Sony and the Handicapped

ezway wrote on 3/21/2005, 6:52 PM
Sony has been less than helpful in dealing with my disibility. I am not asking for special treatment, rather a level playing field.

Here is one example of a letter I wrote to Sony last month. Please note I never received even a telephone call.


The Office of the President
National Customer Relations Department
Executive Office
Sony Corporation of America
550 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022-3211
(212) 833-6800
(239) 768-7790
Dear Gentlemen and Ladies,
I am an independent film maker living in California and am handicapped as defined under the American with Disabilities Act.
I called for a pre-sales question concerning a pro camera model 510 NTSC model.
I called Andy in your Business to Business Office in New Jersey and he said he had the information available in PDF format only.
I explained my disabilities, and he said that Sony had nothing for me, and hung up.
This will be my second HD camera from Sony, last time it took almost two years to receive an A.D.A. compliant manual, and this takes the edge off the technology if my competitors can read the manual two years before it is available to me.
I have downloaded the pdf files on the new camera and they WILL NOT work in my screen reader as they are copyrighted and screen reader can NOT disass4mble them for text to speech. I have the latest version of Adobe Pro with screen reader technology but still all the documents are A.D.A. non-compliant.
The law is very specific, please come into compliance, and help the handicapped help themselves.

Best Wishes,
Marty

Next Sony would not register me for the training because I have a service animal and they did not me to be in the way at their show. I became upset and wrote Josh the following.

Joshua Dodge
Sony Media Software
1617 Sherman Ave.
Madison, WI 53704

Re: ten (10) day notice to correct

Mr. Dodge,
I am handicapped as defined under the American with Disabilities Act, and require the use of a medical dog.
I tried to register for your event in Las Vegas Nevada USA and was told that I could not attend because of my need for a service animal.
Title III says in part:
Sec.36.101 Purpose.
The purpose of this part is to implement title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12181), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and requires places of public accommodation and commercial facilities to be designed, constructed, and altered in compliance with the accessibility standards established by this part.
Sec.36.102 Application.
(a) General. This part applies to any --
(1) Public accommodation;
(2) Commercial facility; or
(3) Private entity that offers examinations or courses related to applications, licensing, certification, or credentialing for secondary or postsecondary education, professional, or trade purposes.
(b) Public accommodations. (1) The requirements of this part applicable to public accommodations are set forth insubparts B, C, and D of this part.
(2) The requirements of subparts B and C of this part obligate a public accommodation only with respect to the operations of a place of public accommodation.
(3) The requirements of subpart D of this part obligate a public accommodation only with respect to --
(i) A facility used as, or designed or constructed for use as, a place of public accommodation; or
(ii) A facility used as, or designed and constructed for use as, a commercial facility.
(c) Commercial facilities. The requirements of this part applicable to commercial facilities are set forth in subpart D of this part.
(d) Examinations and courses. The requirements of this part applicable to private entities that offer examinations or courses as specified in paragraph (a) of this section are set forth in Sec.36.309.
(e) Exemptions and exclusions. This part does not apply to any private club (except to the extent that the facilities of the private club are made available to customers or patrons of a place of public accommodation), or to any religious entity or public entity
I will file a federal law suit against Sony, Sony Media Software, and Sony Corporation if this gross violation of law is not corrected within 10 days from Monday, March 14, 2005, or on or after the 25 of March 2005.

Martin Baldwin

/*********************************/

OK, what's the point? Well if companies can get away with mistreating their weak users (customers), guess who's next on the list? It's all fine until they do it to you, then explain how you feel when they don't allow you in because perhaps you are black, or you require a wheel chair?

I am stubborn and always try to do what I say, so I'am going anyway, just perhaps not to the Sony training booth.

Best Wishes,
Marty

Comments

Coursedesign wrote on 3/21/2005, 7:13 PM
If you are visually impaired, perhaps they couldn't imagine how you could use a camera.

A few years ago I had the opposite problem. I could read somewhat, but I sure couldn't use a camera.

For the PDFs, have you looked at using one of the available OCR programs that read PDF files and create a clean document? Your text-to-speech converter should be able to read that.

ezway wrote on 3/21/2005, 7:35 PM
Hello and thank you,
Yes I think they have trouble understanding how I use the camera, but my point is simple, if I can keep up with the tasks presented to me during training, why should I be restricted from participation?

I have may screen readers from Jaws to SED and without exception they will not read the Sony version of pdf files.

I went as far as sending the pdf to Abobe and they could not translate as they did not have the encryption key.

OCR on Sony pdf's simply does not work because of fonts and spacing. Sony understands this and does it with a purpose, they will send you a special version of the manuals, but they are overwhelmed by requests.

Please also note I am not saying Sony is any worse than other companies in this compliance, they are just part of a larger problem that exists in current business practices, that is a shame.

The U.S. Justice Department has been advised and under the Vush administration you can bet it will be another two years before I receive a manual I can work with without help.
My problem is also that I use manuals everyday as reference materials, so it becomes impossible for me to ask someone to be on hand to read the manual on demand.

Please tell me why they do not produce a simple text version of ythe manuals for those of us who need them? What trade secrets are contained within a opp's manual?

Best Wishes,
Marty

stevengotts wrote on 3/21/2005, 8:32 PM
Marty
keep this issue alive. It shouldn't matter if Sony cant understand how you use your camera. you gave them money for it didnt you? I am Handicapped, partially paralyzed, and see out one eye, and have no problem filming and editing not to mention the ability to spend thousands on technology each year. Keep us posted.
Good Luck
Steven
ezway wrote on 3/21/2005, 9:54 PM
Thank you Steven,
I don't understand why it is such an issue, as you said we spend thounds oof dollars every year on equi[. and software, and yet Sony insist on selecting who is worthy by their motor skills, or ability to focus without the aid of special optics.
Anyway, I am pretty sure they don't care, if they break the law or not.
Best Wishes,
Marty
TheHappyFriar wrote on 3/21/2005, 10:10 PM
Ok, maybe there's something I don't understand here...

1) they don't have a text-only manual that your computer can speak to you, & the PDF one is copyprotected, correct?

2) the location where Sony Media Software was holding an event wouldn't allow any animals (including a service animal), correct?

And you want to sue Sony over both of these matters?

That doesn't make much sence to me. With the manual (which you should be able to take screen captures of & make your own PDF, unless Sony figured out how to block screen capture), I don't think a judge will say you were discriminated against because they didn't go out of their way to design & create a manual for a video camera so that people who can't see very well (or at all) can use it. That would be like saying Sony is discriminating against deaf people if they didn't have visual cues on surround sound systems so a deaf person could make sure the freq's are correct on each speaker. Well, in some states they might. :)

For the event, that really sucks. There could be a very good reason why they won't allow a service animal there (a past incident could of gone horrible with a service animal), but they should tell you (ie last year someone brought a seeing eye dog in, it bit someone & we got sued & the owner of the dog sued us too). "being in the way" could apply to anyone/thing. Did you talk to Josh Dodge before you mailed him? There's been several times where someone will tell me one thing but when I talk to their boss/superior it's a completely differnt story. Odds are they'd say "prove it" before they belived you, but you could, and I wouldn't blame them (if they didn't want proof I could say my goat is a service animal)

Is there a reason a friend/family member can't attend the event with you so you don't need the dog (ie hold you hand)? Couldn't the same person read the manual & record it on tape/CD for you too? That would solve both problems.

I think you may be using the American with Disabilities Act ina way that it wasn't meant to be used. It's susposed to stop people from discriminating against you, not to be used to make other people work harder for you. And, I don't discriminate against disabled people: my wife is. She can't walk w/o crutches (MS). One day in college the elevator in the building her class was in was broken. Her class was three floors up. She didn't complain, refuse to go to class until it gets fixed, or threaten to sue the school. She said "I gotta get to class" & climbed 3 flights of stairs with a 25lb backpack & made it to class on time.

She doesn't expect people to go out of their way to help her because of her disability. She fits her life around it (because it is part of her life, like our kids, out animals, our family, etc)
filmy wrote on 3/21/2005, 10:28 PM
I was not going to say anything here but I felel I have too -

>>>Is there a reason a friend/family member can't attend the event with you so you don't need the dog (ie hold you hand)? Couldn't the same person read the manual & record it on tape/CD for you too? That would solve both problems.<<<

yes there is a reason. the same reason why you can't make someone whose skin is a different hue than "white" use a seperate bathroom or sit in the back of the bus. There are laws now that require equal access for all - any facility that denys entrance to someone with an assitance animal is in clear violation of that law. And sure someone could just walk with a site impred person or read to them, but than again wheel chair bound people don't *really* need to take up all that space when someone could just carry them right?

And hell - Cancer patients don't *really* need insurance to pay for shots that cost $8,000.00 when they could just as easy die and save everyone money right?

Sorry this thread hits close to home in many ways and I am sure your quesitons were sincere friar but they are just so...uninformed. ezway went to Sony about the PDF's because it is their "job" offer equal access to these manuals if they are doing it...and they are. As for the Vegas event - could be the venue or could be someone in Madison who said he couldn't go...I dunno but it sounds logical to me to go to the "promoter" first with the issue, although I would also go to the venue as well.
Grazie wrote on 3/21/2005, 10:29 PM
Ezway, what is it you want from us here?

Grazie
ezway wrote on 3/21/2005, 10:45 PM
Hello TheHappyFriar, and thank you,

You made my points better than I could, and what's great is you don't understand why.

I never said I was going to sue Sony, what I said was the remedy I requested was to correct a incident of misuse of power.

Second service animals are used and approved for many medical conditions.
The U.S. Dept. of Justice maintains a web site for just these issues.
http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm
I object to the term seeing eye dog, sir I really request that you use service animal.


Now as for the manual, yes it is the law that Sony provide educational materials for products sold in the United States, (just like I was a normal person), that I can use, this cost is built in to the price of all products, (please see http://www.ada.gov/ ( Tile II speaks directly to the law the preamble language is mostly in sectiion A,B, and C, where section D contains the actual law). Because it is a Federal Law, no State or Local laws may superceed it.

As far as your frined that is challanged. she is most fortunate to do for herself without help. I also am independant but constantly try to educate the uninformed individuals that always want to find a reason "as to why" we protest, mistreatment, and assume that our motives are monotary.

I filed suit for cirb cuts in California, (those sidewalk ramps) that allow wheel chairs to cross streets. Are you sure I did this for money?Please show me your evidence, as I spent 40K of my own money and never took a dime. You know that money the crippled guy earned from a real job?

My question to you is why does it not bother you when a huge comapny mistreats a group or segment of it's loyal customer base?

I dare you to spend an entire day in a wheel chair and afterwards write what you did to anyone.

Have a nice day TheHappyFriar,
Marty


ezway wrote on 3/21/2005, 10:58 PM
Hi Grazie
I just like you people so much and have learned from you in many ways. What I want is for Sony to explain their position, and if they are incorrect to go forth and sin no more.

No Sony money, nothing but a level playing field, one we all can enjoy together.


Best Wishes,
Marty
BillyBoy wrote on 3/21/2005, 11:00 PM
Ezway, for the first problem, the issue is various levels of protection schemes, not by Sony, but by Adobe when anyone creating the original PRF file has options to "protect" the document so it is harder to copy.

There are several shareware applications that claim to unlock this protection. Only rumors I've heard, can't give you any name, but perhaps some time seaching on the web instead of writing angry letters would get you better results. That's also the approach I'd try with Sony to get a copy of the manual you want. Instead of yelling and screaming about them not following the letter of the law instead write a nicely worded letter explaining your
situtation and why you need a unprotected copy of the PDF file. I assume they have one, saying please can I have a copy rather then demaing they follow the law is likely to get better results.

A quicke search came up with the following. Maybe these guys can at least get your pointed in the right direction:

http://www.nextup.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=2575&

All that said, are you sure the problem isn't your text to speech software may just be having trouble reading the PDF file? Have you try any of the utilites that convert PDF to Word documents or simple text files as a primary step. Have you tried screen capture? Heck, I just print out a page or two of the PDF file and then photocopy it, then see if someone can scan that to a reasable format for the text to to speech software.
ezway wrote on 3/21/2005, 11:12 PM
Hi BillyBoy,
Yes all true but it would break the law to remove Sony's Copyright, and I must not allow this to happen, as I become a partner in the misdeed.
Sony will rremove the copyright and all works fine with the new readers, but they must remove it, no I.
Sometimes the screen readers will hang on a pdf graphic even after legal removal of copyright.
Abdoe has made it quite clear that Sony's copyrighted work will NOT work with screen readers, period.
I am not sure of the issues involbed but Sony's pdf key prevents disassembly by the reader.
I will try to checkout other ways but I must do it within the law.
Thanks for all your help, now and in the past,
Marty



PeterWright wrote on 3/22/2005, 12:14 AM
> " ...but it would break the law to remove Sony's Copyright ..."

Marty, I'd let the law worry about itself. I can assure you, Sony would not sue someone with a vision impairment for having to use OCR or other means to read a manual he owned.

Hope you find a way soon ...

Peter
Grazie wrote on 3/22/2005, 12:57 AM
Marty, "What I want is for Sony to explain their position, and if they are incorrect to go forth and sin no more." . . soooo, not being Sony, I guess you don't want anything from me? Or do you? If so, I haven't heard a question or a request?

I'm still listenning Marty.

Best regards,

Graham "Grazie" Bernard
farss wrote on 3/22/2005, 1:00 AM
ezway,
this isn't really a Sony forum even though they have their name on the top of this page. The guys who are responsible for Vegas and the rest of the products here are a long way removed from the division that makes Sony broadcast equipment. Unfortunately I don't know of any other forum run by Sony at all so I realise this news doesn't help you much in your quest.

As to how to solve your problem, well given the stance that you've taken Sony's pro camera division are the only ones who can help it would seem. I like others do find your stance a bit unusual, I'd just do what you have to do so you can move forward, if that technically breaks some copy protection scheme then so be it. I wouldn't be surprised if the truth is that Sony themselves didn't even consider the issue of the document being locked and have now lost the key so the reason it'll take them so long is they've got to recreate the thing from scratch.
One thing I'm kind of curious about, if you cannot read the manual off a screen how do you cope with navigating the menus in the camera? Only reason I'm asking is I would have thought you could load the manual into one of those tablet PCs to take with you to read.
There's another angle to this that I'm not understanding. If your reader cannot read the document because it's locked and US law requires that your reader be able to read the document doesn't this in effect challenge the legality of Adobes document locking system? Shouldn't Adobe shoulder some of the blame for this, I can't see why a document couldn't be locked so that it cannot be modified and yet able to serve up ascii characters to a reader.
Bob.
ezway wrote on 3/22/2005, 2:49 AM
farss Amen to that,
Please think of this when I speak about issues of accessibility. I want to work and be a productive member of Society, so I get up every morning and put on a coat and tie and conduct business just as any of you.
I go to make a copy of a document and I can't see the buttons as they are very small and higher than my wheel chair. I go to lunch and someone always makes a remark to the resturant owner about allowing a dog inside while we are eating. I return from lunch and a taxi will not pick me up because I have a dog and it takes time loading a wheel chair, time they could be earning momey, I understand. I get back to work and find that the comapny has a softball team, and my invitation has been lost in the mail.
I come to the Christmas party and everyone tell's my wife how well he does with all he has on him, he is a true inspiration. Well in fact I do less than most people but somehow someone must single me out, and make me stickout from the crowd. I just wish to fit in and without fan fare, learn from you good people, and I need Sony to understand that they are a huge company that feeds the masses goods and services, and some of their customers need a little extra effort to be able to participate in the venture.
One of my favorite friends is totally blind and she lives in Columbia South Carolina, her father was in the Marines when she was little and took her out to a park and taught her to ride a bicycle. Sounds so simple but she was in the base hospital 3 times a week for years. Her father was a remarkabl4e person as he saw what the handicapped need, and it is so simple., we need to be treated normally.
When you see a challenged person treat them as you would anyone else. They may need help with the menu but otherwize their good. Try not to tell dog jokes, we've heard them all.
I like jokes that make fun of the handocapped like "Why won't they allow blind people to skydive?" Answer "It scares the crap out of their dogs."

We are just normal folks some good some no so good, and want more than anything to be included within the group.

That's is why this forumn is so good as you all help each other to becomming better and better. I see such synergy on some posts that make me proud of each and every one of you.
People learn to share information and idea's that makes things better for everyone.

God Bless you all,
Marty
farss wrote on 3/22/2005, 5:48 AM
My approach is to look at things the other way around, I spent way too many years of my life thinking I was 'abnormal', simply because as a kid I was overweight and had a few childhood illnesses that precluded me from a lot of the physical activity that most kids engage in. It finally dawned on me that no one is 'normal', sure it looks that way, they all go to work in the morning with their suits and ties on and yes they can reach the buttons on the photocopier but dig a bit deeper and you see that each and every one of us has some peculiarity that makes us different ( and thankfully so), it's just that in your case the differences are somewhat more obvious, trust me, if you weren't there they'd be someone else to fill your role as the 'special' person in the office. Maybe their differences wouldn't be so obvious, maybe it'd just be the colour of his skin or his poor command of the language or the odd clothes he wore.
Bob.
BillyBoy wrote on 3/22/2005, 7:01 AM
You said: "When you see a challenged person treat them as you would anyone else" OK, trying, but it seems YOU are the one that keeps injecting you are a challenged person making it sound like you think you are entitled to special consideration. Don't mean that to be harsh, but you know I'm a blunt, direct guy and I'm going at the issue in more black and white terms.

Your manual problem, sounds technically like a simple one to resolve. Don't try to make it a legal issue. Sony is a big enough company if you reach the right person they probably would instruct someone to somehow get you a manual in a format you can use, if you ask nice. However because Sony is such a big company, no doubt that have all kinds of lawyers on staff, so if you come on strong and start scolding them, now in public about them maybe breaking some law, then your complaint will get buried in their legal department and never see the light of day for years, if at at.

It comes down to do you want to make a big deal out of some minor violation of some law (sorry, but your posts suggest that) or do you really want to find a faster way to get the manual in a form more useable for you?



SonyJDodge wrote on 3/22/2005, 9:30 AM
Hi Marty,

This is Josh Dodge, the fella you addressed your latest letter to. I unfortunately have not received this letter yet; perhaps it is still in the mail. I most certainly would have responded to you in short order, and I will do exactly that once I receive the letter itself. In the meantime, since I know you are probably monitoring this post, I will also express a few comments here for your benefit.

1) Sony Media Software maintains "unlocked" manuals for all its products for use in screen reader applications. If you are in need of an "unlocked" manual for any product we make, by all means contact Customer Service and make your request. We'll have it to you as soon as possible. As for the folks you spoke with at Sony Electronics, it doesn't sound like they understood the situation. Could you send me the name of the person you spoke to (was it Andy? Did you get a last name?) and the number you called and I'll try to get this cleared up for you in short order.

2) I can only assume the event you were trying to register for was at NAB, April 16th - 21st 2005. That is being held in the Las Vegas Convention Center. How did you attempt to register for our events at NAB? Did you call to the convention center and they told you that a service dog was not allowed in the center? We do not have a policy of any kind that would stop individuals with service dogs from attending our trainings. My hunch is that the convention center itself doesn't allow animals inside the facility, and that is where you received the information from? I'm not sure, but we'll get to the bottom of this, together.

Marty, above and beyond everything else, I want you to know that we definitely aren't trying to discriminate against you or anyone else with disabilities, that's for sure. I believe what has transpired so far is a lot of misunderstanding, and for that I apologize on behalf of Sony. I will help you through all the things you mention in this thread, that's a promise. I would have done so sooner, had I received your letter. I've also been traveling and just started to catch up on work. I have your phone number and will call you this afternoon.

Thank you,
Josh Dodge
Manager, Customer Services
Sony Media Software
jhc wrote on 3/22/2005, 10:17 AM
Wow -- I don't post here very often but just had to post a reply when I read the entry posted by Josh Dodge. I don't even know where I come down on some of the issues brought up in this thread, but it is absolutely refreshing to see Customer Services for a company as big as Sony, step up to the plate in the manner that Josh Dodge has.

No run-around, no excuses... just a "let's get this solved together" attitude. If only this type of response weren't so rare these days.

Apologies for the rambling -- I just figured that it would be nice to point out something really nice for a change.

Jonathan
ezway wrote on 3/22/2005, 10:17 AM
Hello Mr. Dodge
Although it is good the Sony Media Software " maintains "unlocked" manuals for all its products for use in screen reader applications", that is not the issue. That however that is the EXACT issue with Sony.
Two seperate letters in one post may have blured the issues into one.
As for not getting the letter I can't imagine that as it was sent the middle of March, at any rate you have not received it.
I phoned "Sony Media Software" and they sent me out a manual on Vegas 5, infact Threasa Carlson made sure it was done and I thank her.
I still am waiting on the manual for DVD Arch. 2 and have hopes my mail service is better than yours.
Please note I have nothing but respect for your organization, as my family owns a Sony Dealership in Georgia. When I send fax after fax begging for information on goods I have, and good and services I wish to buy, I expect more than what "Andy" gave me, which was words flavored with "you are wasting my time". When I called Manny the Sony rep. in California he called me back, he did leave a message once saying he had called and would try again tommorow, this never happened.
As far as NAB I spoke with the people at registration, and faxed and emailed Dear Baldwin Martin,

Thank you for registering for the NAB Sony Vegas software User Group Party . We have received your registration for the seminar in Las Vegas, NV on 4/19/2005. Please review the information below and reply to this email if any of the information is incorrect. The seminar will begin at 8:30 AM and end at approximately 5:30 PM. You will receive more details about the event one week prior to your scheduled seminar.

Detailed payment information can be found at the bottom of this message.
Thank you again for your registration. We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas, NV on 4/19/2005.

Kind regards,

VASST Tour Registration
http://www.vasst.com/aboutus.htm


Name: Baldwin Martin
Company: Circlin the Drain Productions
Address:
900 Sunset Circle 18
Crescent City, CA 95531
United States of America

Phone: (707) 260-9001
Email: pga@charter.net

Seminar Name: NAB Sony Vegas software User Group Party Seminar City: Las Vegas, NV Seminar Date(s): 4/19/2005

Questions or concerns about your registration? Please email mannie@sundancemediagroup.com.




I wrote to manny at vasst and never received a reply. So I called again and the lady said why would I want to attend if I could not see what is going on?

Best Wishes,
Marty




ezway wrote on 3/22/2005, 10:17 AM
Hello Mr. Dodge
Although it is good the Sony Media Software " maintains "unlocked" manuals for all its products for use in screen reader applications", that is not the issue. That however that is the EXACT issue with Sony.
Two seperate letters in one post may have blured the issues into one.
As for not getting the letter I can't imagine that as it was sent the middle of March, at any rate you have not received it.
I phoned "Sony Media Software" and they sent me out a manual on Vegas 5, infact Threasa Carlson made sure it was done and I thank her.
I still am waiting on the manual for DVD Arch. 2 and have hopes my mail service is better than yours.
Please note I have nothing but respect for your organization, as my family owns a Sony Dealership in Georgia. When I send fax after fax begging for information on goods I have, and good and services I wish to buy, I expect more than what "Andy" gave me, which was words flavored with "you are wasting my time". When I called Manny the Sony rep. in California he called me back, he did leave a message once saying he had called and would try again tommorow, this never happened.
As far as NAB I spoke with the people at registration, and faxed and emailed Dear Baldwin Martin,

Thank you for registering for the NAB Sony Vegas software User Group Party . We have received your registration for the seminar in Las Vegas, NV on 4/19/2005. Please review the information below and reply to this email if any of the information is incorrect. The seminar will begin at 8:30 AM and end at approximately 5:30 PM. You will receive more details about the event one week prior to your scheduled seminar.

Detailed payment information can be found at the bottom of this message.
Thank you again for your registration. We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas, NV on 4/19/2005.

Kind regards,

VASST Tour Registration
http://www.vasst.com/aboutus.htm


Name: Baldwin Martin
Company: Circlin the Drain Productions
Address:
900 Sunset Circle 18
Crescent City, CA 95531
United States of America

Phone: (707) 260-9001
Email: pga@charter.net

Seminar Name: NAB Sony Vegas software User Group Party Seminar City: Las Vegas, NV Seminar Date(s): 4/19/2005

Questions or concerns about your registration? Please email mannie@sundancemediagroup.com
dse@sundancemediagroup.com

Doug

I wrote to Mannie at vasst and never received a reply.
So I called again and the lady said why would I want to attend if I could not see what is going on?

Best Wishes,
Marty




ezway wrote on 3/22/2005, 10:32 AM
A small follow up.
It is against Federal Law for any publicly held company to hold a convention in a place or places that are not handicapped accessible.

To everyone, what I am asking is simple, a level playing field, no more any less. Give me a chance to prove I can learn and be useful, if not I'll go away and never bother you again.
To everyone please try to remove the barriers that prevent access everywhere you go, stand up for those who can't.
Best Wishes,
Marty

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/22/2005, 10:54 AM
Marty,
Please forward any mail you sent to Mannie to me, dse {at} sundancemediagroup {dot} com.
We've just searched the server for anyone with your name, and no name that matches your registration shows up.

Secondly, I'm not sure where you called, but we don't have any women working here at VASST.

We have contacted Kristie Morris at NAB to inquire about ADA access, since the event is in the LVCC (Las Vegas Convention Center) that they have handicap access and allow service animals.
If you'd like to contact Ms. Morris yourself, you can reach her at kmorris@nab.org. She is the designated person at NAB that manages any ADA requests. Since over 100,000 people attend NAB, I'm certain they have accomodations.

There are two registrations involved here, one from NAB, which VASST has no relationship with, and the Sony Software Vegas Users Event being held on the night of the 19th in the LVCC. (Same building as NAB)

We'll dig into the NAB ADA access information for you, and will call you to let you know what we find out.
ezway wrote on 3/22/2005, 10:56 AM
Mannie says he never got my email Doug says the lady I spoke with was with the Las Vegas Convention center, I take them at their word.
Marty