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Microsoft: National Consumer Organization SHHH Awards Microsoft Top Honor (fwd)
Another big challenge to Linux from Micro$oft. (Besides the Office
applications, that is.)
The open nature of Linux makes it easier for third-party developers to
develop accessibility aids. However people who care still need to sit on
their butts and actually develop the accessibility software; and avoid
developing software which can never be made accessible to disabled people
(deaf, blind, motor-impaired,...).
There is some advantage to disabled consumers when the Corporation is Big
and has Deep Pockets and there are laws for equal rights for the disabled
(which exist in USA but not in Israel).
--- Omer
> ----------
> From: Library News Service
> Sent: Monday, June 16, 1997 1:18 PM
> To: Daily Newswire Subscribers
> Subject: Microsoft: National Consumer Organization SHHH Awards
> Microsoft Top Honor
>
> National Consumer Organization SHHH Awards Microsoft Top Honor For
> Progress in Making Software More Accessible to Hard of Hearing
> People
>
> PHOENIX, June 16 -- The nation's largest consumer organization
> for hard of hearing people, Self Help for Hard of Hearing People Inc.
> (SHHH),
> headquartered in Bethesda, Md., announced today it has awarded
> Microsoft Corp.
> (Nasdaq: MSFT) its top honor for progress in making multimedia
> software
> accessible to people with hearing loss. SHHH cited the company's
> commitment to
> working toward captioning all spoken commands and audio content.
>
> Sam Jadallah, vice president of the organization customer unit at
> Microsoft,
> accepted the award today at the 12th International SHHH Convention in
> Phoenix.
>
> "The SHHH Award for Access is not given every year. Only when a
> company truly
> distinguishes itself through a real commitment to expanding access
> does SHHH
> make the presentation," said Donna Sorkin, executive director of SHHH.
> "Microsoft is leading the software industry through its work in this
> area.
> Access to this kind of technology for people with disabilities is
> critical to
> ensuring that every person can take advantage of the fantastic
> opportunities and
> new worlds opened to us by PCs and the Internet. Technology empowers
> people --
> it should empower everyone."
>
> "It is critical for Microsoft and other software companies to
> develop products
> and information technologies that are accessible and usable by all
> people," said
> Jadallah. "We've made important progress and look forward to
> continuing to
> improve. PCs and the Internet can make a real difference in people's
> lives. At
> Microsoft, our mission is to make really great software that empowers
> people.
> We are committed to improving accessibility with each new product
> release.
> Having our work, leadership and innovation in this area recognized
> with the SHHH
> Award for Access is a tremendous honor."
>
> In its award letter, SHHH said, "By offering technology that makes
> it easier
> to write accessible applications, Microsoft is ensuring that people
> with hearing
> loss participate in the information age. Microsoft has been
> responsive to the
> needs of hard of hearing people through its commitment to working
> toward 100
> percent captioning for spoken commands."
>
> Microsoft is pursuing a four-part strategy to making personal
> computers more
> accessible: making it easier for third-party vendors to create
> accessibility
> aids (such as blind access and voice input utilities); making it
> easier to make
> mainstream software accessible (by creating Microsoft Active
> Accessibility for
> Windows); promoting accessibility through public education; and making
> Microsoft
> products more accessible. Details are available at
> http://www.microsoft.com/enable/.
>
> The Media Access department of WGBH in Boston has worked with
> Microsoft's
> accessibility group to advance closed captioning technology. WGBH
> Media Access
> consists of The Caption Center, Descriptive Video Service(R) (DVS),
> and the
> CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM). Together, these
> departments within the nation's most successful public broadcasting
> organization
> have pioneered and delivered accessible media to disabled students,
> adults, and
> their families, teachers and friends since 1972.
>
> "We congratulate Microsoft on this well-deserved award and their
> leadership
> efforts in making technology accessible to people with disabilities,"
> said Larry
> Goldberg, director of the CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible
> Media.
> "Microsoft's actions on many fronts have and will contribute to a more
> accessible Information Age that recognizes the diversity of users."
>
> SHHH is a nonprofit educational organization for hard of hearing
> people and
> their relatives and friends who are devoted to the interests of people
> who do
> not hear well.
>
> CONTACT: Press only: Donna Sorkin of SHHH, 301-657-2248, voice or
> 301-657-2249, TTY; or Jenny Moede of Waggener Edstrom, 503-624-6585,
> jmoede@wagged.com; or Adam Sohn of Microsoft, 425-882-8080
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