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Thread: My role in advocating for the accessibility of PDF documents
Number of posts in this thread: 2 (In chronological order)
From: Karlen Communications
Date: Mon, Aug 20 2018 4:02AM
Subject: My role in advocating for the accessibility of PDF documents
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Everyone:
Having given it much thought and discussion with my friends and family, I am
leaving the work that I've done advocating and supporting the accessibility
of PDF documents for the past 18 years.
I do not believe in the direction that the standards have gone. I can't even
tell you when we, as a committee changed the focus from accessibility and
usability of PDF documents to "equal access to crappy content."
As someone who has been one of the few people with disabilities visibly
supporting and defending PDF and PDF/UA as having the potential for being an
accessible format, it feels as if I am leaving my life's work.
However, I can no longer have a positive role in advancing PDF accessibility
through the ISO committees and it is time for me to admit that.
I have posted my letter of resignation to the ISO PDF committees on my
website.
Cheers, Karen
From: Philip Kiff
Date: Mon, Aug 20 2018 6:37AM
Subject: Re: My role in advocating for the accessibility of PDF documents
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I'm sorry to read this news. While we've never met, I know something of
you and your work. And while I have only relatively recently turned my
focus to the PDF/UA standard, I am already keenly aware that your
contributions to the shaping and development of that standard will be
sorely missed.
Sincerely,
Philip Kiff
D4K Communications
On 2018-08-20 6:02 AM, Karlen Communications wrote:
> Everyone:
>
> Having given it much thought and discussion with my friends and family, I am
> leaving the work that I've done advocating and supporting the accessibility
> of PDF documents for the past 18 years.
>
> I do not believe in the direction that the standards have gone. I can't even
> tell you when we, as a committee changed the focus from accessibility and
> usability of PDF documents to "equal access to crappy content."
>
> As someone who has been one of the few people with disabilities visibly
> supporting and defending PDF and PDF/UA as having the potential for being an
> accessible format, it feels as if I am leaving my life's work.
>
> However, I can no longer have a positive role in advancing PDF accessibility
> through the ISO committees and it is time for me to admit that.
>
> I have posted my letter of resignation to the ISO PDF committees on my
> website.
>
> Cheers, Karen