[orca-list] Ubuntu Accessibility, only as good as your testing and feedback.

[Luke Yelavich <themuso themuso com>]

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Hello all
I have seen much talk about the state of accessibility for Ubuntu 7.10 Feisty, and how some 
people have had no problems, yet thers are also those who are disappointed in the way things are 
for this release. I would like to make it clear, that the quality of accessibility is only as 
good as your testing, and feedback. By feedback, I do not mean posts to a mailing list, hoping 
that your questions will be ansered, and your feedback heard. The *BEST* way of giving feedback, 
is filing bugs against packages in Ubuntu. Once a bug is filed with specific information on what 
the problem is, and how it can be reproduced, action can then be taken to track down where the 
problem is, and get it fixed.

Please note also, that I am currently the only one working to improve screen reader 
accessibility in Ubuntu, and I do it in my own time. If I was to receive funding to spend extra 
time working on Ubuntu accessibility, things would likely be a different story, but this is 
currently not to be, so I do what I can, when I can.

As the new leader of the Ubuntu Accessibility team, I intend to put a call out for more helpers, 
whether it be in testing and feedback, being in contact with upstream projects, bug triajing, or 
packaging. The Ubuntu Developer's Summit for the hardy release is next week, and I hope to take 
a thorough look at where things stand accessibility wise, and what goals can be set, and 
implemented for the hardy release.

Finally, I would like to thank everybody for sticking with Linux, and what it has to offer 
accessibility wise. I know it would be so easy to return to using what you know and feel 
comfortable with, but at least part time, choose not to, because you believe in a free 
alternative to proprietary accessibility technologies. This is also what I believe in, and do so 
very strongly and pashionately. There is still a ways to go yet, but with yor support, feedback, 
and testing, we can be a match, if not much better, than those technologies that more often than 
not, cost way more than what people with disabilities can afford.

I would also like to thank the upstream project developers, and testers, whether paid, or not. 
If it weren't for your outstanding efforts, we would not have Linux accessibility as it is 
today. Please keep on encouraging your users to file bugs, give general feedback, and test. It 
requires all of us to pitch in, but together, we can only improve the chance that we may offer 
free accessibility technology equivalents to the masses, at a level of use that is on par with 
our proprietary competition.

Thank you for your time and patience, and above all, for your support. Lets make Ubuntu Hardy rock!
- -- 
Luke Yelavich
GPG key: 0xD06320CE 
         (http://www.themuso.com/themuso-gpg-key.txt)
Email & MSN: themuso themuso com
Jabber: themuso jabber org au
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