Articles
This page has short summaries of every article posted on Lainey Feingold's website with links to the full articles. Visit the Writings Page to read Lainey's articles that were first posted in other publications. Visit the Topics Page for all 300 plus articles on this website organized into 38 topics including web accessibility settlements and Talking ATM press releases.
Target Improves Point of Sale Equipment to Benefit Shoppers with Visual Impairments
Minneapolis, Minn. (May XX, 2009)– The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), American Council of the Blind (ACB), California Council of the Blind (CCB) and Target (NYSE:TGT) announced today that the organizations have collaborated to improve the Target checkout experience of guests with visual impairments and ensure their privacy. The AFB, ACB and CCB applaud Target’s efforts and urge other retailers to follow its example.
Read more… Target Point of Sale Press Release
CVS/pharmacy Enhancing Accessibility for the Visually Impaired To Its Web Site and Store Point of Sales Devices
Initiative Announced In Collaboration with State and National Organizations for the Blind
Woonsocket, Rhode Island (July 30, 2009)– CVS/pharmacy, the nation’s largest retail pharmacy, announced today that it is implementing functional improvements to benefit its customers with visual impairments and other disabilities. The Company has installed tactile keypads in all CVS stores and it will enhance its website in 2009.
Read more… CVS Accessible Web Site and Point of Sale Press Release
Blind Community Leaders Applaud Trader Joe’s Commitment to Improve Point of Sale Equipment to Benefit Shoppers with Visual Impairments
Sacramento, CA (August 18, 2009)– – American Council of the Blind (ACB), the California Council of the Blind (CCB) and the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) announced today that they have collaborated with Trader Joe’s to improve the checkout experience of guests with visual impairments and help ensure their privacy. The AFB, ACB, and CCB applaud Trader Joe’s efforts.
Read more… Trader Joe’s Point of Sale Press Release
Effective January 1, 2010, tactile keypads are required at every check-out location in California with a flat screen point of sale device. The keypads must be permanently attached.
Read more… California Law Now Requires Tactile Keypads at every Check-out Location
On January 13, 2010, Court Room 2 of the federal court of appeals in San Francisco was packed with people with visual and hearing impairments. The public was there to listen to oral argument about whether a lawsuit can be filed against a movie theater that refuses to provide captioning or audio description for movie-goers with disabilities. The three appellate judges hearing the case demonstrated a keen interest in the issue and grilled the lawyer for the Harkins movie chain about why his company didn’t just “do the right thing”
Read more… Court Hears Argument about Audio Description and Captioning
FANS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS GAIN ENHANCED ACCESS TO MLB.COM
New York (February 11, 2010)– Baseball fans with visual impairments will benefit from the implementation of functional improvements to MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, and all 30 individual Club sites as a result of a joint collaboration between Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM), the American Council of the Blind, Bay State Council of the Blind and California Council of the Blind. All three organizations applaud this fan initiative taken by MLBAM.
Read more… MLB Accessible Website Press Release
Lainey Feingold occasionally writes book reviews and cultural commentary for BeyondChron, an on-line daily published by the Tenderloin Housing Clinic. (Lainey’s husband, Randy Shaw, is editor of the publication.) This post lists, in chronological order, links to Lainey’s pieces in BeyondChron.
Read more… Articles by Lainey Feingold in BeyondChron
After much internal soul searching, I have reluctantly decided to cancel my presentation at the 25th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, widely known as ‘CSUN’. Why? I recently learned of the national gay rights and labor boycott of the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, the site of this year’s conference. This is CSUN’s first year in San Diego, and I hope that next year this wonderful conference can find a home in a hotel that does not run afoul of basic human rights principles.
Read more… Why I Am Canceling my 2010 CSUN Presentation
Bank of America Completes Installation of Talking ATMs
Maintains Leadership Role in Services for Visually Impaired Customers
Charlotte (March 31, 2010)– As part of its long-standing commitment to customers with visual impairments, Bank of America today announced that every Bank of America ATM in the country has been equipped with voice-enabled technology. Visually impaired customers can now access more than 18,000 Bank of America ATMs, the largest network of bank-owned ATMs in the U.S.
Talking ATMs provide audible instructions in English or Spanish to persons who cannot view information on an ATM screen. These machines make it easier for people with visual impairments to withdraw cash, deposit money and perform other ATM transactions. The ATMs have audio jacks that deliver spoken instructions privately through standard headsets to protect the security of users who are blind or have low-vision.
Read more… All 18,000 Bank of America ATMs are now Talking ATMs!
Best Buy Adds Tactile Keypads to Improve Checkout Experience for Customers with Visual Impairments
Minneapolis, Minn (March 31, 2010)– Best Buy Co., Inc. today announced that it has begun a nationwide initiative to improve the checkout experience for Best Buy customers who are blind or visually impaired. The company has begun to add tactile keypads to point-of-sale devices at Best Buy stores, enabling shoppers who cannot read information on a touch screen to privately and independently enter their personal identification number (PIN) in order to protect their financial privacy.
The announcement was praised by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), American Council of the Blind (ACB), California Council of the Blind (CCB).
Read more… Best Buy Tactile POS Press Release
