Congratulations Denny’s! Posted here is the January 6, 2016 press release announcing the company’s commitment to both website and mobile accessibility. Denny’s worked in Structured Negotiation on its digital accessibility initiative with the American Council of the Blind and blind customer Lisa Irving. (No lawsuit was filed or necessary.) The Law Office of Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian of Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho represented the advocates. Denny’s has now assumed a leadership role in the restaurant industry for recognizing the needs of all its customers for usable, accessible digital content. More information available on Denny’s new Accessibility Information Page.
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Denny’s Introduces Newly Enhanced Website and Mobile Application
Upgraded Platforms Offer Enhanced Accessibility and Functionality for All Users
SPARTANBURG, S.C., January 6, 2016 – Denny’s Corporation (NASDAQ: DENN), franchisor and operator of one of America’s largest franchised full-service restaurant chains, today announced its newly upgraded website and mobile application offering an enhanced user experience and greater accessibility for all consumers. Denny’s web site and mobile application have been redesigned to meet new guidelines issued by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), making each platform available to, and usable by, all patrons, including those with disabilities.
“We congratulate Denny’s on upgrading its mobile app and website and making them accessible to all customers,” said Kim Charlson, President of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). “Our members value Denny’s pricing, food and service and applaud the company on recognizing the diversity of its customer base.”
Denny’s worked with the ACB and consumers with visual disabilities to gain functionality feedback that would impact the improved website and mobile application. Using critical user response, Denny’s was able to tailor the functions of each platform to ensure they are readily accessible and useable without assistance.
The recent updates to our website and mobile application are designed to offer enhanced functionality so that all of our guests can have access to Denny’s wherever they are. Both of these platforms are designed to enable us to engage with our consumers even when they’re not in our restaurants, so it was crucial that this applied to all users, whatever their needs or requirements may be. Erik Jensen, Sr. Director Brand Engagement at Denny’s
Lisa Irving, a long time Denny’s patron in Southern California, was involved in the effort. “I appreciate improvements the company has made to its website and mobile app,” says Irving. “As a result of Denny’s upgrades I am now able to read the menu without assistance and to make healthy choices, something I really value.”
The guidelines issued by the WAI are designed to keep the aesthetic nature of the content intact, while ensuring that the information is readily accessible to persons with visual and other disabilities. The implemented guidelines are of particular benefit to visually impaired computer and mobile app users who rely on screen reader voice output or magnification technology and who, like others, rely on a keyboard instead of a mouse for computer navigation.
About Denny’s
Denny’s is the franchisor and operator of one of America’s largest franchised full-service restaurant chains, based on the number of restaurants. As of September 30, 2015, Denny’s had 1,700 franchised, licensed, and company restaurants around the world with combined sales of $2.7 billion including 109 restaurants in Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Guam, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Chile, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates, and 161 company operated restaurants in the United States. For further information on Denny’s, including news releases, please visit the Denny’s website at www.dennys.com or the brand’s social channels via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram or YouTube.
About American Council of the Blind
The American Council of the Blind is a national consumer-based advocacy organization working on behalf of blind and visually impaired Americans throughout the country with members organized through seventy state and special interest affiliates. ACB is dedicated to improving the quality of life and promoting equal opportunity for all people who have visual impairments. Its members and affiliated organizations have a long history of commitment to the advancement of policies and programs that will enhance independence for people who are blind and visually impaired. More information about ACB can be found by visiting the ACB website.
Media Contacts
For Denny’s
Rebecca Lynch
Rebecca.lynch@erwinpenland.com
(864) 419-3121
For the American Council of the Blind
Kim Charlson, President
American Council of the Blind
(617) 501-5853
Kim.Charlson@Perkins.org