what defines a space?

National Federation of the Blind sues Target over accessiblity.

shellynoir sent me this article yesterday, and I'm just now looking over it. What's really interesting to me is this paragraph: Last month a federal judge in California allowed the NFB's case to proceed, rejecting Target's argument that its Web site wasn't subject to the Americans With Disabilities Act, a 1990 law that requires retailers and other public places to make accommodations for people with disabilities. Target argued that the law only covered physical spaces.

This has been the single biggest problem with ADA cases regarding websites: that the law as written only covered physical spaces and made no provision for the internet. (Probably because it was written in 1990.) This might make for some interesting legal precedent if the NFB wins its case.

But it does raise an interesting question: why is it considered more acceptable to retrofit a physical environment than a virtual one, when redesigning a website is likely less expensive than redesigning a building to remove access barriers? Is it some kind of backlash from the lawsuit-happy culture? Is it part of the 'subsistence only' problem - as long as you NEED the accommodation for work or to survive, that's okay, but if you just WANT it for leisure or to have fun, or if it would just be CONVENIENT for you, well, too damn bad, suck it up and get some sighty to help you - you may have a right to food and shelter, but not to a Yahoo! account, even though the barriers are easier to remove?

Just thinking out loud, I guess. I'm not saying people are exactly willing to retrofit a physical space - god knows - but most people seem more accepting of 'we need to reconstruct this to put in a ramp and an elevator' than 'we need to redo this website to work with this or that AT program.'

*grumble*

I would sign up for this interesting looking writing challenge, but it's only open to fanfic writers. (link nicked from the lovely kyburg.)

Bah humbug, I say.

(Not that I'm writing much anyway, these days. But I'm inexplicably annoyed by being shut out of something because I want to write using MY characters rather than someone else's, and yet for some reason that seems to happen fairly often. Bah. Maybe someone else will be interested in it.)

(I'd better post this and walk away from the computer, before I start ranting about fanfic and alienate two thirds of the people I know. Right then.)

thursday thankfuls

1. In the 'neat consumer goods' department: today's mail included a mostly full bottle of 'The Lion' and a sticker with this pattern on it.
(I have no idea where the sticker came from; I can't find it on the site. Nevertheless it is indeed cool.)
2. Also in the mailbox; information about our insurance, and (more importantly) forms to fill out for Sean's augmentative communication whatsit. One step closer, which is yay. (Does anyone local have a video camera or something like? They would like us to videotape him so they can see examples of how he communicates; it's not a huge deal if it can't be done, but it would be helpful. My cell phone video thing only takes like, thirty seconds worth, which is not helpful much.)
3. Tried the 'Bastet's Laughter' oil on one of my candles tonight. Actually wrote something. Could be 'magic feather syndrome', but maybe it isn't. (I never claimed to have much in the way of faith in anything, but I can try.)
4. Actually managed to sleep last night. Slept in horribly late this morning, but I think it was needful.
5. Broke out my paints and fimo clay tonight to make bits for hallowe'en costumes. I have now determined that if Sean ever informs me he needs a costume for such-and-this thing on three hours' notice, I can probably make something that's at least kind of respectable. (Still cannot paint stars beyond 'barely recognizable' though. Never did claim to be an artist.) Hallowe'en costumes are nearly done; just need to purchase one last bit and put it together tomorrow afternoon.
6. Managed to get Sean to try a new food. (tahini, if you're curious.)
7. Had some very nice coffee: JavaLantern coffee from Newton Coffee Company. It's very tasty.