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.
Mobile accessibility is about making sure that applications, information and services on mobile devices are available to all users. Weight Watchers, Bank of America, Major League Baseball and WellPoint have all engaged in Structured Negotiations with the blind community to improve the accessibility of their mobile offerings. These companies deserve to be recognized.
Read more… Structured Negotiations and Mobile Access
Do you know who runs your Blue Cross, Blue Shield or Anthem health insurance company? Maybe it’s WellPoint, a company that has made a major commitment to the accessibility and usability of its digital and print information for its blind members across the country. Find out if your Blue Cross, Blue Shield or Anthem company is affiliated with WellPoint.
Read more… Accessible Health Care Information from WellPoint (Blue Cross/Blue Shield)
Three national pharmacy chains in the United States now offer talking prescription information for blind customers. This post has information about the Walmart, Walgreens and CVS accessible prescription initiatives. Please help us spread the word about the leadership role these companies have taken in making sure blind pharmacy customers can privately and independently access information about their prescription medications.
Read more… Talking Prescription Labels Update – Summer 2014
Bitcoin ATMs are all the rage. But are they accessible to people with disabilities? The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that every ATM be fully available to people with disabilities. Bitcoin may be the currency of the future, but its infrastructure is being built today. Let’s make sure it is accessible to everyone.
Read more… Buying a Bitcoin ATM? Make Sure it’s Accessible
October 1, 2014 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the first Talking ATM in the United States. On this day in 1999 San Francisco unveiled the first accessible ATM in this country. Since then tens of thousands of Talking ATMs have been installed. Congratulations advocates!
Read more… Talking ATMs – Fifteen Years of Accessible Banking
This is a post about point of sale devices that work with new chip and pin payment cards. Retailers will be upgrading devices in 2015 to accept the chip and pin cards. Those devices must have tactile keypads so blind people do not have to disclose their PIN.
Read more… Note to Retailers: Chip and Pin Upgrades Must Include Real Keypads
This is a post about mobile payment systems and the need for them to be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Apple pay, CurrentC, Square and the rest work with mobile applications. Those applications must be developed and implemented with accessibility features. If not, developers and retailers run afoul of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal and state laws.
Read more… Accessibility Matters in the Battle of Mobile Payment Systems
This post contains the settlement between Rite Aid and the American Council of the Blind. Rite Aid has agreed to offer talking prescription labels to customers in the United States at all of its stores. The devices allow people who cannot see standard print labels to confidentially and safely take medication.
Read more… Rite Aid Talking Prescription Label Settlement Agreement
This release was one of several issued as part of the implementation of the first Bank of America Settlement Agreement negotiated by Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations. This agreement was the first in the country to address Talking ATMs, web accessibility, and alternative formats. As of early 2008, Bank of America had over 11,000 Talking ATMs.
Read more… Bank of America Florida Talking ATM Press Release
The Citibank New York Press Release, announcing New York City’s first Talking ATMs, was issued as a result of the final Citibank settlement agreement. That agreement was negotiated by Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations on behalf of the California Council of the Blind and blind advocates Steven Mendelsohn and Kathy Martinez. The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) also represented the Claimants.
Read more… Citibank New York Talking ATM Press Release