[LINK] RFI: Govt Policy re Correspondence Format

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

On 2/08/2012 9:11 AM, Tom Worthington wrote:
> On 01/08/12 09:03, Roger Clarke wrote:
>> ... agencies that ... send replies to soft-copy by snail-mail ...
>> (2)  send soft-copies, but as scans not in text-extractable format ...
> It might be argued that sending paper is unlawful, under the Disability
> Discrimination Act, as the document is less readable using assistive
> technology.
>
> Agencies are required to provide their web pages in an accessible
> format, in case you have a disability. It could be argued that as email
> is now a common means of communication, and therefore that obligation
> for accessible documents also now extends to individual communication.
> This would make sending paper letters unlawful.
>
>

I'm puzzled.

Is the argument that every form of communication has to be accessible by 
every disabled person?

Or is it that a number of forms of communication should be available 
such that people with different disabilities can access at least one?

An analogy would be stairs. People who have to use wheelchairs cannot 
climb stairs unassisted. Does that mean stairs should be banned?

The idea of making sending paper unlawful is as silly as banning stairs.

-- 
  
Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
email:   brd at iimetro.com.au
website: www.drbrd.com