New York City Public Schools “Delays” Ebook Deal With Amazon.com Over Accessibility Issues Raised by National Federation of the Blind

For background see our July 30, 2015 post, New York City Dept. of Education Partnering with Amazon.com to Create E-Book Storefront
From the NY Daily News:

…Department of Education officials said Tuesday they were delaying the plan [worth $30 million] after advocates complained that readers with visual impairments could have trouble accessing its design.
The agency, said spokeswoman Devora Kaye, will devise a new plan for e-books in the fall that will better meet the needs of all city students.
[Clip]
The agency’s move to delay the program came after the Baltimore-based National Federation of the Blind sent two letters of protest to city schools boss Carmen Fariña.
The federation’s Aug. 7 and 13 letters warned Fariña that visually handicapped students would have trouble using Amazon’s devices to navigate e-books and access graphics.

Read the Complete NYDN Article
See Also: National Federation of the Blind Postpones Planned Protest Tomorrow: New York City Schools Panel Cancels Vote on Amazon Deal (via National Federation of the Blind; August 25, 2015)
See Also: We Must Stop the Amazon Fail! (via National Federation of the Blind; August 19, 2015)
See Also: Copies of Letters Sent to Amazon.com by National Federation of the Blind

• Direct to Letter Sent on August 7, 2015

• Direct to Letter Sent on August 13. 2015

Related Items
See Also: Free Library of Philadelphia Resolves NOOK Accessibility Lawsuit (November 25, 2012)
See Also: Sacramento Public Library Reaches Settlement Over E-Book Readers for Blind (August 29, 2012)
See Also: State Dept./Amazon.com Deal for Kindle Devices Officially Cancelled (August 16, 2012)
See Also: Blind Patrons Sue Philly Library for Loaning Inaccessible Nooks (May 8, 2012 )
See Also: Arizona State University: “Lawsuit over Kindle Navigation by Visually Impaired Settled” (via ars techica; January 12, 2010″
Hat Tip/Thanks to Nate Hoffelder at The Digital Reader for his help with this post.

Filed under: Libraries, News, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries