud.com> wrote:
>>
>> time to hit their ratings system and then shotgun it all over Facebook
>> and twitter. they cannot easily ignore that.
>>
>> -eric
>>
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:24 AM, Scott Berry wrote:
>>
>> True enough.  I just got the same message Christine got so I think they
>> have now made a canned message available so that they don’t have to work at
>> answering our emails.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:02 AM, Cristóbal <crismuno...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Short of flooding  their  app with poor ratings  in the app store and
>> reaching out via their  various social media contacts to put it out there
>> that the  accessibility support of the app and interest in making it
>> accessible is lacking, there’s probably not much that can  be done  other
>>  than to perhaps look for an alternative.
>>
>> Maybe with  enough crappy ratings and public complaints, this issue might
>> get more attention by the developers or whoever is in  charge of its design.
>>
>>
>> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com
>> <viphone@googlegroups.com>] On Behalf Of Christine Grassman
>>
>> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 7:31 AM
>>
>> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
>>
>> Subject: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding
>> VoiceOver Accessibility
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear All:
>>
>>
>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines,
>> newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is
>> also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which
>> is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to
>> get around the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the
>> available resources is accessible.
>>
>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My
>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the
>> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely
>> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If
>> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their
>> platform accessible.
>>
>> Christine
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Begin forwarded me

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Kevin Chao]

This is a similar story to:
http://www.applevis.com/blog/advocacy-ios-apps-opinion/accessibility-not-feature-and-developers-should-never-treat-it-such

On Sun, Feb 21, 2016 at 3:04 PM Richard Turner <richardturne...@outlook.com>
wrote:

>
> Here is a little longer response with a suggestion of how to get people to
> vote on the idea at the end.
>
> [image: Morgan]
>
> *Morgan* (Help Center)
>
> Feb 19, 19:34
>
> Hi Richard,
>
> Thank you for sending this in. I appreciate your candid opinion about
> this, and I definitely understand your not wanting to us our app if we
> don't provide voiceover support.
>
> As I just mentioned to Scott, another user who mentioned that you would be
> writing in, unfortunately at this time we haven't been informed of any
> plans to add that functionality any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
>
> I'd be happy to add this request to the feature request list that we share
> with the product team.
>
> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an
> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help center (
> help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.
>
> My team adds tags to all feature requests for specific features (for
> customers who write in as well as any who post on our community forums),
> and we do email them when the feature goes live.
>
> I would also recommend that you add this on our Feature Requests
> <http://help.issuu.com/forums/22783268-Got-a-feature-idea-Do-share-> forum
> so other users can vote on it and add their voice to this request.
>
> Thank you once again, and don't hesitate to write back if you have any
> other comments, or visit our helpcenter at help.issuu.com.
>
> Sincerely,
> Morgan
>
>
>
> (Sent from my iPhone 5S)
>
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:05 AM, Eric Oyen <eric.o...@icloud.com> wrote:
>
> time to hit their ratings system and then shotgun it all over Facebook and
> twitter. they cannot easily ignore that.
>
> -eric
>
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:24 AM, Scott Berry wrote:
>
> True enough.  I just got the same message Christine got so I think they
> have now made a canned message available so that they don’t have to work at
> answering our emails.
>
>
>
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:02 AM, Cristóbal <crismuno...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Short of flooding  their  app with poor ratings  in the app store and
> reaching out via their  various social media contacts to put it out there
> that the  accessibility support of the app and interest in making it
> accessible is lacking, there’s probably not much that can  be done  other
>  than to perhaps look for an alternative.
>
> Maybe with  enough crappy ratings and public complaints, this issue might
> get more attention by the developers or whoever is in  charge of its design.
>
>
> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com
> <viphone@googlegroups.com>] On Behalf Of Christine Grassman
>
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 7:31 AM
>
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
>
> Subject: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver
> Accessibility
>
>
>
> Dear All:
>
>
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines,
> newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is
> also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which
> is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to
> get around the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the
> available resources is accessible.
>
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My
> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the
> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely
> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If
> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their
> platform accessible.
>
> Christine
>
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>
> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
>
> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>
> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>
> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
>
> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>
>
> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>
>
>
> Christine Grassman
>
> Feb 19, 16:16
>
>
> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available
> to developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible.
> There's absolutely no 

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Flor Lynch]

My local (weekly) newspaper produces a PDF in its iOS app, but it can’t be 
exported to Dropbox (or a similar organ) for transfer, as there’s no option for 
that in it. I’d like to be able to try putting it through KNFBReader OCR, but 
cannot, for that reason anyway. 

From: Scott Berry 
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 6:14 PM
To: Vi Phone 
Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
Accessibility
Christin et al, 

I really want to thank you for bringing this to our attention.  Here is my 
response.  I am already upset with another company so this didn’t help but I am 
one to speak my mind and here is what I had to say.

Hello there, 

I understand that another one of your people from the blind community has 
already wrote you.  I think that you guys are very inconsiderate and I would 
not review your app due to the fact that you don’t feel that Voiceover support 
is important.  Why should I feel that your app is important to my daily needs.  
I don’t want any sales tactics I have heard them all.  I want the same support 
as anyone else would get.
Secondly, I am a developer on IOS platforms and there is no reason you could 
not make an option to at least scan those with some great accuracy in to an rtf 
document.  I really feel your a lowsy company and never come knocking on my 
door until you have made your app acessible to everyone.

Scott Berry


  On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com> 
wrote:


  Dear All: 

  Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a VoiceOver 
user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the platform. 
However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is 
nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available resources is 
accessible. 
  I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the middle, 
with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely something 
which should be available to those who use screen readers. If others agree, I 
think we should bombard them with requests to make their platform accessible. 
  Christine 
   



Begin forwarded message:

From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>

Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility

Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST

To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>

Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>


## Please do not write below this line ##

   Christine Grassman
Feb 19, 16:16 

With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes 
available to developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. 
There's absolutely no reason not to do this.
Christine

Sent from my iPhone
   
 


   Angel (Help Center)
Feb 19, 11:51 

Hi Christine,

Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual 
impairments to use screen reading technology or have a way to make our site 
accessible at this time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that 
functionality any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.

If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put 
up an announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help center 
(help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.

Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other 
questions, and we'd be happy to assist you.

Best regards,
Angel




issuu is on iOS and Android.

To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center.

   
 


   Christine Grassman
Feb 15, 22:42

I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver 
accessibility to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not 
voiceover accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find 
and read magazines. In this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information 
should be accessible to us just as to others.
There is no reason why the text of your millions of 
publications should not be accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you 
will address this as quickly as possible.
Christine Grassman

Sent from my iPhone
   
 


This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk.
[J5P6X7-GL7J]


  -- 
  The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.
   
  If 

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Eric Oyen]

that is a better response than has been seen by a couple of us so far.

also, I have had some recent experience with a software developer who not only 
wouldn't make some requested changes, but basically told me they don't have to 
or want to (in just those words). SInce their software was the only available 
package for the workplace I was going to go into, there wasn't a lot of choice. 
They did end up learning a rather expensive lesson after I found out who some 
of their other clients were. A firm, but polite, meal to those parties resulted 
in a significant change in attitude, as del as a much more accessible software 
package. I did not involve the NFB or the ACB. Either would have taken too much 
time.

anyway, sometimes you do have to use the stick instead of the carrot. I 
probably need to learn to use the carrot more often.

-eric

On Feb 21, 2016, at 4:04 PM, Richard Turner wrote:

> 
> Here is a little longer response with a suggestion of how to get people to 
> vote on the idea at the end.
> 
> 
>   
> Morgan (Help Center)
> Feb 19, 19:34
> 
> Hi Richard,
> 
> Thank you for sending this in. I appreciate your candid opinion about this, 
> and I definitely understand your not wanting to us our app if we don't 
> provide voiceover support.
> 
> As I just mentioned to Scott, another user who mentioned that you would be 
> writing in, unfortunately at this time we haven't been informed of any plans 
> to add that functionality any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
> 
> I'd be happy to add this request to the feature request list that we share 
> with the product team.
> 
> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help center 
> (help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.
> 
> My team adds tags to all feature requests for specific features (for 
> customers who write in as well as any who post on our community forums), and 
> we do email them when the feature goes live.
> 
> I would also recommend that you add this on our Feature Requests forum so 
> other users can vote on it and add their voice to this request.
> 
> Thank you once again, and don't hesitate to write back if you have any other 
> comments, or visit our helpcenter at help.issuu.com.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Morgan
> 
> 
> 
> 
> (Sent from my iPhone 5S)
> 
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:05 AM, Eric Oyen <eric.o...@icloud.com> wrote:
> 
>> time to hit their ratings system and then shotgun it all over Facebook and 
>> twitter. they cannot easily ignore that.
>> 
>> -eric
>> 
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:24 AM, Scott Berry wrote:
>> 
>>> True enough.  I just got the same message Christine got so I think they 
>>> have now made a canned message available so that they don’t have to work at 
>>> answering our emails.
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:02 AM, Cristóbal <crismuno...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Short of flooding  their  app with poor ratings  in the app store and 
>>>> reaching out via their  various social media contacts to put it out there 
>>>> that the  accessibility support of the app and interest in making it 
>>>> accessible is lacking, there’s probably not much that can  be done  other  
>>>> than to perhaps look for an alternative. 
>>>> Maybe with  enough crappy ratings and public complaints, this issue might 
>>>> get more attention by the developers or whoever is in  charge of its 
>>>> design.
>>>> 
>>>> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf 
>>>> Of Christine Grassman
>>>> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 7:31 AM
>>>> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
>>>> Subject: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
>>>> Accessibility
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Dear All:
>>>> 
>>>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, 
>>>> newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who 
>>>> is also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper 
>>>> which is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, 
>>>> trying to get around the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that 
>>>> any of the available resources is accessible. 
>>>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>>>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
>>>> middle, with my

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Richard Turner]

Here is a little longer response with a suggestion of how to get people to vote 
on the idea at the end.


Morgan (Help Center)
Feb 19, 19:34

Hi Richard,

Thank you for sending this in. I appreciate your candid opinion about this, and 
I definitely understand your not wanting to us our app if we don't provide 
voiceover support.

As I just mentioned to Scott, another user who mentioned that you would be 
writing in, unfortunately at this time we haven't been informed of any plans to 
add that functionality any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.

I'd be happy to add this request to the feature request list that we share with 
the product team.

If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help center 
(help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.

My team adds tags to all feature requests for specific features (for customers 
who write in as well as any who post on our community forums), and we do email 
them when the feature goes live.

I would also recommend that you add this on our Feature Requests forum so other 
users can vote on it and add their voice to this request.

Thank you once again, and don't hesitate to write back if you have any other 
comments, or visit our helpcenter at help.issuu.com.

Sincerely,
Morgan




(Sent from my iPhone 5S)

> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:05 AM, Eric Oyen <eric.o...@icloud.com> wrote:
> 
> time to hit their ratings system and then shotgun it all over Facebook and 
> twitter. they cannot easily ignore that.
> 
> -eric
> 
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:24 AM, Scott Berry wrote:
>> 
>> True enough.  I just got the same message Christine got so I think they have 
>> now made a canned message available so that they don’t have to work at 
>> answering our emails.
>> 
>> 
>>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:02 AM, Cristóbal <crismuno...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Short of flooding  their  app with poor ratings  in the app store and 
>>> reaching out via their  various social media contacts to put it out there 
>>> that the  accessibility support of the app and interest in making it 
>>> accessible is lacking, there’s probably not much that can  be done  other  
>>> than to perhaps look for an alternative. 
>>> Maybe with  enough crappy ratings and public complaints, this issue might 
>>> get more attention by the developers or whoever is in  charge of its design.
>>> 
>>> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf 
>>> Of Christine Grassman
>>> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 7:31 AM
>>> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
>>> Subject: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
>>> Accessibility
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Dear All:
>>> 
>>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, 
>>> newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is 
>>> also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which 
>>> is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to 
>>> get around the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the 
>>> available resources is accessible. 
>>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
>>> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
>>> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
>>> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
>>> platform accessible. 
>>> Christine 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>> 
>>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
>>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>>> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
>>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>>> 
>>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Christine Grassman
>>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>>> 
>>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>>> absolutely no reason not to do this.
>>> Christine
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Angel (Help Cen

RE: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Alan Lemly]

Christopher,

I agree with your comments. My original point was that PDF files shouldn't all 
be considered images since a variety of ways exist to create them. I'm not even 
sure that scanning documents produces the majority of PDF files since various 
formats can be used to save the resulting image if OCR isn't performed on it. I 
do agree that OCR processing can be an inexact science which introduces errors 
which is why I strive to get those providing documents to me to do so in their 
original electronic formats instead of giving me paper.

Alan Lemly

-Original Message-
From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Christopher Chaltain
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2016 11:10 AM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu 
Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

Well, I actually think we're saying the same thing. Scanning a document, no 
matter where you are in the process, is not the same thing as getting access to 
the underlying text. IMHO, using OCR to convert images into text is not the 
same thing as making a document like a PDF accessible. 
Errors in OCR can be introduced. For example, I just had to take a contract 
management certification test, and one of the classes only provided me with a 
PDF that was a scanned image. Even though the OCR was reasonably good, there 
were still errors. I don't want to miss a question on a test because I used the 
wrong acronym due to an OCR error. 
Also, using OCR on  a scanned image doesn't give you access to underlying 
document elements, such as form fields, alternate text for images, table 
mark-ups, links and so on. I definitely don't consider the OCR of a scanned 
image to be on par with a PDF created from some desktop publishing software 
where I have access to the underlying text and the associated mark up.

On 20/02/16 01:02, Alan Lemly wrote:
> I'm not sure I agree. I scan pages all the time and using OmniPage, can elect 
> to run them through OCR and then save them as editable PDFs. Granted, 
> software processing is required to do this but it's not desktop publishing 
> software. My original point was that it's not accurate to call all PDF files 
> images which can't be read by screen readers because that certainly isn't the 
> case. I believe it's fairly easy to print web pages or other program output 
> to PDF files provided you have the necessary utilities to do so and those PDF 
> files contain readable text.
>
> Alan Lemly
>
> -Original Message-
> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On 
> Behalf Of Christopher Chaltain
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:36 PM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from 
> Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility
>
> It isn't always just up to the creator of a PDF file to determine whether an 
> image is being used or the underlying text is available to Adobe. That's true 
> if the author is using desktop publishing software to create a document and 
> is saving it in a PDF format. However, if you only have a hard copy of a 
> document and you're going to scan it, which you often have to do when 
> capturing a signature, then the creator of the PDF doesn't have a choice.
>
> On 19/02/16 14:58, Alan Seemly wrote:
>> Alan,
>>
>> I'd like to correct your statement that "PDF is actually a picture of 
>> the document and no screen reader can read a picture to you." While 
>> it's true that screen readers can't read images or pictures, PDF 
>> files can most certainly be saved in either an editable or searchable 
>> format so that their text is preserved and readable by a screen 
>> reader. Not all PDF files are images but it is up to the creator of 
>> them to decide whether they contain text that can be read or searched 
>> electronically.
>>
>> Alan Lemly
>>
>> *From:*viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] *On 
>> Behalf Of *Alan Paganelli
>> *Sent:* Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
>> *To:* viphone@googlegroups.com
>> *Subject:* Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team 
>> Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility
>>
>> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who 
>> took the time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so 
>> the magazine in PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  
>> PDF is actually a picture of the document and no screen reader can 
>> read a picture to you.
>>
>> HTH
>>
>> Alan
>>
>> Sent from my iPad Air
>>
>>
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman 
>> <cgrassman1...@gmail.com <ma

Re: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Christopher Chaltain]

Well, I actually think we're saying the same thing. Scanning a document, 
no matter where you are in the process, is not the same thing as getting 
access to the underlying text. IMHO, using OCR to convert images into 
text is not the same thing as making a document like a PDF accessible. 
Errors in OCR can be introduced. For example, I just had to take a 
contract management certification test, and one of the classes only 
provided me with a PDF that was a scanned image. Even though the OCR was 
reasonably good, there were still errors. I don't want to miss a 
question on a test because I used the wrong acronym due to an OCR error. 
Also, using OCR on  a scanned image doesn't give you access to 
underlying document elements, such as form fields, alternate text for 
images, table mark-ups, links and so on. I definitely don't consider the 
OCR of a scanned image to be on par with a PDF created from some desktop 
publishing software where I have access to the underlying text and the 
associated mark up.


On 20/02/16 01:02, Alan Lemly wrote:

I'm not sure I agree. I scan pages all the time and using OmniPage, can elect 
to run them through OCR and then save them as editable PDFs. Granted, software 
processing is required to do this but it's not desktop publishing software. My 
original point was that it's not accurate to call all PDF files images which 
can't be read by screen readers because that certainly isn't the case. I 
believe it's fairly easy to print web pages or other program output to PDF 
files provided you have the necessary utilities to do so and those PDF files 
contain readable text.

Alan Lemly

-Original Message-
From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Christopher Chaltain
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:36 PM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu 
Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

It isn't always just up to the creator of a PDF file to determine whether an 
image is being used or the underlying text is available to Adobe. That's true 
if the author is using desktop publishing software to create a document and is 
saving it in a PDF format. However, if you only have a hard copy of a document 
and you're going to scan it, which you often have to do when capturing a 
signature, then the creator of the PDF doesn't have a choice.

On 19/02/16 14:58, Alan Seemly wrote:

Alan,

I'd like to correct your statement that "PDF is actually a picture of
the document and no screen reader can read a picture to you." While
it's true that screen readers can't read images or pictures, PDF files
can most certainly be saved in either an editable or searchable format
so that their text is preserved and readable by a screen reader. Not
all PDF files are images but it is up to the creator of them to decide
whether they contain text that can be read or searched electronically.

Alan Lemly

*From:*viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] *On
Behalf Of *Alan Paganelli
*Sent:* Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
*To:* viphone@googlegroups.com
*Subject:* Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding
VoiceOver Accessibility

I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who
took the time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so
the magazine in PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF
is actually a picture of the document and no screen reader can read a
picture to you.

HTH

Alan

Sent from my iPad Air


On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman
<cgrassman1...@gmail.com <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>> wrote:

 Dear All:

 Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines,
 newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son,
 who is also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school s
 newspaper which is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.
   Furthermore, trying to get around the app is nightmarish, and it
 does not appear that any of the available resources is accessible.

 I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I
 received.  My response to that unhelpful response is first, with the
 response in the middle, with my original message at the bottom. I
 think this is absolutely something which should be available to
 those who use screen readers. If others agree, I think we should
 bombard them with requests to make their platform accessible.

 Christine



 Begin forwarded message:

 *From: *"Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)"
 <feedb...@issuu.com <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>

 *Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver
accessibility*

 *Date: *February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST

 *To: *Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com
 <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>>

 *Reply-To: *i

Re: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[William Gallik]

I certainly agree with you Mr. Lemly.

– Bill and the Leader Dog Holland

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RE: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Alan Lemly]

I'm not sure I agree. I scan pages all the time and using OmniPage, can elect 
to run them through OCR and then save them as editable PDFs. Granted, software 
processing is required to do this but it's not desktop publishing software. My 
original point was that it's not accurate to call all PDF files images which 
can't be read by screen readers because that certainly isn't the case. I 
believe it's fairly easy to print web pages or other program output to PDF 
files provided you have the necessary utilities to do so and those PDF files 
contain readable text.

Alan Lemly

-Original Message-
From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Christopher Chaltain
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:36 PM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu 
Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

It isn't always just up to the creator of a PDF file to determine whether an 
image is being used or the underlying text is available to Adobe. That's true 
if the author is using desktop publishing software to create a document and is 
saving it in a PDF format. However, if you only have a hard copy of a document 
and you're going to scan it, which you often have to do when capturing a 
signature, then the creator of the PDF doesn't have a choice.

On 19/02/16 14:58, Alan Seemly wrote:
> Alan,
>
> I'd like to correct your statement that "PDF is actually a picture of 
> the document and no screen reader can read a picture to you." While 
> it's true that screen readers can't read images or pictures, PDF files 
> can most certainly be saved in either an editable or searchable format 
> so that their text is preserved and readable by a screen reader. Not 
> all PDF files are images but it is up to the creator of them to decide 
> whether they contain text that can be read or searched electronically.
>
> Alan Lemly
>
> *From:*viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] *On 
> Behalf Of *Alan Paganelli
> *Sent:* Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
> *To:* viphone@googlegroups.com
> *Subject:* Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
> VoiceOver Accessibility
>
> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who 
> took the time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so 
> the magazine in PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF 
> is actually a picture of the document and no screen reader can read a 
> picture to you.
>
> HTH
>
> Alan
>
> Sent from my iPad Air
>
>
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman 
> <cgrassman1...@gmail.com <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Dear All:
>
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines,
> newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son,
> who is also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school s
> newspaper which is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.
>   Furthermore, trying to get around the app is nightmarish, and it
> does not appear that any of the available resources is accessible.
>
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I
> received.  My response to that unhelpful response is first, with the
> response in the middle, with my original message at the bottom. I
> think this is absolutely something which should be available to
> those who use screen readers. If others agree, I think we should
> bombard them with requests to make their platform accessible.
>
> Christine
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From: *"Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)"
> <feedb...@issuu.com <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>
> *Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver 
> accessibility*
>
> *Date: *February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>
> *To: *Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com
> <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>>
>
> *Reply-To: *issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com
> <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>
> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>
> Christine
>
>   
>
> *Christine Grassman*
>
> Feb 19, 16:16
>
> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes
> available to developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps
> accessible. There's absolutely no reason not to do this.
> Christine
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> Angel
>
>   
>
> *Angel*(Help Center)
>
> Feb 19, 11:51
>
> Hi Christine,
>
> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments
> 

Re: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Christopher Chaltain]

It isn't always just up to the creator of a PDF file to determine 
whether an image is being used or the underlying text is available to 
Adobe. That's true if the author is using desktop publishing software to 
create a document and is saving it in a PDF format. However, if you only 
have a hard copy of a document and you're going to scan it, which you 
often have to do when capturing a signature, then the creator of the PDF 
doesn't have a choice.


On 19/02/16 14:58, Alan Seemly wrote:

Alan,

I'd like to correct your statement that "PDF is actually a picture of
the document and no screen reader can read a picture to you." While it's
true that screen readers can't read images or pictures, PDF files can
most certainly be saved in either an editable or searchable format so
that their text is preserved and readable by a screen reader. Not all
PDF files are images but it is up to the creator of them to decide
whether they contain text that can be read or searched electronically.

Alan Lemly

*From:*viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] *On
Behalf Of *Alan Paganelli
*Sent:* Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
*To:* viphone@googlegroups.com
*Subject:* Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding
VoiceOver Accessibility

I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who
took the time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so
the magazine in PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF
is actually a picture of the document and no screen reader can read a
picture to you.

HTH

Alan

Sent from my iPad Air


On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com
<mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>> wrote:

Dear All:

Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines,
newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son,
who is also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s
newspaper which is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.
  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is nightmarish, and it
does not appear that any of the available resources is accessible.

I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I
received.  My response to that unhelpful response is first, with the
response in the middle, with my original message at the bottom. I
think this is absolutely something which should be available to
those who use screen readers. If others agree, I think we should
bombard them with requests to make their platform accessible.

Christine



Begin forwarded message:

*From: *"Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)"
<feedb...@issuu.com <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>

*Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility*

*Date: *February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST

*To: *Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com
<mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>>

*Reply-To: *issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com
<mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>

## Please do not write below this line ##

Christine



*Christine Grassman*

Feb 19, 16:16

With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes
available to developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps
accessible. There's absolutely no reason not to do this.
Christine

Sent from my iPhone

Angel



*Angel*(Help Center)

Feb 19, 11:51

Hi Christine,

Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments
to use screen reading technology or have a way to make our site
accessible at this time. We also haven't been informed of any plans
to add that functionality any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.

If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up
an announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com
<http://blog.issuu.com/>) and on our help center (help.issuu.com
<http://help.issuu.com/>), so please do keep checking these places
for updates.

Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions,
and we'd be happy to assist you.

Best regards,
Angel



issuu is oniOS <http://bit.ly/issuuonios>andAndroid
<http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid>.

To learn more about issuu, please visit ourHelp Center
<http://help.issuu.com/hc/en-us>.

Christine



*Christine Grassman*

Feb 15, 22:42

I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver
accessibility to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is
not voiceover accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one
cannot find and read magazines. In this day and age, this is
unacceptable. Information should be accessible to us just as to others.
There is no reason why th

Re: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Christina C.]

May I suggest that you contact the person in charge of where and how the school 
newsletter is posted? It’s important that this person knwo and understand that 
the platform they are using is not accessible. This person can also contact the 
developer or make sure to find a more accessible platform for the school 
newsletter


> On Feb 19, 2016, at 2:21 PM, Bill Gallik <wfgal...@icloud.com> wrote:
> 
> It is accurate to suggest that image rendered PDF files are not accessible 
> via screen readers and it it is likewise true that an appropriately formatted 
> PDF file will be accessible via screen readers.  But this is certainly not 
> the final word.  Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software is available 
> for both Mac and Windows computers that can be configured to open those 
> dreadful image rendered PDF files and convert those pictures into ASCII text 
> formatted files.  ABBY Fine Reader comes immediately to mind - chiefly 
> because that is the software I’m currently using!
> * * * * * * * * *
> Bill Gallik
> wfgal...@icloud.com <mailto:wfgal...@icloud.com>
> 
> 
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 2:58 PM, Alan Lemly <wale...@gmail.com 
>> <mailto:wale...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> Alan,
>>  
>> I'd like to correct your statement that "PDF is actually a picture of the 
>> document and no screen reader can read a picture to you." While it's true 
>> that screen readers can't read images or pictures, PDF files can most 
>> certainly be saved in either an editable or searchable format so that their 
>> text is preserved and readable by a screen reader. Not all PDF files are 
>> images but it is up to the creator of them to decide whether they contain 
>> text that can be read or searched electronically.
>>  
>> Alan Lemly
>>  
>> From: viphone@googlegroups.com <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com> 
>> [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>] On 
>> Behalf Of Alan Paganelli
>> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
>> To: viphone@googlegroups.com <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>
>> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
>> VoiceOver Accessibility
>>  
>> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took 
>> the time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so the 
>> magazine in PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF is 
>> actually a picture of the document and no screen reader can read a picture 
>> to you.
>>  
>> HTH
>>  
>> 
>> Alan
>>  
>> Sent from my iPad Air
>> 
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
>> <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>> 
>>>  
>>> Dear All:
>>>  
>>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, 
>>> newsletters, etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is 
>>> also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which 
>>> is on the platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to 
>>> get around the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the 
>>> available resources is accessible. 
>>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
>>> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
>>> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
>>> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
>>> platform accessible. 
>>> Christine 
>>>   
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>  
>>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com 
>>> <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>>> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
>>> <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>>
>>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com 
>>> <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>>>  
>>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Christine Grassman
>>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>>> 
>>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>>

Re: Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Bill Gallik]

It is accurate to suggest that image rendered PDF files are not accessible via 
screen readers and it it is likewise true that an appropriately formatted PDF 
file will be accessible via screen readers.  But this is certainly not the 
final word.  Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software is available for both 
Mac and Windows computers that can be configured to open those dreadful image 
rendered PDF files and convert those pictures into ASCII text formatted files.  
ABBY Fine Reader comes immediately to mind - chiefly because that is the 
software I’m currently using!
* * * * * * * * *
Bill Gallik
wfgal...@icloud.com


> On Feb 19, 2016, at 2:58 PM, Alan Lemly <wale...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Alan,
>  
> I'd like to correct your statement that "PDF is actually a picture of the 
> document and no screen reader can read a picture to you." While it's true 
> that screen readers can't read images or pictures, PDF files can most 
> certainly be saved in either an editable or searchable format so that their 
> text is preserved and readable by a screen reader. Not all PDF files are 
> images but it is up to the creator of them to decide whether they contain 
> text that can be read or searched electronically.
>  
> Alan Lemly
>  
> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
> Alan Paganelli
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
> VoiceOver Accessibility
>  
> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took the 
> time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so the magazine in 
> PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF is actually a picture 
> of the document and no screen reader can read a picture to you.
>  
> HTH
>  
> 
> Alan
>  
> Sent from my iPad Air
> 
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
> <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>> wrote:
> 
>>  
>> Dear All:
>>  
>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
>> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
>> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
>> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
>> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
>> resources is accessible. 
>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
>> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
>> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
>> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
>> platform accessible. 
>> Christine 
>>   
>> 
>> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>  
>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com 
>> <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
>> <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>>
>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>>  
>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>>  
>> 
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>> 
>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>> absolutely no reason not to do this.
>> Christine
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Angel (Help Center)
>> Feb 19, 11:51 
>> 
>> Hi Christine,
>> 
>> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
>> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
>> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
>> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
>> 
>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
>> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com <http://blog.issuu.com/>) and on 
>> our help center (help.issuu.com <http://help.issuu.com/>), so please do keep 
>> checking these places for updates.
>> 
>> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and 
>> we'd be happy to assist you.
>> 
>> Best re

Readable PDF Files was RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Alan Lemly]

Alan,

 

I'd like to correct your statement that "PDF is actually a picture of the 
document and no screen reader can read a picture to you." While it's true that 
screen readers can't read images or pictures, PDF files can most certainly be 
saved in either an editable or searchable format so that their text is 
preserved and readable by a screen reader. Not all PDF files are images but it 
is up to the creator of them to decide whether they contain text that can be 
read or searched electronically.

 

Alan Lemly

 

From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Alan Paganelli
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
Accessibility

 

I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took the 
time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so the magazine in 
PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF is actually a picture of 
the document and no screen reader can read a picture to you.

 

HTH

 

Alan

 

Sent from my iPad Air


On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com> wrote:

 

Dear All:

 

Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a VoiceOver 
user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the platform. 
However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is 
nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available resources is 
accessible. 

I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the middle, 
with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely something 
which should be available to those who use screen readers. If others agree, I 
think we should bombard them with requests to make their platform accessible. 

Christine 

  





Begin forwarded message:

 

From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>

Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility

Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST

To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>

Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>

 

## Please do not write below this line ##

 



 Christine  
<http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e4209c4a7258496adf0f6fb46375d45c?size=40=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.zendesk.com%2Fimages%2Fframe_user.jpg=g>
 

Christine Grassman

Feb 19, 16:16 

With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
absolutely no reason not to do this.
Christine

Sent from my iPhone

 



 Angel <http://issuu.zendesk.com/system/photos/0001/3012/6327/unnamed.png> 

Angel (Help Center)

Feb 19, 11:51 

Hi Christine,

Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality any 
time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.

If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com <http://blog.issuu.com/> ) and on our 
help center (help.issuu.com <http://help.issuu.com/> ), so please do keep 
checking these places for updates.

Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and we'd 
be happy to assist you.

Best regards,
Angel

  _  

issuu is on iOS <http://bit.ly/issuuonios>  and Android 
<http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid> .

To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center 
<http://help.issuu.com/hc/en-us> .

 



 Christine  
<http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3c410c390e14f36e5d025d84476122de?size=40=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.zendesk.com%2Fimages%2Fframe_user.jpg=g>
 

Christine Grassman

Feb 15, 22:42

I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility to 
access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover accessible. 
Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read magazines. In 
this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be accessible to us 
just as to others.
There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not be 
accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as quickly 
as possible.
Christine Grassman

Sent from my iPhone

 

This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk 
<http://www.zendesk.com/> .

[J5P6X7-GL7J]

 

-- 
The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.
 
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 own

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Eric Oyen]

time to hit their ratings system and then shotgun it all over Facebook and 
twitter. they cannot easily ignore that.

-eric

On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:24 AM, Scott Berry wrote:

> True enough.  I just got the same message Christine got so I think they have 
> now made a canned message available so that they don’t have to work at 
> answering our emails.
> 
> 
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:02 AM, Cristóbal <crismuno...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Short of flooding  their  app with poor ratings  in the app store and 
>> reaching out via their  various social media contacts to put it out there 
>> that the  accessibility support of the app and interest in making it 
>> accessible is lacking, there’s probably not much that can  be done  other  
>> than to perhaps look for an alternative. 
>> Maybe with  enough crappy ratings and public complaints, this issue might 
>> get more attention by the developers or whoever is in  charge of its design.
>>  
>> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf 
>> Of Christine Grassman
>> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 7:31 AM
>> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
>> Subject: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
>> Accessibility
>>  
>>  
>> Dear All:
>>  
>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
>> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
>> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
>> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
>> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
>> resources is accessible. 
>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
>> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
>> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
>> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
>> platform accessible. 
>> Christine 
>>   
>> 
>> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>  
>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>>  
>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>>  
>> 
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>> 
>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>> absolutely no reason not to do this.
>> Christine
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Angel (Help Center)
>> Feb 19, 11:51 
>> 
>> Hi Christine,
>> 
>> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
>> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
>> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
>> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
>> 
>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
>> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help center 
>> (help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.
>> 
>> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and 
>> we'd be happy to assist you.
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> Angel
>> 
>> issuu is on iOS and Android.
>> 
>> To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 15, 22:42
>> 
>> I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility 
>> to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover 
>> accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read 
>> magazines. In this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be 
>> accessible to us just as to others.
>> There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not 
>> be accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as 
>> quickly as possible.
>> Christine Grassman
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>  
>> This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk.
>&g

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Kellie]

I have imported an image PDF file to K NFB reader and it was able to extract 
the text from the file. I don't know if it would work the same in this 
particular instance and if there are subscription fees I don't blame people for 
not trying.

Kellie and my lovable Lady J  
Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:53 AM, Richard Turner <richardturne...@outlook.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> That wasn't the question.
> But, getting the image out of the app to run through KNFB Reader could be 
> rather interesting.
> Plus, no telling how good the images are when it comes to OCR and, probably, 
> there is a subscription fee.  I personally wouldn't risk it since there is no 
> way to know if you would get a usable magazine even if you could get it into 
> KNFB Reader.
> The magazine source needs to offer an accessible version in text format, 
> whether through this app or some other way.
> 
> JMO,
> Richard
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] 
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 9:50 AM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
> VoiceOver Accessibility
> 
> Why can't KNFB reader handle it as an ocr?
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Richard Turner" <richardturne...@outlook.com>
> To: <viphone@googlegroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 4:59 PM
> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
> VoiceOver Accessibility
> 
> 
> 
> Voice Dream Reader cannot read image based PDF files. It does not do any OCR.
> Your text book was in text PDF. However, for sighted users, Voice Dream 
> Reader gives the option to view image PDF files in original 
> layout.
> Richard
> 
> 
> 
> (Sent from my iPhone 5S)
> 
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:29 AM, Michael Malver <mmal...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Voice Dream Reader does a great jobwith pdfs. I don’t know if it can handle 
>> pdfs based on images, but I read an entire textbook 
>> using it.
>> If VoiceDream can do it, perhaps this other app can be made to handle pdf 
>> through some sort of ocr-based solution.
>> 
>> 
>> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf 
>> Of Alan Paganelli
>> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
>> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
>> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
>> VoiceOver Accessibility
>> 
>> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took 
>> the time to explain to me that the reason why they use 
>> PDF is so the magazine in PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  
>> PDF is actually a picture of the document and no 
>> screen reader can read a picture to you.
>> 
>> HTH
>> 
>> 
>> Alan
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad Air
>> 
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Dear All:
>> 
>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
>> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My 
>> son, who is also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s 
>> newspaper which is on the platform. However, it is in an 
>> image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is nightmarish, and it 
>> does not appear that any of the available resources 
>> is accessible.
>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the 
>> response in the middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this 
>> is absolutely something which should be available to 
>> those who use screen readers. If others agree, I think we should bombard 
>> them with requests to make their platform accessible.
>> Christine
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>> 
>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>> 
>> 
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 19, 16:16
>> 
>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps 
>> accessible. There's absolutely no reason not

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Scott Berry]

I don’t know if you can save it outside the app though.


> On Feb 19, 2016, at 10:49 AM, 'RobH.' via VIPhone <viphone@googlegroups.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> Why can't KNFB reader handle it as an ocr?
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Richard Turner" <richardturne...@outlook.com>
> To: <viphone@googlegroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 4:59 PM
> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
> VoiceOver Accessibility
> 
> 
> 
> Voice Dream Reader cannot read image based PDF files. It does not do any OCR.
> Your text book was in text PDF. However, for sighted users, Voice Dream 
> Reader gives the option to view image PDF files in original 
> layout.
> Richard
> 
> 
> 
> (Sent from my iPhone 5S)
> 
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:29 AM, Michael Malver <mmal...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Voice Dream Reader does a great jobwith pdfs. I don’t know if it can handle 
>> pdfs based on images, but I read an entire textbook 
>> using it.
>> If VoiceDream can do it, perhaps this other app can be made to handle pdf 
>> through some sort of ocr-based solution.
>> 
>> 
>> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf 
>> Of Alan Paganelli
>> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
>> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
>> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
>> VoiceOver Accessibility
>> 
>> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took 
>> the time to explain to me that the reason why they use 
>> PDF is so the magazine in PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  
>> PDF is actually a picture of the document and no 
>> screen reader can read a picture to you.
>> 
>> HTH
>> 
>> 
>> Alan
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad Air
>> 
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Dear All:
>> 
>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
>> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My 
>> son, who is also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s 
>> newspaper which is on the platform. However, it is in an 
>> image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is nightmarish, and it 
>> does not appear that any of the available resources 
>> is accessible.
>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the 
>> response in the middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this 
>> is absolutely something which should be available to 
>> those who use screen readers. If others agree, I think we should bombard 
>> them with requests to make their platform accessible.
>> Christine
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>> 
>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>> 
>> 
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 19, 16:16
>> 
>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps 
>> accessible. There's absolutely no reason not to do this.
>> Christine
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Angel (Help Center)
>> Feb 19, 11:51
>> 
>> Hi Christine,
>> 
>> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
>> screen reading technology or have a way to make our 
>> site accessible at this time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to 
>> add that functionality any time soon. I'm so very 
>> sorry about that.
>> 
>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
>> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help 
>> center (help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.
>> 
>> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and 
>> we'd be happy to assist you.
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> Angel
>> 
>> issuu is on iOS and Android.
>> 
>> To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Scott Berry]

True enough.  I just got the same message Christine got so I think they have 
now made a canned message available so that they don’t have to work at 
answering our emails.


> On Feb 19, 2016, at 11:02 AM, Cristóbal <crismuno...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Short of flooding  their  app with poor ratings  in the app store and 
> reaching out via their  various social media contacts to put it out there 
> that the  accessibility support of the app and interest in making it 
> accessible is lacking, there’s probably not much that can  be done  other  
> than to perhaps look for an alternative. 
> Maybe with  enough crappy ratings and public complaints, this issue might get 
> more attention by the developers or whoever is in  charge of its design.
>  
> From: viphone@googlegroups.com <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com> 
> [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>] On Behalf 
> Of Christine Grassman
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 7:31 AM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
> Accessibility
>  
>  
> Dear All:
>  
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
> resources is accessible. 
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
> platform accessible. 
> Christine 
>   
> 
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
>  
> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com 
> <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
> <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>>
> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>  
> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>  
> 
> Christine Grassman
> Feb 19, 16:16 
> 
> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
> absolutely no reason not to do this.
> Christine
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>  
> 
> Angel (Help Center)
> Feb 19, 11:51 
> 
> Hi Christine,
> 
> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
> 
> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com <http://blog.issuu.com/>) and on our 
> help center (help.issuu.com <http://help.issuu.com/>), so please do keep 
> checking these places for updates.
> 
> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and we'd 
> be happy to assist you.
> 
> Best regards,
> Angel
> 
> issuu is on iOS <http://bit.ly/issuuonios> and Android 
> <http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid>.
> 
> To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center 
> <http://help.issuu.com/hc/en-us>.
> 
>  
> 
> Christine Grassman
> Feb 15, 22:42
> 
> I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility 
> to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover 
> accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read 
> magazines. In this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be 
> accessible to us just as to others.
> There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not 
> be accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as 
> quickly as possible.
> Christine Grassman
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>  
> This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk 
> <http://www.zendesk.com/>.
> [J5P6X7-GL7J]
>  
> -- 
> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.
>  
> If you have a

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Scott Berry]

That might be an option we could ask Winston for I think that would be a great 
option.  Ocr would be a great deal for pdf’s since they can be a handul some 
times.


> On Feb 19, 2016, at 9:59 AM, Richard Turner <richardturne...@outlook.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> 
> Voice Dream Reader cannot read image based PDF files. It does not do any OCR.
> Your text book was in text PDF. However, for sighted users, Voice Dream 
> Reader gives the option to view image PDF files in original layout.
> Richard
> 
> 
> 
> (Sent from my iPhone 5S)
> 
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:29 AM, Michael Malver <mmal...@gmail.com 
> <mailto:mmal...@gmail.com>> wrote:
> 
>> Voice Dream Reader does a great jobwith pdfs. I don’t know if it can handle 
>> pdfs based on images, but I read an entire textbook using it.
>> If VoiceDream can do it, perhaps this other app can be made to handle pdf 
>> through some sort of ocr-based solution.
>>  
>>  
>> From: viphone@googlegroups.com 
>> <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>[mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com 
>> <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>] On Behalf Of Alan Paganelli
>> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
>> To: viphone@googlegroups.com <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>
>> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
>> VoiceOver Accessibility
>>  
>> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took 
>> the time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so the 
>> magazine in PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF is 
>> actually a picture of the document and no screen reader can read a picture 
>> to you.
>>  
>> HTH
>>  
>> 
>> Alan
>>  
>> Sent from my iPad Air
>> 
>> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
>> <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>> 
>>  
>> Dear All:
>>  
>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
>> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
>> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
>> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
>> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
>> resources is accessible. 
>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
>> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
>> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
>> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
>> platform accessible. 
>> Christine 
>>   
>> 
>> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>  
>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com 
>> <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
>> <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>>
>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>>  
>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>>  
>> 
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>> 
>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>> absolutely no reason not to do this.
>> Christine
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Angel (Help Center)
>> Feb 19, 11:51 
>> 
>> Hi Christine,
>> 
>> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
>> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
>> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
>> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
>> 
>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
>> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com <http://blog.issuu.com/>) and on 
>> our help center (help.issuu.com <http://help.issuu.com/>), so please do keep 
>> checking these places for updates.
>> 
>> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and 
>> we'd be happy to assist you.
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> Angel
>> 
>> issuu is on iOS &l

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Scott Berry]

Alan,

True enough but there should be alternatives one would think for these.


> On Feb 19, 2016, at 9:18 AM, Alan Paganelli  
> wrote:
> 
> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took the 
> time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so the magazine in 
> PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF is actually a picture 
> of the document and no screen reader can read a picture to you.
> 
> HTH
> 
> 
> Alan
> 
> Sent from my iPad Air
> 
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman  > wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Dear All:
>> 
>> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
>> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
>> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
>> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
>> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
>> resources is accessible. 
>> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
>> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
>> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
>> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
>> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
>> platform accessible. 
>> Christine 
>>   
>> 
>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>> 
>>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" >> >
>>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>>> To: Christine Grassman >> >
>>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team >> >
>>> 
>>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Christine Grassman
>>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>>> 
>>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>>> absolutely no reason not to do this.
>>> Christine
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Angel (Help Center)
>>> Feb 19, 11:51 
>>> 
>>> Hi Christine,
>>> 
>>> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
>>> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
>>> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
>>> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
>>> 
>>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
>>> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com ) and on 
>>> our help center (help.issuu.com ), so please do 
>>> keep checking these places for updates.
>>> 
>>> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and 
>>> we'd be happy to assist you.
>>> 
>>> Best regards,
>>> Angel
>>> 
>>> issuu is on iOS  and Android 
>>> .
>>> 
>>> To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center 
>>> .
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Christine Grassman
>>> Feb 15, 22:42
>>> 
>>> I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility 
>>> to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover 
>>> accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read 
>>> magazines. In this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be 
>>> accessible to us just as to others.
>>> There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not 
>>> be accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as 
>>> quickly as possible.
>>> Christine Grassman
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>> 
>>> This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk 
>>> .
>>> [J5P6X7-GL7J]
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.
>>  
>> 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.
>>  
>> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - 
>> you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com 
>> 
>>  
>> 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 

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Scott Berry]

Hi Richard,

Bookshare would not make this company stand up and take notice.  That’s what 
Christine wants there is no reason that they couldn’t put a routine in their 
program to even scan the pdf with great accuracy and make the app put it in to 
an rtf format for example.


> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:39 AM, Richard Turner <richardturne...@outlook.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> You may also want to contact some of the magazines that are on that platform 
> and ask them to put pressure on them to make the publications accessible.
> Or, provide them in another accessible format, like through Bookshare?
>  
> Richard
>  
>  
> From: viphone@googlegroups.com <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com> 
> [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>] On Behalf 
> Of Christine Grassman
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 7:31 AM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
> Accessibility
>  
>  
> Dear All:
>  
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
> resources is accessible. 
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
> platform accessible. 
> Christine 
>   
> 
> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>  
>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com 
>> <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
>> <mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com>>
>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com>>
>>  
>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>>  
>> 
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>> 
>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>> absolutely no reason not to do this.
>> Christine
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Angel (Help Center)
>> Feb 19, 11:51 
>> 
>> Hi Christine,
>> 
>> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
>> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
>> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
>> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
>> 
>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
>> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com <http://blog.issuu.com/>) and on 
>> our help center (help.issuu.com <http://help.issuu.com/>), so please do keep 
>> checking these places for updates.
>> 
>> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and 
>> we'd be happy to assist you.
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> Angel
>> 
>> issuu is on iOS <http://bit.ly/issuuonios> and Android 
>> <http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid>.
>> 
>> To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center 
>> <http://help.issuu.com/hc/en-us>.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 15, 22:42
>> 
>> I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility 
>> to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover 
>> accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read 
>> magazines. In this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be 
>> accessible to us just as to others.
>> There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not 
>> be accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as 
>> quickly as possible.
>> Christine Grassman
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>  
>> This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk 
>> <http://www.zendes

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Scott Berry]

Christin et al,

I really want to thank you for bringing this to our attention.  Here is my 
response.  I am already upset with another company so this didn’t help but I am 
one to speak my mind and here is what I had to say.

Hello there,

I understand that another one of your people from the blind community has 
already wrote you.  I think that you guys are very inconsiderate and I would 
not review your app due to the fact that you don’t feel that Voiceover support 
is important.  Why should I feel that your app is important to my daily needs.  
I don’t want any sales tactics I have heard them all.  I want the same support 
as anyone else would get.
Secondly, I am a developer on IOS platforms and there is no reason you 
could not make an option to at least scan those with some great accuracy in to 
an rtf document.  I really feel your a lowsy company and never come knocking on 
my door until you have made your app acessible to everyone.

Scott Berry


> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:31 AM, Christine Grassman  
> wrote:
> 
> 
> Dear All:
> 
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
> resources is accessible. 
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
> platform accessible. 
> Christine 
>   
> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" > >
>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>> To: Christine Grassman > >
>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team >
>> 
>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>> 
>>  
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>> 
>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>> absolutely no reason not to do this.
>> Christine
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> 
>>  
>> Angel (Help Center)
>> Feb 19, 11:51 
>> 
>> Hi Christine,
>> 
>> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
>> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
>> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
>> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
>> 
>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
>> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com ) and on 
>> our help center (help.issuu.com ), so please do keep 
>> checking these places for updates.
>> 
>> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and 
>> we'd be happy to assist you.
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> Angel
>> 
>> issuu is on iOS  and Android 
>> .
>> 
>> To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center 
>> .
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>  
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 15, 22:42
>> 
>> I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility 
>> to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover 
>> accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read 
>> magazines. In this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be 
>> accessible to us just as to others.
>> There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not 
>> be accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as 
>> quickly as possible.
>> Christine Grassman
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> 
>> This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk 
>> .
>> [J5P6X7-GL7J]
> 
> 
> -- 
> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.
>  
> 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.
>  
> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - 
> you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com
>  
> The archives for this list can be searched at:
> 

RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Cristóbal]

Short of flooding  their  app with poor ratings  in the app store and reaching 
out via their  various social media contacts to put it out there that the  
accessibility support of the app and interest in making it accessible is 
lacking, there’s probably not much that can  be done  other  than to perhaps 
look for an alternative. 

Maybe with  enough crappy ratings and public complaints, this issue might get 
more attention by the developers or whoever is in  charge of its design.

 

From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Christine Grassman
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 7:31 AM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
Accessibility

 

 

Dear All:

 

Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a VoiceOver 
user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the platform. 
However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is 
nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available resources is 
accessible. 

I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the middle, 
with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely something 
which should be available to those who use screen readers. If others agree, I 
think we should bombard them with requests to make their platform accessible. 

Christine 

  





Begin forwarded message:

 

From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>

Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility

Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST

To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>

Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>

 

## Please do not write below this line ##

 



 Christine  
<http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e4209c4a7258496adf0f6fb46375d45c?size=40=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.zendesk.com%2Fimages%2Fframe_user.jpg=g>
 

Christine Grassman

Feb 19, 16:16 

With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
absolutely no reason not to do this.
Christine

Sent from my iPhone

 



 Angel <http://issuu.zendesk.com/system/photos/0001/3012/6327/unnamed.png> 

Angel (Help Center)

Feb 19, 11:51 

Hi Christine,

Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality any 
time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.

If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com <http://blog.issuu.com/> ) and on our 
help center (help.issuu.com <http://help.issuu.com/> ), so please do keep 
checking these places for updates.

Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and we'd 
be happy to assist you.

Best regards,
Angel

  _  

issuu is on iOS <http://bit.ly/issuuonios>  and Android 
<http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid> .

To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center 
<http://help.issuu.com/hc/en-us> .

 



 Christine  
<http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3c410c390e14f36e5d025d84476122de?size=40=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.zendesk.com%2Fimages%2Fframe_user.jpg=g>
 

Christine Grassman

Feb 15, 22:42

I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility to 
access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover accessible. 
Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read magazines. In 
this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be accessible to us 
just as to others.
There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not be 
accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as quickly 
as possible.
Christine Grassman

Sent from my iPhone

 

This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk 
<http://www.zendesk.com/> .

[J5P6X7-GL7J]

 

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The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.
 
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.
 
Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - you 
can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com
 
The archives for this list can be searched at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/
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To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an 

RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Cristóbal]

Short of flooding  their  app with poor ratings  in the app store and reaching 
out via their  various social media contacts to put it out there that the  
accessibility support of the app and interest in making it accessible is 
lacking, there’s probably not much that can  be done  other  than to perhaps 
look for an alternative. 

Maybe with  enough crappy ratings and public complaints, this issue might get 
more attention by the developers or whoever is in  charge of its design.

 

From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Christine Grassman
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 7:31 AM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
Accessibility

 

 

Dear All:

 

Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a VoiceOver 
user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the platform. 
However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is 
nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available resources is 
accessible. 

I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the middle, 
with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely something 
which should be available to those who use screen readers. If others agree, I 
think we should bombard them with requests to make their platform accessible. 

Christine 

  





Begin forwarded message:

 

From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>

Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility

Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST

To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>

Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>

 

## Please do not write below this line ##

 



 Christine  
<http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e4209c4a7258496adf0f6fb46375d45c?size=40=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.zendesk.com%2Fimages%2Fframe_user.jpg=g>
 

Christine Grassman

Feb 19, 16:16 

With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
absolutely no reason not to do this.
Christine

Sent from my iPhone

 



 Angel <http://issuu.zendesk.com/system/photos/0001/3012/6327/unnamed.png> 

Angel (Help Center)

Feb 19, 11:51 

Hi Christine,

Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality any 
time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.

If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com <http://blog.issuu.com/> ) and on our 
help center (help.issuu.com <http://help.issuu.com/> ), so please do keep 
checking these places for updates.

Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and we'd 
be happy to assist you.

Best regards,
Angel

  _  

issuu is on iOS <http://bit.ly/issuuonios>  and Android 
<http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid> .

To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center 
<http://help.issuu.com/hc/en-us> .

 



 Christine  
<http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3c410c390e14f36e5d025d84476122de?size=40=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.zendesk.com%2Fimages%2Fframe_user.jpg=g>
 

Christine Grassman

Feb 15, 22:42

I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility to 
access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover accessible. 
Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read magazines. In 
this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be accessible to us 
just as to others.
There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not be 
accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as quickly 
as possible.
Christine Grassman

Sent from my iPhone

 

This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk 
<http://www.zendesk.com/> .

[J5P6X7-GL7J]

 

-- 
The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.
 
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.
 
Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - you 
can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com
 
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 

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Eric Oyen]

here is a copy of a letter that I propose sending to this company. Might I also 
suggest hitting up their ratings area on the app store and posting a 0 star 
rating with a list of complaints. the more that show up there, the greater 
their incentive to change their attitude (and development cycle). Also, for 
anyone using the Android version of this app, doing the same on the android 
store should also have a similar impact. SOmeone could also start a change.org 
petition. The more attention that is brought to bear on this, the more likely 
it is that they will be forced to deal with this..

here is the letter:

***
Gentlemen,
I recently read a response you sent another user about accessibility (or the 
lack of it) in your application platform. I would also like to be able to use 
your platform, but find that none of the controls or options are accessible. 
Considering that apple published (free of charge mind you) their API on how to 
interface with their screen reader, there is no excuse for your lack of 
accessibility. In fact, your statement: "
> 
> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
> any time soon."

I must point out that your statement above is a slap in the face of any blind 
user who may have to depend on your application to read specific publications. 
Also, as you do business in the US and contract with public institutions 
(schools, colleges, etc.), you are required to abide by the terms of the US 
AMericans with Disabilities act (as amended 1996). I am only pointing this out 
to you to bring to your attention that someone else might decide your wallet 
would make a tempting target. This is not a threat, this is advice you really 
should heed. Now, the way I see it, you don't have any choice. THere is already 
a push on to get other blind users to write in and hit you u up on this issue. 
Considering the number of blindness related blogs, email lists and social pages 
(on Facebook and other social media), this means you might be forced to deal 
with this sooner (rather than later).

FYI, data regarding accessibility on iOS is available here: 
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/iPhoneAccessibility/Making_Application_Accessible/Making_Application_Accessible.html

please do not do me the disservice of sending a response like the one quoted 
above. Might I suggest that you change your plans now, while you still can. 
Considering the number of blind iPhone users (at last count, somewhere north of 
6 million or so), I would hate for you to have to drop everything to start 
dealing with 6 million angry blind people. so, your  direction is now clear. 
take the steps (now) to make your product accessible.

thank you,

Eric Oyen
***


 
On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:31 AM, Christine Grassman wrote:

> 
> Dear All:
> 
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
> resources is accessible. 
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
> platform accessible. 
> Christine 
>   
> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" 
>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>> To: Christine Grassman 
>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team 
>> 
>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>> 
>>  
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>> 
>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>> absolutely no reason not to do this.
>> Christine
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> 
>>  
>> Angel (Help Center)
>> Feb 19, 11:51 
>> 
>> Hi Christine,
>> 
>> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
>> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
>> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
>> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
>> 
>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
>> announcement on our blog 

RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Richard Turner]

That wasn't the question.
But, getting the image out of the app to run through KNFB Reader could be 
rather interesting.
Plus, no telling how good the images are when it comes to OCR and, probably, 
there is a subscription fee.  I personally wouldn't risk it since there is no 
way to know if you would get a usable magazine even if you could get it into 
KNFB Reader.
The magazine source needs to offer an accessible version in text format, 
whether through this app or some other way.

JMO,
Richard


-Original Message-
From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] 
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 9:50 AM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
Accessibility

Why can't KNFB reader handle it as an ocr?
- Original Message - 
From: "Richard Turner" <richardturne...@outlook.com>
To: <viphone@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
Accessibility



Voice Dream Reader cannot read image based PDF files. It does not do any OCR.
Your text book was in text PDF. However, for sighted users, Voice Dream Reader 
gives the option to view image PDF files in original 
layout.
Richard



(Sent from my iPhone 5S)

> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:29 AM, Michael Malver <mmal...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Voice Dream Reader does a great jobwith pdfs. I don’t know if it can handle 
> pdfs based on images, but I read an entire textbook 
> using it.
> If VoiceDream can do it, perhaps this other app can be made to handle pdf 
> through some sort of ocr-based solution.
>
>
> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
> Alan Paganelli
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
> VoiceOver Accessibility
>
> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took the 
> time to explain to me that the reason why they use 
> PDF is so the magazine in PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  
> PDF is actually a picture of the document and no 
> screen reader can read a picture to you.
>
> HTH
>
>
> Alan
>
> Sent from my iPad Air
>
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com> 
> wrote:
>
>
> Dear All:
>
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My 
> son, who is also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s 
> newspaper which is on the platform. However, it is in an 
> image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is nightmarish, and it 
> does not appear that any of the available resources 
> is accessible.
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the 
> response in the middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this 
> is absolutely something which should be available to 
> those who use screen readers. If others agree, I think we should bombard them 
> with requests to make their platform accessible.
> Christine
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>
> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>
>
> Christine Grassman
> Feb 19, 16:16
>
> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps 
> accessible. There's absolutely no reason not to do this.
> Christine
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
> Angel (Help Center)
> Feb 19, 11:51
>
> Hi Christine,
>
> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
> screen reading technology or have a way to make our 
> site accessible at this time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to 
> add that functionality any time soon. I'm so very 
> sorry about that.
>
> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help 
> center (help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.
>
> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and we'd 
> be happy to assist you.
>
> Best regards,
> Angel
>
> issuu is on iOS and Android.
>
> To learn more about issuu, ple

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

['RobH.' via VIPhone]

Why can't KNFB reader handle it as an ocr?
- Original Message - 
From: "Richard Turner" <richardturne...@outlook.com>
To: <viphone@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
Accessibility



Voice Dream Reader cannot read image based PDF files. It does not do any OCR.
Your text book was in text PDF. However, for sighted users, Voice Dream Reader 
gives the option to view image PDF files in original 
layout.
Richard



(Sent from my iPhone 5S)

> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:29 AM, Michael Malver <mmal...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Voice Dream Reader does a great jobwith pdfs. I don’t know if it can handle 
> pdfs based on images, but I read an entire textbook 
> using it.
> If VoiceDream can do it, perhaps this other app can be made to handle pdf 
> through some sort of ocr-based solution.
>
>
> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
> Alan Paganelli
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
> VoiceOver Accessibility
>
> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took the 
> time to explain to me that the reason why they use 
> PDF is so the magazine in PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  
> PDF is actually a picture of the document and no 
> screen reader can read a picture to you.
>
> HTH
>
>
> Alan
>
> Sent from my iPad Air
>
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com> 
> wrote:
>
>
> Dear All:
>
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My 
> son, who is also a VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s 
> newspaper which is on the platform. However, it is in an 
> image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is nightmarish, and it 
> does not appear that any of the available resources 
> is accessible.
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the 
> response in the middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this 
> is absolutely something which should be available to 
> those who use screen readers. If others agree, I think we should bombard them 
> with requests to make their platform accessible.
> Christine
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>
> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>
>
> Christine Grassman
> Feb 19, 16:16
>
> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps 
> accessible. There's absolutely no reason not to do this.
> Christine
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
> Angel (Help Center)
> Feb 19, 11:51
>
> Hi Christine,
>
> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
> screen reading technology or have a way to make our 
> site accessible at this time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to 
> add that functionality any time soon. I'm so very 
> sorry about that.
>
> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help 
> center (help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.
>
> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and we'd 
> be happy to assist you.
>
> Best regards,
> Angel
>
> issuu is on iOS and Android.
>
> To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center.
>
>
>
> Christine Grassman
> Feb 15, 22:42
>
> I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility 
> to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is 
> not voiceover accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one cannot 
> find and read magazines. In this day and age, this is 
> unacceptable. Information should be accessible to us just as to others.
> There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not 
> be accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you 
> will address this as quickly as possible.
> Christine Grassman
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
> This email is a service from Help Center. Delivere

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Richard Turner]

Voice Dream Reader cannot read image based PDF files. It does not do any OCR.
Your text book was in text PDF. However, for sighted users, Voice Dream Reader 
gives the option to view image PDF files in original layout.
Richard



(Sent from my iPhone 5S)

> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:29 AM, Michael Malver <mmal...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Voice Dream Reader does a great jobwith pdfs. I don’t know if it can handle 
> pdfs based on images, but I read an entire textbook using it.
> If VoiceDream can do it, perhaps this other app can be made to handle pdf 
> through some sort of ocr-based solution.
>  
>  
> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
> Alan Paganelli
> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding 
> VoiceOver Accessibility
>  
> I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took the 
> time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so the magazine in 
> PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF is actually a picture 
> of the document and no screen reader can read a picture to you.
>  
> HTH
>  
> 
> Alan
>  
> Sent from my iPad Air
> 
> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com> 
> wrote:
> 
>  
> Dear All:
>  
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
> resources is accessible. 
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
> platform accessible. 
> Christine 
>   
> 
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
>  
> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com>
> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
> To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com>
> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com>
>  
> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>  
> 
> Christine Grassman
> Feb 19, 16:16 
> 
> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
> absolutely no reason not to do this.
> Christine
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>  
> 
> Angel (Help Center)
> Feb 19, 11:51 
> 
> Hi Christine,
> 
> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
> 
> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help center 
> (help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.
> 
> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and we'd 
> be happy to assist you.
> 
> Best regards,
> Angel
> 
> issuu is on iOS and Android.
> 
> To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center.
> 
>  
> 
> Christine Grassman
> Feb 15, 22:42
> 
> I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility 
> to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover 
> accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read 
> magazines. In this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be 
> accessible to us just as to others.
> There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not 
> be accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as 
> quickly as possible.
> Christine Grassman
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>  
> This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk.
> [J5P6X7-GL7J]
>  
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> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.
>  
> 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 

RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Michael Malver]

Voice Dream Reader does a great jobwith pdfs. I don’t know if it can handle 
pdfs based on images, but I read an entire textbook using it.

If VoiceDream can do it, perhaps this other app can be made to handle pdf 
through some sort of ocr-based solution.

 

 

From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Alan Paganelli
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 10:18 AM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
Accessibility

 

I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took the 
time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so the magazine in 
PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF is actually a picture of 
the document and no screen reader can read a picture to you.

 

HTH

 

Alan

 

Sent from my iPad Air


On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
<mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com> > wrote:

 

Dear All:

 

Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a VoiceOver 
user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the platform. 
However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is 
nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available resources is 
accessible. 

I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the middle, 
with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely something 
which should be available to those who use screen readers. If others agree, I 
think we should bombard them with requests to make their platform accessible. 

Christine 

  





Begin forwarded message:

 

From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com 
<mailto:feedb...@issuu.com> >

Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility

Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST

To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
<mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com> >

Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com> >

 

## Please do not write below this line ##

 



  
<http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/e4209c4a7258496adf0f6fb46375d45c?size=40=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.zendesk.com%2Fimages%2Fframe_user.jpg=g>
 

Christine Grassman

Feb 19, 16:16 

With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
absolutely no reason not to do this.
Christine

Sent from my iPhone

 



  <http://issuu.zendesk.com/system/photos/0001/3012/6327/unnamed.png> 

Angel (Help Center)

Feb 19, 11:51 

Hi Christine,

Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality any 
time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.

If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com <http://blog.issuu.com/> ) and on our 
help center (help.issuu.com <http://help.issuu.com/> ), so please do keep 
checking these places for updates.

Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and we'd 
be happy to assist you.

Best regards,
Angel

  _  

issuu is on iOS <http://bit.ly/issuuonios>  and Android 
<http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid> .

To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center 
<http://help.issuu.com/hc/en-us> .

 



  
<http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3c410c390e14f36e5d025d84476122de?size=40=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.zendesk.com%2Fimages%2Fframe_user.jpg=g>
 

Christine Grassman

Feb 15, 22:42

I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility to 
access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover accessible. 
Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read magazines. In 
this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be accessible to us 
just as to others.
There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not be 
accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as quickly 
as possible.
Christine Grassman

Sent from my iPhone

 

This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk 
<http://www.zendesk.com/> .

[J5P6X7-GL7J]

 

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The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.
 
If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you 
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moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself.
 
Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - y

Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Alan Paganelli]

I went through this with iPhone Life.  They were very nice folks who took the 
time to explain to me that the reason why they use PDF is so the magazine in 
PDF format looks exactly like the print magazine.  PDF is actually a picture of 
the document and no screen reader can read a picture to you.

HTH


Alan

Sent from my iPad Air

> On Feb 19, 2016, at 7:31 AM, Christine Grassman  
> wrote:
> 
> 
> Dear All:
> 
> Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
> etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a 
> VoiceOver user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the 
> platform. However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around 
> the app is nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available 
> resources is accessible. 
> I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
> response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the 
> middle, with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely 
> something which should be available to those who use screen readers. If 
> others agree, I think we should bombard them with requests to make their 
> platform accessible. 
> Christine 
>   
> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" 
>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
>> To: Christine Grassman 
>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team 
>> 
>> ## Please do not write below this line ##
>> 
>>  
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 19, 16:16 
>> 
>> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
>> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
>> absolutely no reason not to do this.
>> Christine
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> 
>>  
>> Angel (Help Center)
>> Feb 19, 11:51 
>> 
>> Hi Christine,
>> 
>> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
>> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
>> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
>> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
>> 
>> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
>> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com) and on our help center 
>> (help.issuu.com), so please do keep checking these places for updates.
>> 
>> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and 
>> we'd be happy to assist you.
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> Angel
>> 
>> issuu is on iOS and Android.
>> 
>> To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>  
>> Christine Grassman
>> Feb 15, 22:42
>> 
>> I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility 
>> to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover 
>> accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read 
>> magazines. In this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be 
>> accessible to us just as to others.
>> There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not 
>> be accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as 
>> quickly as possible.
>> Christine Grassman
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> 
>> This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk.
>> [J5P6X7-GL7J]
> 
> -- 
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>  
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> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or 
> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself.
>  
> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - 
> you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com
>  
> The archives for this list can be searched at:
> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/
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can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com

The archives for this list can be searched at:

RE: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Richard Turner]

You may also want to contact some of the magazines that are on that platform 
and ask them to put pressure on them to make the publications accessible.

Or, provide them in another accessible format, like through Bookshare?

 

Richard

 

 

From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Christine Grassman
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2016 7:31 AM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver 
Accessibility

 

 

Dear All:

 

Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a VoiceOver 
user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the platform. 
However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is 
nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available resources is 
accessible. 

I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the middle, 
with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely something 
which should be available to those who use screen readers. If others agree, I 
think we should bombard them with requests to make their platform accessible. 

Christine 

  





Begin forwarded message:

 

From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" <feedb...@issuu.com 
<mailto:feedb...@issuu.com> >

Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility

Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST

To: Christine Grassman <cgrassman1...@gmail.com 
<mailto:cgrassman1...@gmail.com> >

Reply-To: issuu Support Team <feedb...@issuu.com <mailto:feedb...@issuu.com> >

 

## Please do not write below this line ##

 





Christine Grassman

Feb 19, 16:16 

With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
absolutely no reason not to do this.
Christine

Sent from my iPhone

 





Angel (Help Center)

Feb 19, 11:51 

Hi Christine,

Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality any 
time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.

If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com <http://blog.issuu.com/> ) and on our 
help center (help.issuu.com <http://help.issuu.com/> ), so please do keep 
checking these places for updates.

Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and we'd 
be happy to assist you.

Best regards,
Angel

  _  

issuu is on iOS <http://bit.ly/issuuonios>  and Android 
<http://bit.ly/IssuuOnAndroid> .

To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center 
<http://help.issuu.com/hc/en-us> .

 





Christine Grassman

Feb 15, 22:42

I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility to 
access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover accessible. 
Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read magazines. In 
this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be accessible to us 
just as to others.
There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not be 
accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as quickly 
as possible.
Christine Grassman

Sent from my iPhone

 

This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk 
<http://www.zendesk.com/> .

[J5P6X7-GL7J]

 

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Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - you 
can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com
 
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Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding VoiceOver Accessibility

[Christine Grassman]

Dear All:

Issuu is an app which provides access to millions of magazines, newsletters, 
etc., on virtually any topic you can think of.  My son, who is also a VoiceOver 
user, wanted to access his high school’s newspaper which is on the platform. 
However, it is in an image pdf.  Furthermore, trying to get around the app is 
nightmarish, and it does not appear that any of the available resources is 
accessible. 
I wrote to their support center, and this is the response I received.  My 
response to that unhelpful response is first, with the response in the middle, 
with my original message at the bottom. I think this is absolutely something 
which should be available to those who use screen readers. If others agree, I 
think we should bombard them with requests to make their platform accessible. 
Christine 
  

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: "Christine Grassman (issuu Support Team)" 
> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility
> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST
> To: Christine Grassman 
> Reply-To: issuu Support Team 
> 
> ## Please do not write below this line ##
> 
>   
> Christine Grassman
> Feb 19, 16:16 
> 
> With all due respect, there is no excuse for this. Apple makes available to 
> developers, free of charge, guidelines for making apps accessible. There's 
> absolutely no reason not to do this.
> Christine
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> 
>   
> Angel (Help Center)
> Feb 19, 11:51 
> 
> Hi Christine,
> 
> Unfortunately we don't have a way for those with visual impairments to use 
> screen reading technology or have a way to make our site accessible at this 
> time. We also haven't been informed of any plans to add that functionality 
> any time soon. I'm so very sorry about that.
> 
> If we do introduce this functionality at any point, we will put up an 
> announcement on our blog (blog.issuu.com ) and on our 
> help center (help.issuu.com ), so please do keep 
> checking these places for updates.
> 
> Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any other questions, and we'd 
> be happy to assist you.
> 
> Best regards,
> Angel
> 
> issuu is on iOS  and Android 
> .
> 
> To learn more about issuu, please visit our Help Center 
> .
> 
> 
> 
>   
> Christine Grassman
> Feb 15, 22:42
> 
> I am blind, as are my children. We use iPhones with VoiceOver accessibility 
> to access text. I am deeply disappointed that Issuu is not voiceover 
> accessible. Only some features are accessible, and one cannot find and read 
> magazines. In this day and age, this is unacceptable. Information should be 
> accessible to us just as to others.
> There is no reason why the text of your millions of publications should not 
> be accessible using a screen reader. I hope that you will address this as 
> quickly as possible.
> Christine Grassman
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> 
> This email is a service from Help Center. Delivered by Zendesk 
> .
> [J5P6X7-GL7J]

-- 
The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.

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.

Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - you 
can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com

The archives for this list can be searched at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/
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