SANCB Request (fwd)

[Janina Sajka]

There's a significant amount of open source software used in various
U.S. governmental applications. In fact, Security Enhanced Linux
(SE-Linux) was created by a U.S. government agency.

The topic of accessibility in U.S. Federal information technology
environments is also covered by law. The law popularly known as Sec. 508
requires the U.S. Government to buy accessibility technology whenever
commercially available, among other things. This has increased the level
of activity around making open source technologies accessibile where
they are not accessible today. Of course, as has already been pointed
out, they are very accessible today for many persons with disabilities,
but not under terms of definition that most of the public might use.

There's an annual conference in Washington, DC regarding Sec. 508 and
U.S. Government technology called IDEAS. It will take place this coming
week, November 2 and 3. Yours truly is on a panel regarding open source
and accessibility under the "Emerging Technologies" track at this
conference. Also, Peter Korn of Sun Microsystems is one of the keynote
speakers at this conference. Find out more about IDEAS 2004 at:

http://www.ideas508.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=custom.att_si_theater

Willem van der Walt<willem at top.health.gov.za> writes:
> Hello,
> I have phoned them and left a message for them to phone me back.
> I am in the same city.
> If one take into account that our government has an open-source strategy 
> favourable to open-source usage in government,  there might be cases where 
> console access is thesollution.
> TN3270 emulation is an example.
> 
> 
> On Wed, 27 Oct 2004, Kenny Hitt wrote:
> 
> >Hi.  If they are asking about GUI access to Linux, the answ is no.  If
> >they wan console access to Linux, the answer is yes.  The fact they
> >mention JFW makes me think they mean GUI access.  Is it possible to find
> >out more information on exactly what they want to do?
> >
> >         Kenny
> >
> >On Mon, Oct 25, 2004 at 11:25:41PM +0200, Hans Zoebelein wrote:
> >>---------- Forwarded message ----------
> >>Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 10:20:40 +0200
> >>From: Anina Immelman <anina at sancb.org.za>
> >>To: hzo at gmx.de
> >>Subject: SANCB Request
> >>
> >>Hi Hans,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>I'm a bit of a dummy when it comes to open source, so please excuse me if 
> >>I
> >>ask stupid questions. Our blind users currently uses Jaws, but we have a
> >>serious problem when we try and find work for them because employers do 
> >>not
> >>want to take the risk of splashing out on software for a new disabled
> >>employee. If we could use open source software we may be able to help a 
> >>lot
> >>of people. Is there a program out there that can compare to Jaws in terms 
> >>of
> >>stability and features? Where can I find out more? Our support guys are 
> >>not
> >>familiar with open source - what can they do to gain more knowledge in 
> >>order
> >>to support our users, should we decide to go the open source route.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>I'll really appreciate any help you can give me.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Best wishes,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Anina Immelman
> >>
> >>South African National Council for the Blind
> >>
> >>Department of Fundraising and Information
> >>
> >>E-mail:  <mailto:anina at sancb.org.za> anina at sancb.org.za
> >>
> >>Tel: +27 12 346-1171
> >>
> >>Fax: +27 12 346-4699
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
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> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> >
> 
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-- 
	
				Janina Sajka, Chair
				Accessibility Workgroup
				Free Standards Group (FSG)

janina at freestandards.org	Phone: +1 202.494.7040