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Holiday sales to plummet Blind Recording Artists: Blind Internet access blocked by CDBaby

When Mary Sten-Clanton (Dorchester, Massachusetts) went online in September, this time she could no longer hear samples of songs. Mary, who is blind, uses a screen reader. "CDBaby has always been accessible before. She decided to buy the CD anyway, but could not.

even harmful, "Mary says," When a company whose Web site has always been perfectly accessible, suddenly have that access away. "

CDBaby online is the oldest and largest outlet for indie artists. Derek Sivers musician began when the company in 1998, accessibility was part of his philosophy-a level-playing field. He sold CDBaby, however, the new CDBaby artists. She fears that this problem will cause blind fans to go to other places like Amazon or CDUniverse. She believes that artists blind, now unable to easily update their pages CDBaby, will also lose substantial revenue why not be able to directly impact its own sales presence.

"It's not only the importance of our fans blind that CDBaby shall cause to sit and take notice, "says Lisa," the blind artists are also affected. It is the lack of access to sites like CDBaby that tie the hands and make it harder for us to get our jobs. As for our fans blind, of which there are many, the level of frustration they encounter when visiting sites inaccessible, is a guarantee that will not return. "

first got an answer that had lost all their email and re-submit, "she says," So I wrote again. They have not replied. I really enjoyed the site. Many years ago I remember I had received an email from Girls on Film, a group of electronic dance / About his new release on CDBaby. You can not view the music, Lawrence, who is blind, the company wrote.

Member CDBaby response, for the blind. Unfortunately, there are some issues that need other programs to finish first. "

Some other programming issues? In-house programmers have not fixed it yet.

Lawrence is a member of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). NFB offers advocacy, rehabilitation and conducts research through its Jernigan Institute in Baltimore. Ken, you want to continue on the radio one day, promotes friendship between artists indie sighted and blind. His friend, an artist's vision CD Baby, singer-songwriter Jenifer Jackson, wrote on the letter says: "Our site used to be very user friendly, and I think that was ignored by our programmers. It is a priority, however, and are working to make a dial-up site that will be readable. That will not happen any time in the next 2-3 months … We are very proud of our site accessible as it was before … "

A question such as "really proud" that could have been. Apparently not, proud enough to remember that when programmers at his home, the redesigned site. In addition, a site of "dial-up?" From According to Sten-Clanton, whose husband is a computer programmer, he will probably be a separate text only site accessible to mobile phones and screen readers. It is Mary. She once tried to text only site Amazon and found that many of the features were missing.

"In this case, I just went back to Amazon regular, "says Mary," Since Amazon is accessible to begin with. "

And they agreed not to fix the problem, at to fight blind musicians.

Hard hit are artists with Christmas albums with a call for blind fans. Veronica Elsea Music Laurel Creek pinch Holiday also affects the NFB Performing Arts Division (PAD), a volunteer run nonprofit. Recipe for "Sound in Sight," a multi-genre compilation eighteen original tracks and covers donated by artists blind, helps fund projects PAD. President of the PAD, Dennis Holston, a recruiter of talent blind Manhattan-based, wrote the CDBaby expressing concern and offering help them restore accessibility to blind fans and artists have long.

In its reply, CD to lead full lives, productive and independent.

NFB Access Technology Center has resources to sites that try to become accessible. Web accessibility program Certification recognizes sites that have made significant improvements. There is also a form to report sites inaccessible. Visit:
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Technology_Center.asp?SnID=326767672

Braille and recorded compilations of selections of current periodicals, has been reduced by a social network for blind people, with links to articles about blindness. between literacy in Braille, the probability of a blind person to find a job, obtaining a graduate degree and earning more than $ 50,000 a year. working age is higher than coins go into Braille in Braille readers are leaders of the campaign:
http://www.braille.org

Despite a public relations campaign that included the launch of the currency NASA in space aboard the Atlantis, the currencies of Braille, unlike other celebratory, not sold. Time is short. The currency is only available until the end of 2009. Currently the program is ready to receive much less

Addressing these issues has been the main priority of the company. According to Andrew, who fixed the site was "like trying to move a whale."

Mr Andrew confirmed that the company is indeed considering a text-only site. He was not aware of the concerns of blind people as customers have about Sten-Clanton this. He also had no idea that there was a way to make Flash accessible. He said musicians. We are strongly in favor of activism that is happening with respect changes impacting customers visually impaired artist and have been addressed. However, blind people can not expect your problems will be resolved soon and certainly not in time for the holidays.

Other artists include blind CDBaby Neal Ewers, Kevin Reeves, Sarah Alawami and the author of this article.

About the Author

Donna W. Hill is an author, singer/songwriter, speaker and avid knitter. A volunteer publicist for the Performing Arts Division, National Federation of the Blind, she works for improved opportunities for blind Americans.

http://www.padnfb.org

A breast cancer survivor, she promotes self-exam. Hear clips from The Last Straw at:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill

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