Blind Access Journal

We thank Jeff Bishop for the interview and his coverage of the Google Word Verification Accessibility Petition on ACB Radio’s Main Menu program on technology from a blindness perspective. Stay tuned to the Wednesday replay podcast to hear this coverage for January 25.

Feedback is now being sought concerning the letter that will accompany the Google Word Verification Accessibility Petition. This letter will be sent to Dr. Eric Schmidt and all members of Google’s board of directors. You have an opportunity to shape the content of this important correspondence. Please feel free to send your constructive feedback to editor (at) blindaccessjournal.com, leave a comment to this blog post or call the comment line at 206-350-6925.

I am writing to let you know that thousands of blind and sighted Internet users have signed the enclosed Google Word Verification Accessibility online petition. We are asking you to follow Google’s mission statement to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” by adding an accessible alternative to the visual word verification used in Blogger, GMail and all other Google provided services. Many of us in the blind community stand willing, ready and able to assist your talented developers in devising and testing a workable solution. We look forward to a prompt affirmative response from you in the very near future.

Download and Listen

We thank Tom Merritt and Molly Wood of the CNet Buzz Out Loud podcast for their coverage of the Google Word Verification Accessibility Petition by playing my entire voice message to their comment line.

After discovering an inaccessible implementation of visual verification at Libsyn, I wrote the following letter to support@libsyn.com asking for the implementation of an accessible alternative. At this time, the inaccessible visual verification means that blind and visually impaired users are not allowed to fully participate in Libsyn hosted podcasts as we are not permitted to post comments. Accessible alternatives to visual verification do exist now. There are also other techniques, such as comment moderation, that could protect against spammers in this context. Let’s all write a note to Libsyn asking them to take prompt action to include us. We’re talking about podcasting here, which is an audio media to which we should inherently be granted full access. Let’s urge a major player on the podcasting scene to do the right thing.

Dear Libsyn Support,

I am a blind podcast listener. While looking at the shownotes for one of my favorite podcasts hosted by your company, I noticed that I am not currently permitted to post comments to the associated blog due to the implementation of visual verification without an accessible alternative. Please consider implementing an accessible alternative. The current state of the art is audio playback of the characters to be entered, but more innovative solutions, such as answering a challenge question or perhaps e-mail verification of some kind, would allow even greater access while still protecting your security.

Please don’t continue locking out a significant number of podcast listeners. I urge you to promptly provide an accessible alternative to your visual verification scheme. The blind community would stand ready to assist with the implementation and testing of a workable solution. I look forward to your company’s prompt, positive response to this matter.

All the best,

Darrell Shandrow

The petition was covered on OnComputers Tips. Thanks go to Jeff Bishop and MissM.

As of 5:32 PM MST on Jan. 21, the Google Word Verification Accessibility Petition achieved 2,000 signatures! Let’s all do everything we can to promote this effort so we can make this voice even louder and the message even more significant.

In response to my support ticket on the implementation of inaccessible visual verification, a PRWeb representative has provided assurance that their visual verification scheme only applies to the ability to forward press releases and tell a friend about the company. We remain able to access all important areas of PRWeb at this time. Now that the visual verification issue has been brought to light and useful responses received from the company, we hope PRWeb will remain otherwise accessible and provide an accessible alternative to their visual verification in the two areas of their site where it is currently implemented.

In reference to additional areas that you may be locked out of. We’ve implemented a host of new features and a new graphics. I do not have access to all of my notes from home, but I believe that there is also the “Tell a friend” page. Another trivial page that actually hasn’t worked in years until we implemented this new system. It simply allows a user to send 5 friends an email, recommending PRWeb.

As to creating accounts we recently implemented an email verification system which I believe you will not have difficulties with. Other recent changes to the members area of the site have been focused on visual enhancements such as a new color scheme and additional graphics. There have also been a few grammar and spelling corrections. I do not believe you will find anything that will prevent you from the core purpose of the PRWeb platform.

Thanks go to the CyberGal for the early coverage of the petition on her blog.

We thank father Roderick Vonhögen of the Catholic Insider for supportive coverage of the Google Word Verification Accessibility Petition on his Daily Breakfast podcast.

We thank Mike Smith of the Mike Tech Show podcast for his detailed supportive coverage of the Google Word Verification Accessibility Petition. Let’s all continue working to spread the word about this important endeavor.