Problems with pdf files.

[Janina Sajka]

Amanda:

You're wrong. The simple fact that one uses access technology for which 
there is not PDF support will suffice. Remember, the government is 
responsible to publish to everyone, not just a certain class of users. 
Technology to support everyone exists and is widely used. It's called 
html.

Remember also, that 508 is really just the electronic instantiation of 
Sec. 504. 504 gives you access. 508 is just one way that the government 
can deliver.
 On Thu, 17 Jan 2002, Amanda Lee wrote:

> We as consumers in the U.S. cannot claim anything related to Section 508
> unless we can establish that a U.S. Federal Government Agency is using this
> protection flag to barr access to documentats that would ordinarily be
> disciminated to U.S. consumers.
> 
> I'm probably not going to post any further on this subject.  Too many loose
> cannons going off hahaha! and it definitely isn't about speakup.
> 
> Amanda Lee
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Thomas Ward" <tward at bright.net>
> To: <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
> Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 1:55 AM
> Subject: Re: Problems with pdf files.
> 
> 
> > Well, I have a suggestion. why don't we start getting Speakup and
> Emacsspeak
> > users together, and start writingAdobe systems. Basically, tell them to
> make
> > an accessible reader for Linux or stop advertising that pdf files are
> > accessible when they are not.
> > We have strength in numbers, and the only way to get anything done is to
> get
> > the root of the problem. Which is openly
> > scream section 508. while Adobe Acrobat for Windows is accessible the
> Linux
> > version is not. Nor do they have plans in that direction.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Amanda Lee <amanda at shellworld.net>
> > To: <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 7:30 PM
> > Subject: Re: Problems with pdf files.
> >
> >
> > > I bet we could beat them on the technicality that as persons who are
> blind
> > > seeking to enable a document to be accessible and in an alternate format
> > > which we otherwise could not read, is this side of the law but provided
> > one
> > > uses the information for his or her own use and does not post it where
> it
> > > can be accessed by others, then doubt there's much that would hold-up in
> a
> > > court of law.
> > >
> > > So if I have a colleague print the document and I then scan it with an
> OCR
> > > program, is that illegal?  Yet I technically would have displayed the
> > > document in another form.  So I also suppose it is illegal to magnify
> the
> > > font on the screen so that a low vision person can read it?  Godf
> forbid!
> > > don't change the colors on your screen such that it is easier for
> someone
> > > who needs different color contrast.  So let's a bunch ofblind folks get
> > > together and write a .pdf cracker! I'm ready to go to jail in protest!
> > > hahahahaha!  it's tempting because this is really against the ADA and
> > > Section 508 and against other laws.  I feel sorry for the poor slob who
> > went
> > > to jail.  I'd like to see where this case is documented.
> > >
> > > Amanda Lee
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Kirk Wood" <cpt.kirk at 1tree.net>
> > > To: <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 7:27 PM
> > > Subject: Re: Problems with pdf files.
> > >
> > >
> > > > On Wed, 16 Jan 2002, Steve Holmes wrote:
> > > > > ....  Key here is
> > > > > getting around copy-protection. I really fault Adobe systems on this
> > > one.
> > > > > Surely, there's gotta be a way to expose PDF text to the reader with
> > or
> > > > > with out a password ....
> > > >
> > > > There is a way. And the lead programmer recently was realeased after
> > > > spending five months in jail without a trial. He was allowed to return
> > to
> > > > Rusia. If you want to find the program he wrote it is out there. But
> > > > before some dumb ass asks, no I won't point you to it. The whole DeCSS
> > > > trial in the states is over pointing people to a program to circumvent
> > > > such things. I won't be lucky enough to have the EFF help with my
> > defense
> > > > and I know nobody here will send enough money to make up for my lost
> > wages
> > > > alone.
> > > >
> > > > =======
> > > > Kirk Wood
> > > > Cpt.Kirk at 1tree.net
> > > >
> > > > Nowlan's Theory:
> > > >         He who hesitates is not only lost, but several miles from
> > > >         the next freeway exit.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> > > > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Speakup mailing list
> > > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> > > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Speakup mailing list
> > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> >
> >
> 
> 
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-- 
	
				Janina Sajka, Director
				Technology Research and Development
				Governmental Relations Group
				American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

Email: janina at afb.net		Phone: (202) 408-8175

Chair, Accessibility SIG
Open Electronic Book Forum (OEBF)
http://www.openebook.org