Re: Weather Channel App

Mon, 26 May 2014 09:25:48 -0700 

Multiple US laws related to accessibility are being discussed here.
The American's with Disability Act is meant to prevent discrimination against the disabled with respect to employment. Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations for their employees. Unless your company requires you to use this allergy app, it would not be covered under the ADA. If your company did require you to use an allergy app, the pressure would be more on the company to find an accessible alternative rather than force the developer of this particular app to make it accessible.
The Telecommunications Act says that telecommunications devices need to be accessible. Note that just because a device isn't accessible doesn't mean there isn't a law that's being violated. It may take someone taking Microsoft to court over their inaccessible cell phones before the law is enforced and Microsoft is forced to make their product accessible.
The Rehabilitation Act requires that any products purchased by the federal government or with federal dollars need to be accessible.
Note that there's a lot of overlap here. For example, if your company requires you to carry a cell phone than it needs to be accessible. If you work for a company or an agency that gets federal dollars than anything it purchases, such as a cell phone, needs to be accessible.
It isn't the case that only apps and devices being marketed to the federal government need to be accessible. Reasonable accommodations in the ADA, the Telecommunications Act and even the Rehabilitation Act extend beyond federal government agencies.
I'm not sure how many smart phones there are now running something other than Android or IOS or Windows Phone, but there have been and may still be some feature phones from LG, Samsung and Motorola which are accessible. 

On 5/26/2014 6:12 AM, David Chittenden wrote:

No, companies are not required to make all apps and / or products blind, or 
deaf blind accessible. Some companies are required to make certain apps or 
products accessible.

Don't believe me? Go purchase any new Nokia Phone running Windows Phone Seven 
or Eight and try to use it. Microsoft's most up-to-date phone software is not 
accessible. Purchase any Sony, Panasonic, or any other smart phone that is not 
Android and try using it. Absolutely zero of these phones are blind accessible.

Unless the Allergy app is being marketed to the federal government, it does not 
need to be blind or deaf blind accessible.

David Chittenden, MSc, MRCAA
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +64 21 2288 288
Sent from my iPhone


On 24 May 2014, at 20:05, todd patkus <[email protected]> wrote:

All:

This disappoints me a little.  Under ADA regulations, companies are legally 
required to make their products, including apps ACCESSIBLE, not only for 
hearing-blind, but also for DEAFBLIND!

If I were whoever the person having this issue, I would have shown the fat 
heavy book under my right arm, pointing these folks the proof what ADA says!

You see I asked Brian if the allergy alert app was accessible for Braille, and 
he said he did not know!  That is the point here.  That is it.

Thank you.

Todd


----- Original Message -----
From: "Vicki Howell" <[email protected]
To: <[email protected]
Date sent: Thu, 15 May 2014 13:32:47 -0400
Subject: RE: Weather Channel App
No, Scott, you didn't do anything wrong.  The Weather channel app

is no

longer accessible for the blind, but there is an app called

Degrees.  I

think that it may cost $.99, but I think that it is very good.  I

am trying

to remember if it is $99, or $1.99.  I got this app last week.

My husband

found it and told me how good it was.  So, that may be an option

for you and

others looking for a Weather App.
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]

On Behalf

Of Mike Arrigo
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 1:57 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Weather Channel App
Yes, it's no longer accessible, currently the only work around is

to use a

different app.
Original message:

Hi,
Sense the update to the Weather Channel app, two or three weeks

ago, I

have found it to be inaccessible with VO.  Have others noticed

this or

did something go wrong with my update? Does anyone know of any

work

around?

Thanks,
Scott Duck --
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