[laptop-accessibility] Publicizing the accessibility project

[Andrea Shettle]

Hi -- I'm Andrea Shettle, editor/author for a blog, We Can Do, that  
focuses on people with disabilities in developing countries.

I don't know how much time I will have to devote to this list.   
Probably not a lot, I'm afraid.  But I've joined for now.  And I've  
also helped publicize it with a blog post at:

http://wecando.wordpress.com/2008/01/05/resource-news-making-the-xo- 
laptop-accessible/

And I've added it to the blog roll.

I also wrote another blog post back in November (before I knew this  
list existed) in which I express my concerns about XO accessibility for  
children with disabilities:

http://wecando.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/opinion-one-laptop-per-child— 
but-is-it-inclusive/

I ordered my own XO laptop on Dec. 31 (ie, on the last day of G1G1) and  
am still waiting for it to arrive.  When I get it, I'll try to evaluate  
it from the perspective of a deaf person.  I also have a foot problem  
that makes it hard for me to carry heavy objects over long distances.   
So I'll also evaluate it from that perspective as well.

Everyone, of course, prefers objects to be light, but this can be a  
particular issue for some people with certain physical disabilities,  
especially if you do also have to carry other items with you.  So a  
weight that is manageable for one person (even if highly annoying) can  
cause injury for another person--which means they must choose between  
knowingly carrying that weight to the point where they know that they  
will be unable to carry anything else or walk more than a or two block  
at a time for the next several days, or else do without certain things  
that they would like to have with them so that they can more safely  
walk further distances.  I forget if weight is on the list of  
accessibility issues, but if not, it probably should be.  It's my  
understanding that it's lighter than the standard western laptop which  
is great, but 1.6 kilograms can still add a lot of weight if you're  
already ALSO carrying a book or two or a bunch of printed journal  
articles to read for school etc., so I'm expecting to be moderately  
constrained in terms of when and where I can really take it places with  
me.  (No, I don't drive.  And just for the record, because I always  
hate perpetuating stereotypes when there's no purpose to it, no, my  
non-driving has no connection whatsoever to my being deaf.  And, of  
course, a child in a developing country is not exactly going to be  
driving much either!)

Andrea Shettle, MSW
ashettle at patriot.net
http://wecando.wordpress.com