I find that figure they have a bit low. The reason for that: the U.S. Census. Still, it was a number I pulled out of thin air (on the fly) as a means of impressing upon these folks that there are a non-trivial number of us out here.
Also, there are other kinds of print disabilities that the NFB isn't counting, like dyslexia (which I also suffer from). I guess my whole point was that I wanted to impress upon these people that ignoring a population or market comes with a cost (in the case of the blind at all levels and abilities, thats about $5 billion a year from them, their friends, families and associates). also, if you take a look at the total worlds population of the blind (again at all levels of capability), the figure is somewhere north of 385 million (estimated). so, a 6 million figure is not unreasonable. anyway, enough said. I stated the letter the way I did for a reason and if you want to nitpick numbers, thats your problem. -eric On Feb 21, 2016, at 4:22 PM, Richard Turner wrote: > > > On the NFB web site, I grabbed the below numbers of visually impaired adults > in the United States. I know that not everyone, and likely not even a > majority are using iPhones: > > > > > > The number of non-institutionalized, male or female, ages 16 through 75+, all > races, regardless of ethnicity, with all education levels in the United > States reported to have a visual disability in 2013. > > • Total (all ages): 7,327,800 > The number of non-institutionalized, male or female, ages 16 through 75+, all > races, regardless of ethnicity, with all education levels in the United > States reported to have a visual disability in 2013. > > • Total (all ages): 7,327,800 > The number of non-institutionalized, male or female, ages 16 through 75+, all > races, regardless of ethnicity, with all education levels in the United > States reported to have a visual disability in 2013. > > • Total (all ages): 7,327,800 > (Sent from my iPhone 5S) > > On Feb 21, 2016, at 2:50 PM, Kevin Chao <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Eyes-free@ has 3232 members: >> https://groups.google.com/forum/?nomobile=true#!aboutgroup/eyes-free >> ViPhone@ has 2343 members: >> https://groups.google.com/forum/?nomobile=true#!aboutgroup/viphone >> On Sun, Feb 21, 2016 at 2:24 PM Eric Oyen <[email protected]> wrote: >> I am using something called extrapolation based on a smaller sample (in this >> case, several blindness related groups on Facebook, a dozen or so mac and >> apple related blindness mailing lists and other data (including its >> prominence of use at the colorado center for the blind). what I have found >> is that there are far more blind iPhone users than there are blind android >> users (part of the issue is the cost of add on accessibility on some >> versions of android phones). I could probably set up a survey monkey page, >> spread around the link and ask a few questions in the survey. That would >> give me a better (and more credible) sampling. Right now, my numbers are >> only preliminary and a liberal estimate at that. >> >> -eric >> >> On Feb 21, 2016, at 2:07 PM, Kevin Chao wrote: >> >> > How does 40M iPhone sales in US last year convert to 6M blind iPhone users >> > (US or global?)? >> > Logic is fuzzy... >> > On Sun, Feb 21, 2016 at 11:09 AM <[email protected]> wrote: >> > What is this app people are talking about? I can't seem to find the >> > original thread about this >> > >> > >> > Thanks, >> > Ari >> > >> > > On Feb 21, 2016, at 10:26 AM, Eric Oyen <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > >> > > well, if they don't care about this issue, lets make them care about >> > > something (like their revenue stream). attack that, and they most >> > > definitely will care. >> > > >> > > -eric >> > > >> > >> On Feb 21, 2016, at 4:36 AM, Rajmund wrote: >> > >> >> > >> Hello, >> > >> I take as they never have, and are not about to, care, either. >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> Sent from an iPad >> > >> >> > >>> On 20 Feb 2016, at 8:12 pm, Eric Oyen <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >>> >> > >>> I wouldn't exactly call their statement "honest". THe first part of >> > >>> their statement is actually a bold faced lie. The tools are very >> > >>> available to make their app accessible. the second half is more a >> > >>> statement of intent than anything else. Its more likely that they >> > >>> never considered use by the blind and are now being forced to admit to >> > >>> it (in a roundabout fashion). btw, I haven't sent that letter yet. I >> > >>> was hoping to see more responses on this before I did so. >> > >>> >> > >>> -eric >> > >>> >> > >>>> On Feb 20, 2016, at 6:40 AM, rajmund wrote: >> > >>>> >> > >>>> Hi, >> > >>>> LOL, least they were honest, and didn't just say, "Will do it in the >> > >>>> next update." >> > >>>> >> > >>>> Sent from a BrailleNote >> > >>>> >> > >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >> > >>>> From: Eric Oyen <[email protected] >> > >>>> To: [email protected] >> > >>>> Date sent: Fri, 19 Feb 2016 10:54:38 -0700 >> > >>>> Subject: Re: Unacceptable Response from Issuu Support Team Regarding >> > >>>> VoiceOverAccessibility >> > >>>> >> > >>>> 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/UserExperie >> > >>>> nce/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)" <[email protected] >> > >>>> Subject: Update from issuu Support Re: Poor VoiceOver accessibility >> > >>>> Date: February 19, 2016 at 10:16:27 AM EST >> > >>>> To: Christine Grassman <[email protected] >> > >>>> Reply-To: issuu Support Team <[email protected] >> > >>>> >> > >>>> ## 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 [email protected] >> > >>>> >> > >>>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> > >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> > >>>> --- >> > >>>> 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 [email protected]. >> > >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> > >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >> > >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > >>>> >> > >>>> -- >> > >>>> The following information is important for all members of the 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 - 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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 [email protected] The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- 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 [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
