Category: Let's talk
So, I have a question about a situation that makes me a little uncomfortable, but I'm not sure if it's just me.
So I wanted to take Portuguese classes this semester. My school has a centre where you can take language classes for a very low fee. You get a certificate at the end and all that.
Anyway, the system to register with this place isn't accessible, it has a captcha, and an audio alternative but the audio doesn't play. I flagged this with my advisor who contacted them.
They have offered to meet with me to assist me with registration next week. Obviously I'm pleased they are being proactive, and are willing to take the time to help me. But on the other hand, by doing so they aren't changing the inaccessible system. I don't want to appear ungrateful, or pushy, but in reality they aren't dealing with the issue at hand if they just give me the help.
So basically, am I settling for less by taking the help? Because I know they will probably then avoid fixing the system? I want to make concrete change, because it's great that they will help me but they aren't then fixing the issue that landed me here.
So how do I get what I need and ensure they also fix it.
And also, as blind people do you think we avoid making change when we take help, when the alternative would be ensuring we wouldn't need it in the first place?
I'd say go ahead and meet with them next week. When you're there, bring this issue up with them directly. That way you're talking with someone, face-to-face, and they can't just avoid the issue, or write back with some generic reply like places can when you email them about an accessibility problem. It also helps them put a face and a name to the problem. You're not just text on a computer, you're a real, intelligent person who *could* do this on her own, if they made the changes. I'd say where you take it from there will depends on how they react to you asking about it in person. But meeting with them next week ensures that you get what you need done, as well as taking steps to help them resolve this. I think it's a balancing act of accomplishing whatever it is we need, while also working so that issues are fixed for people wishing to do whatever it is in the future.
it depends on how badly you want to take the course. my life'sphilosophy is look at the end goal. however is the best and most expeditious way to achieve it is how it is done. go get it done the way they want it and then talk to them and educate.
Hi Holly. I expect offering to meet you and register you in person would be
deemed sufficient as a reasonable adjustment without them needing to fix the
audio captcha or not have a captcha at all, as their adjustment renders the
service accessible. You could point out to them the advantages of fixing the
website though, like that it's very inefficient for them to deal with you face-to-
face, that's why shops/banks/Governments want you to do more online - the
cost is way less.
Go get help, then speak to someone who is incharge to fix it.
Agree with post three.
I agree with Ed.
When they offered to help you, this made it accessible.
Sure, a suggestion that it be made accessible is nice, but we live in a seeing world. Everything just will never be.
I tend to think when a place or school, or something offers assistants, that solves the problem.
Websites and such are easy fix, so the suggestion makes sense in this case.
I'd say the consensus is to get help where you think it's warranted. But I do know that Firefox in combination with Webvism can go a long way toward solving the captcha problem. At least it did in the past for me. I haven't yet installed Webvism and Firefox as an alternative browser on my newest computer, so I'm not sure how much farther along, or not,, it is. But it's one thing to consider if you can get your hands on it for the future.
It is no longer working. You have to use an older version of Fire Fox to get it to work.
That's too bad. I was actually considering installing the latest and greatest in Firefox and Webvism, but I guess not.
The Fire Fox rocks. The Visum no.
I would say talk to them directly next week, but try to redirect them from filling out any paperwork for you. The reason I say this is because you have absolutely no control over what they are writing on the form--even though you tell them one thing, they may still write whatever they wanna write. That would not benefit you at all, which is another thing that might be helpful to mention when you meet with them.
Then what about taking along a sighted third party who can read what they wrote as opposed to what she told them to write? That might make the process more honest.
I thought all she require was them to get her past the web deal.
After that she can type it like she wants it.
Is this CAPTCHA solver an option?
It's not precisely free, but then, perhaps that means it will continue to survive
where WebVisum has shuffled off this mortal coil. Not to mention that it
works with every browser that isn't IE.
Ah. I'll give this one a try. I posted another one that is suppose to be $3.50 per month.
I didn't see a price on this one.
It has a low review and only 13 users posted or reviewed it.
You have to submit a captcha every time you want to log into the system as well, not just to register. I wouldn't mind if it was just registration because I could get a friend to do it, and then log in as and when. It's frustrating that every time I want to look at the course options and such I will have to visit the department, or find a friend to just help me log in!
Yes, probably does constitute reasonable adjustment unfortunately. I hope they'll fix the website purely because it's embarrassingly bad code if nothing else!
And congratulations for your interest in portuguese. That is my language! It made me glad to read that there are people wishing to learn our language!
forereel, re post 17, what's the name of the captcha solver you mentioned, please, or where did you post this info?
These people are going to release a tool.
This tool will cost $3.50 per month.
It is called CAPTCHA Be Gone.
It is suppose to work with FireFox and Chrome for now, but later other browsers.
Here's the information.
14) CAPTCHA Be Gone is a $3 per month service which will automatically solve those pesky CAPTCHAs for you:
http://captchabegone.com/
I really need this tool, because I often am working with this sort of thing.
I have not used it, so can't say if it is good or not.
I agree with others on here. Get your skinny little tail down there and sign up.
What would you tell future employers? "i could have taken Portuguese but the
system wasn't accessible. Someone said they'd help, but on principle I refused
until the site was made accessible"?
Outside of your schools and things, most of the world isn't going to be
accessible. Even when "it should be," as you might say. If you can get the help
you need to get it done, by all means, do yourself the favor of getting it done so
you're not inhibited from reaching your goals. This isn't just a blind thing: I say
the same sorts of things to my sighted daughter. "Well dad, they're supposed to
...." or "They should have ..."
Something some of us grew up with: Life just isn't fair. It's not.
I agree to an extent leo. But this is more than just this class. For example, I cannot view any of my grades, or the comments attached to assignments on their systems. So, people just say, well ask friends to read it to you. And ok, I can do that, but then that means disclosing all my graded work to people in my class. And I'm not ok with that at all.
Bottom line is when students are paying, they need to at least make an effort to fix these systems. Yes, obviously some things I can't use. I can't for example use the touchscreens to check in at the doctors. And that's ok. I don't expect everything to be accessible to me.
But when it comes to academics, the state of the systems they are using is incredibly poor and I don't pay this much for that.
I agree with Scarlett’s last post. When inaccessibility is systemic, someone needs to fight for change. It’s not just a blind thing. Inaccessibility and bad code hurts everyone. Hundreds of iOS apps are now accessible because people spoke up and asked for change instead of just “dealing with it.”
Scarlett might be the first person to fight for the ability to independently sign up for Portuguese and view her grades. But here’s the cool thing: if she politely but persistently advocates, she might also be the last.
Oh go ahead and fight for it, I didn't say not to. In fact, see if you can collaboratively fight for it. But whether you tell them or not, still find ways to get what you want, irrespective of their lack of response.
You could fight all day and not win, despite your very best efforts. Some battles we don't winb. But if you didn't somehow work around it for yourself, you would lose twice, not once. Nobody says you should tell them how you're getting it done. I wouldn't, if I were you. Make them work for it.
I don't know how it is in the UK, but in the US, most of this legislation is civil and not criminal law. That means your ability to fight for things depends on your representation. By that, I mean legal aid, or whatever that amounts to in the UK. Trust me; they have representation. And so should you. But in case you lose this fight, try and have some kind of backup plan, so you don't have to lose twice.
If they're required by law to make it accessible, then they need to make it accessible. Simple as that.
Becky
Agreed with Ed. Sometimes an "ideal" accommodation isn't the same as a "reasonable" accommodation. Also as a person with a disability I feel like you have to pick your battles. If there's a work around in this case, your energy may be better spent focusing on a different issue that is a barrier for you, as there will always be situations that are tough/barriers and a person simply cannot fight all of them in a healthy manner to themselves and to society.
Here in the US, businesses are required by law to give people with disabilities "reasonable accommodations." I'm not sure if the same applies in the UK, but if it does, by all means, fight for what you need. This is not a want, as some here seem to be making it out to be; this is something that will drastically improve your quality of life, and possibly that of others, if you're able to get them to make things accessible for those who are blind.
While it's true that the world is not accessible to us, that doesn't mean that we can't, and shouldn't, request reasonable accommodations due to our disability. We should, and anyone who tries to discourage you from doing so, is ignorant or doesn't wanna cause waves, even if it would make things better.
The key word is reasonable.
If you go in to a business and you are offere assistants with the things you can't do yourself, that is reasonable.
I was in the market yesterday. I notice all the credit card machines have now been changed completely to touchscreens. They have no keys at all as before.
Reasonable means if I ask the clerk she or he does my card for me.