Month: March 2013

 

They used to argue about the origins of socialism in the old worker’s bar I loved when I was in my early twenties–nights, an accordionist, true mist from the canal, and hot tempered beer soaked legerdemain viz Babeuf and the Society of Equals. Now I’m nearing sixty and I live on books, alone in a covert. Soon I’ll drink the potion of the old. It is terrible to have no one to talk to. As for the accordion, its a real Marxist music box though they won’t tell you so on National Public Radio.

(Oakland Press)
February 28, 2013

PONTIAC, MICHIGAN– [Excerpt provided by Inclusion Daily Express] Americans with disabilities will lose educational, housing, job search and food assistance benefits under the automatic sequester cuts that will take affect Friday.

The cuts totaling $1.2 trillion during the next decade will be split between defense and domestic discretionary spending but will have a “severe impact” on those with disabilities, one disability rights agency said.

The National Council on Disability late Thursday urged President Obama and Congress to “find a responsible alternative to sequestration to prevent potential harm to Americans with disabilities and their families.”

For the 57 million Americans with disabilities, the cuts will impact “everything from special education to transportation, to housing and health care programs,” the Council said.

To people with disabilities and low incomes, staff time and resources are likely to be compromised with regards to welfare, food stamps, unemployment benefits and caregiver provider benefits.

Entire article:
Federal spending cuts will have ‘severe impact’ on disabled
http://tinyurl.com/ide0228131a
Related:
What Will Sequestration Mean for People with Disabilities? (National Council on Disability)
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/022813
Education Secretary Says Special Education To See Cuts Under Sequestration (Education Week)
http://tinyurl.com/ide0228131b
Sequester Could Leave Special Education Kids Without Important Services (Huffington Post)
http://tinyurl.com/ide0228131c

Top of page

A few days ago I wrote on Facebook that the pdf conference schedule for the upcoming Associated Writing Programs conference is inaccessible for people with disabilities. A friend forwarded my post to AWP and I received a very gracious note from Christian Teresi who is the conference organizer. She wrote:

 

Hi Steve, 

 

I saw your post on Facebook and wanted to take a minute to get in touch.  

 

There are actually three versions of the schedule on the website. 

 

There is an HTML version here: https://www.awpwriter.org/awp_conference/schedule_overview 

This is the most up to date version. 

 

But there is also both a PDF and HTML version here: http://www.pageturnpro.com/Progress-Printing/48749-2013-Conference-Program/index.html#1

 

Both HTML versions should be accessible by any screen reader. 

 

I’m guessing that you were looking at the version of the program that defaults to the PDF that is not accessible, but please note the problem is easily resolved by clicking on HTML button at the top of the screen. This button is tagged and any screen reader should be able to see it.  

 

The PDF/HTML version of the schedule is really just to supplement the main, most up to date, HTML version on the website. 

 

If you are using a reader that cannot access the HTML programs please do let us know. Even though we make efforts to ensure that they are accessible we have no way of testing compatibility with every kind of reader here. 

 

We work hard to make the schedule accessible to everyone, and it is a great help to us to hear from our members when problems arise so we can work on a resolution. 

 

Let me know if you have any questions. We’re looking forward to see you at the conference again. Best, Christian 

 

**

 

I am certain that Christian Teresi is a good hearted person, but In point of fact the second link highlighted above leads blind readers to an entirely inaccessible website. The first link is also inaccessible. What’s interesting to me is the idea that some things should be inaccessible, that it’s ok. 

 

About six or seven years ago I had such a bad experience at AWP (inaccessible podiums, hotel annexes without wheelchair ramps, etc.) that I decided to stop talking with AWP about issues of accessibility. I’m not fond of being the accessibility guy. 

 

But AWP has goofed.  The stuff posted can’t be read by people who use assistive technologies. I wasn’t wrong in this. 

 

SK 

 

 

 

 

I decided to send all my dreams back to the department store. The clerk looked like Dan Blocker, the big guy from Bonanza. He was big, but sounded a lot like Walter Brennan. To confirm it, Dan said: “Was you ever stung by a dead bee?” The Macy’s of the unconscious looked like Madame Tussaud’s meets the aircraft carrier Lexington. Then I realized it was Detroit. A saint made of wood was smiling beside a painting of a wheat field.