Reid My Mind

I recently had a conversation with someone regarding issues of discrimination they face because they use a guide dog. One restaurant owner not only refused to serve this gentlemen because he had a guide dog, but the owner refused to serve other patrons who voiced their objection to the owner’s treatment of my friend. After the police were called and the law was explained to the restaurant owner, he was so insistent in his belief against serving someone with a guide dog, he decided to close the restaurant for the day.

The owner  didn’t care about rights, or even doing the right thing, he obviously has something against people with service animals. Some people let their beliefs and ignorance impact their business.

Hmmm!

Here is this week’s note to Blog Carnival. Blog Carnival, like the restaurant owner, apparently has an issue with people who are blind. I have received several notes from others in the community who have sent emails asking them to respond, but yet still, no response.

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Subject: Blog Carnival Refuses to admit the blind community

This is my 5th attempt to contact a member of the Blog Carnival customer support management team regarding the use of visual only CAPTCHA.

As noted in prior emails, the use of a visual only CAPTCHA prohibits those with visual impairments from making any submissions through the BC interface. This includes posts to blog carnivals as well as inquiries to  blog hosts  and support.

The refusal to respond to inquiries to accommodate the blind community have sent a clear message, "Blind Carnival doesn’t want people with visual impairments to use their service."

It’s apparent that Blog Carnival has an inaccurate perception of the amount of computer users and bloggers with visual impairments. Blog Carnival is not aware of the amount of people with disabilities who believe in accessibility, and unfair treatment and disrespect toward one segment of the disability community directly impacts the community at large.

A few facts to think about;
According to the American Foundation for the Blind,At least 1.5 million people who are blind use computers."

There are 54 million people with disabilities in the United States.

Current users of your service have asked for your cooperation to provide a solution.

The accommodations that can be made to allow independent  submissions are readily available and have been pointed out by myself and others.
See: http://www.recaptcha.net/.

Individual blog carnival hosts will continue to be contacted. Some have pledged their support and are planning to remove their carnivals if BC does not respond to the request.

You will continue to receive emails from me at least weekly until I hear from a BC manager on the steps BC is prepared to make to resolve this issue of inaccessibility and lack of respect for those of us who are blind.

T.Reid