After looking at the BCAB web site, I'd say their emphasis is significantly different from what I envisioned. I listed 3 things I thought the IAVICP would do: 1. Serve as an unbrella site for accessibility info For example, if you want to find out about accessible Windows installs, you google "site:iavicp.org install windows". It could serve as a mirror for things like nvda, speakup, and orca. 2. Provide social networking (as opposed to computer networking). For example, I'm imagining that if a member hears about a job opening, he could post about it on the IAVICP web site. I already do this with my friends. When I hear about a IT job opening at the University of Wisconsin where I work, I send it out to my friends via email. 3. Advocacy for accessibility of products essential to computer professional jobs. For example, work with Microsoft to make the Windows installer accessible, Work with vmware to make the vmware virtual infrastructure web app accessible. The BCAB is marginally involved in these kinds of things but it's not their emphasis. I mean, I seriously doubt the BCAB has contacted vmware about the inaccessibility of their application. The difference in emphasis is important in that our jobs depend on accessibility. The NFB, for example, has a committee to deal with computer accessibility issues. And, yes, they talk to Microsoft about accessible installs. But the vast majority of blind people don't care that the Windows installer is inaccessible. The vast majority of blind people don't care that the vmware web app is inaccessible. The NFB has to focus on things like the Target web sit because that kind of thing effects far more blind people than vmware's web app. ----- Original Message ----- From: "George Bell" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 3:40 AM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] AVICP?

Isn't that what BCAB (British Computer Association of the Blind) is for?

There web site is at http://www.bcab.org.uk/

George.

-----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of John Heim Sent: 11 January 2009 19:33 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] AVICP?

All,

I'm thinking of trying to start an organization for blind and visually

impaired computer professionals. This group would have 3 purposes: 1. Serve as an umbrella group for providing technical information for

blind computer professionals. 2. Provide social networking services. By social networking, I don't necessarily mean fun & games. That's okay but I was thinking more in terms of jobs. 3. Provide advocacy. For example, the group could approach vmware about making their products more accessible to the blind and visually

impaired. I know the NFB has a sub-committee that attempts to address

computer accessibility but their approach is geared more toward the general public. Not that there is anything wrong with suing Target, for example, but is small potatoes from my point of view. The inaccessibility of vmware, for example, directly effects my abilityto

get and keep a job.

I am tentatively thinking of using the name Association of Visually Impaired Computer Professionals, AVICP. What do you think?

_______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

_______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

BCAB

Yeah, but even the name is problematic. They need to take "British" out and add "Professionals". ICPAB would be good. I'm not so sure about the word blind either. It's not a political correctness issue for me. I prefer the term "visually impaired" because it includes people with low vision. BCAB has the advantage of being short. One thing that concerns me is the length of IAVICP. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew Hodgson" To: "blind-sysadmins" Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 9:10 AM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] AVICP?

Hi,

The only thing I see with this is that companies like Microsoft/Vmware may have to deal with potentially a lot of disability group organisations such as BCAB, NFB, etc, and information may not get to the right place.

Speaking as a member of the BCAB board, I would personally like to see BCAB involved in more of this type of work, which was originally what BCAB was set up to do (though the emphasis was more on mainframe and programming support back in the late sixties). We have had to change our tactic due to the fact we thought as not many individuals were asking us to do much in this arena; we should try and get new users involved with using computers etc.

Thanks. Andrew.

-----Original Message----- From: John G. Heim [mailto:jheim@math.wisc.edu] Sent: 12 January 2009 15:04 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] AVICP?

After looking at the BCAB web site, I'd say their emphasis is significantly different from what I envisioned. I listed 3 things I thought the IAVICP

would do:

1. Serve as an unbrella site for accessibility info For example, if you want to find out about accessible Windows installs, you google "site:iavicp.org install windows". It could serve as a mirror for things like nvda, speakup, and orca. 2. Provide social networking (as opposed to computer networking). For example, I'm imagining that if a member hears about a job opening, he could post about it on the IAVICP web site. I already do this with my friends.

When I hear about a IT job opening at the University of Wisconsin where I work, I send it out to my friends via email. 3. Advocacy for accessibility of products essential to computer professional jobs. For example, work with Microsoft to make the Windows installer accessible, Work with vmware to make the vmware virtual infrastructure web app accessible.

The BCAB is marginally involved in these kinds of things but it's not their emphasis. I mean, I seriously doubt the BCAB has contacted vmware about the inaccessibility of their application. The difference in emphasis is important in that our jobs depend on accessibility. The NFB, for example, has a committee to deal with computer accessibility issues. And, yes, they talk to Microsoft about accessible installs. But the vast majority of blind people don't care that the Windows installer is inaccessible. The vast majority of blind people don't care that the vmware web app is inaccessible. The NFB has to focus on things like the Target web sit because that kind of thing effects far more blind people than vmware's web app.

----- Original Message ----- From: "George Bell" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 3:40 AM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] AVICP?

...

Isn't that what BCAB (British Computer Association of the Blind) is for?

There web site is at http://www.bcab.org.uk/

George.

-----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of John Heim Sent: 11 January 2009 19:33 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] AVICP?

All,

I'm thinking of trying to start an organization for blind and visually

impaired computer professionals. This group would have 3 purposes: 1. Serve as an umbrella group for providing technical information for

blind computer professionals. 2. Provide social networking services. By social networking, I don't necessarily mean fun & games. That's okay but I was thinking more in terms of jobs. 3. Provide advocacy. For example, the group could approach vmware about making their products more accessible to the blind and visually

impaired. I know the NFB has a sub-committee that attempts to address

computer accessibility but their approach is geared more toward the general public. Not that there is anything wrong with suing Target, for example, but is small potatoes from my point of view. The inaccessibility of vmware, for example, directly effects my abilityto

get and keep a job.

I am tentatively thinking of using the name Association of Visually Impaired Computer Professionals, AVICP. What do you think?

_______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

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BCAB

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