Accessibility on the Internet

Hello all.  Today marks the last day that chairman Bill Gates sits in the hot seat at Microsoft.  Lots of journalists, enthusiasts, and writers have done extensive montages dedicated to BillyG, so I won't bore you with it all.

So today being the day, I figured http://www.microsoft.com would get in on the action as well.  They have, and right up on the first screen is an ad for a video montage about his early years and such.  Great! I thought.  Microsoft has always been great about having their online videos captioned if you have that option enabled in your computer settings.  So I clicked it and no captioning.

Hmmm.

Okay, maybe it's because I'm in Firefox, I mean FF3 DID just come out.  I'll try IE7. 

Still no captions.

ARGH!

Okay check the settings, setting are fine. 

I'm told on Microsoft's ENABLE page that "Our vision is to create innovative technology that is accessible to everyone and that adapts to each person's needs. Accessible technology eliminates barriers for people with disabilities and it enables individuals to take full advantage of their capabilities."  Well it sure doesn't look like the reigns will be handed down if THIS is considered accessible.  I demand that Microsoft transcribe all of the montage videos or caption them.  I'll say now that I am a beta tester for them and this does not make me happy one bit.  I've tested accessibility in products, but it seems some have been forgotten.  WE however will not be forgotten about.

My Lousy Signing Skills

In reference to a comment on this blog (note that it is a comment left on the blog and not the actually blog post.) If you need a transcript, let me know, but I think you can gather what I'm trying to say.

Where I Am

I've sat here for about a week wondering what to think and do over all of the mess with DeafRead, people getting ousted, leaving, attacking each other, etc. It's all very much to take and to be honest, in the end, it doesn't matter. At least, I thought it didn't.

Then DeafVillage came into the picture and then things really got confusing for me. I guess maybe it's because I still don't really know where I fit into the community (do I even FIT?).

We aren't supposed to look at this as a medical condition, but as I see daily in my life, it is. Growing up culturally Deaf, some of you don't have my experience. I understand that. So what am I supposed to do when the two worlds that are suppose to co-exist together suddenly clash; lash out at each other; then try to pry apart from one another with wounds and go separate ways?

I sign, I speak, I can hear some, I use hearing aids (soon), but this is all driving me crazy. Why can't we all get along, seriously?! Please don't make me choose between you all.