RE: single browser intranets

Hi, Cynthia

I'm a little confused.  I've been hearing of blind people losing their
jobs because they aren't able to use the new technology that
their companies are switching to.  Should blind people be suing
their companies when the technology is upgraded to versions
which blind people can't use?  What happens when a company needs to
switch to software which has become a standard for their industry,
but which is inaccessible?

Scott


> On the other hand, if a company does not address accessibility in their
> intranet environment, they cannot deny employment to a person with a
> disability simply because the company did not think ahead and design for
> accessibility.  If a company rejects an employee applicant purely because
> the person had a disability and did not explore accommodation issues,
> including the redesign of their intranet, then the company can be subject to
> a disability discrimination lawsuit.  The cost of the lawsuit and punitive
> damages would outweigh the cost in addressing intranet accessibility.  Good
> business practices address the problems head-on.  As I have mentioned
> before, civil rights violations do not require intentional discrimination,
> just the fact that you did it.  This is because of the societal value our
> laws attach to the removal of myths, stereotyping and historical unfair
> practices directed towards people with disabilities.
> 
> Cynthia D. Waddell

Received on Tuesday, 26 October 1999 16:56:40 UTC