Email from Denis Anson

Greetings all,

I've just become aware of a discussion within the halls of Microsoft that
needs our input. As Windows 95 approaches its final form, the corporate
heads are arguing over whether the accessability features (sticky keys,
filter keys, etc.) should be default, or whether the customer should have to
explicitly install them. 

In the current design of Windows 95 (which I have been beta testing), the
access features are so well hidden that you have to really hunt for them to
locate the installation process. Possibly, if they had been purposely
hidden, it might have been more obscure, but I suspect not by much. I had to
call Greg Lowney to even find where they were. 

I think we would like to believe that a person with a disability should be
able to move up to any computer, anywhere, and with a relatively simple
operation, gain access to that computer. If their only need is for
one-fingered typing, they should be able to expect that pressing the shift
key five times, will activate sticky keys. If they need to connect an
augmentative communiations device to the computer, that should be as simple
as plugging in to the serial port, and pressing a few keys. 

If the person who initially had to set up the computer is expected to hunt
through the manuals, and the installation procedure to make this happen, the
simple truth is that it won't happen.  What we will have is one or two
computers that are "accessible" and the rest that are "normal." The norm
should be "accessible," and the installer shouldn't have to do anything
special to get the norm. 

Some of the corporate heads feel that requiring another 200K of hard disk
space (in a product that takes 10 meg) is excessive for the "few" potential
users. We need to tell them that the number of potential users (if given a
chance) isn't "few," and that many able-bodied users find the access
features useful, too. (How many of you have ever used mousekeys to do fine
formatting in a program that didn't have keyboard equivalents built in?)  

Please write a letter to Brad Silverburg, Vice President at Microsoft
encouraging him to make access features the normal installation in Windows
95. If the user doesn't have room on a small computer, s/he should be able
to get rid of them, I suppose, but they should be there for everyone. Send
your letter to: 

Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-9953

(Please send a copy to Greg Lowney, as well, at the same address)

Or, you can email to Greg, and ask him to forward your letter internally. 
Greg can be reached at greglo@microsoft.com (or via this listserve) 

Thanks for your help.