Re: accessible banking:

From: "Tina Holmboe" <tina@greytower.net>
To: <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 8:08 AM


>
> On  1 Feb, Kelly Pierce wrote:
>
>> specified task.  You may choose not to use Internet Explorer, but in
>> 2005 I have not seen an argument saying that it is unreasonable or
>> insufficient to require people with disabilities only to use Internet
>> Explorer to access online banking services.  It seems like you want
>> access beyond what is required beyond that of the ADA.
>
>  Are we to understand that the ADA allows a bank to require a solution
>  provided by one, not associated by the bank, commerical actor? Is
>  the cost of operating system and hardware covered by the bank?
>
>  If solution A is delivered ONLY by commercial actor B, and cost money,
>  then yes, it would seem -entirely- unreasonable and insufficient. Can
>  you elaborate?
>

**sure Tina.  it sounds like a bias toward socialism is clouding an 
understanding on this point.  The ADA indeed does not permit charging an 
additional cost in order to obtain an accommodation.  However, if everyone 
who uses a particular service, disabled and non-disabled alike, need to 
purchase certain kinds of equipment or other items, such as clothing, to 
utilize the service then it is not considered discrimination.  In this 
instance, for anyone, disabled or non-disabled, to access information on a 
website, one must use a computer and the computer must be configured with an 
operating system.  As this cost burden is placed on everyone alike it is not 
considered discrimination.  This is similar to the fact that banks do not 
need to provide telephones for their automated telephone banking services to 
be ADA compliant as everyone needs to use a telephone to use this service.

personally, I have no problem with commercial enterprises inventing, 
creating, and innovating.  When entrepreneurs have the freedom and can 
receive adequate reward to pursue their dreams and ideas, great things can 
come.  if I waited around for the government to develop a screen reader, I 
think I would still be waiting.

Kelly

Received on Wednesday, 2 February 2005 01:24:05 UTC