International Issues

This topic includes posts about digital accessibility and accessible technology, including Talking ATMs, in countries outside the United States. The companies that manufacture Talking ATMs, accessible pedestrian signals, and other accessible technology have buyers around the world. Because technology is global, advocacy needs to be too.

London, Dublin, GAAD 2023!

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This  year, on the 11th anniversary of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, I lived the G in GAAD by spending GAAD week in London, with a side trip to Dublin. Being immersed in the digital accessibility community in the UK was a treat. And after working in the digital accessibility space for 27 years, GAAD 2023 outside… Read more… London, Dublin, GAAD 2023!

G is for Global: Tribute to Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2013

Posted on Updated on May 14, 2023
On May 9, 2013 people around the world will be gathering for workshops, seminars and other events to celebrate and recognize the second annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day, or GAAD. As explained on the GAAD Facebook page, the day is a community-driven effort whose goal is to focus one day to raise the profile of digital (web, software, mobile app/device, touch screen kiosk, etc.) accessibility and people with different disabilities. The Law Office of Lainey Feingold’s legal practice is entirely focused on digital accessibility, and this post is my tribute to the wonderful idea that is Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Congratulations to the grassroots community that is growing GAAD and especially to accessibility activist extraordinaire Jennison Asuncion whose enthusiasm and commitment is significantly responsible for the tremendous growth of this day of awareness. Read more… G is for Global: Tribute to Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2013

Global Accessibility Awareness Day Highlights Digital Inclusion

Posted on Updated on May 6, 2019
May 9, 2012 marks the first Global Accessibility Awareness Day. On this day designed to raise awareness of the need for digital inclusion, the Law Office of Lainey Feingold recognizes the large United States institutions that have committed to accessibility through the Structured Negotiations process. The entities have worked with the blind community to improve accessibility to their websites and other technologies. They have recognized the importance of inclusion and have done so in a collaborative and solution-driven way. Read more… Global Accessibility Awareness Day Highlights Digital Inclusion

Blind Turkish Pop Star Advocates for Talking ATMs and POS devices

Posted on Updated on April 2, 2018
[quote from=”CNN News article on blind Turkish pop star Metin Senturk”]Technological innovations are also widening access to some everyday activities, such as banking. Earlier this month, Turkey’s Yapi Kredi bank launched an ATM which talks visually-impaired customers through their transactions. It also rolled out point of sale machines that act in a similar manner.[/quote]On December 17, 2010, CNN ran the story reprinted here about Turkish pop star Metin Senturk who is blind. Mr. Senturk, who holds the Guinness record as the world’s fastest blind driver, started a disability rights organization in Turkey, and mentions disability issues on his weekly national television show. Another aspect of disability advocacy in Turkey? As explained more fully in the article here, the leading bank in Turkey rolled out its first Talking ATM on December 3, 2010. Talking Point of Sale devices have also been introduced. Read more… Blind Turkish Pop Star Advocates for Talking ATMs and POS devices

Landmark Victory for Blind Advocates in Hungary: CRPD means Talking ATMs

Posted on Updated on May 25, 2016
Szilvia Nyusti and Péter Takács are blind advocates in Hungary who wanted their bank (the largest bank in their country) to install Talking ATMs. After all, they paid the same fees as sighted customers, why shouldn’t they have the same access to services and technology? After a five year legal battle in Hungary, they took their claims to the United Nations. On May 16, 2013, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities issued an historic ruling finding that Hungary violated the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) by failing to ensure that Hungarian banks had Talking ATMs. Congratulations to Szilvia and Peter. Congratulations to the United Nations. Congratulations to the CRPD for working as it should in protecting the rights of people with disabilities. Shame on the United States for failing to ratify the treaty. Read more… Landmark Victory for Blind Advocates in Hungary: CRPD means Talking ATMs

GAAD 2014: People are Different and We All Use Technology. Why Isn’t More of it Accessible?

Posted on Updated on March 13, 2016
May 15 2014 is the third annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day, or GAAD. The day was conceived by Los Angeles web developer Joe Devon and accessibility virtuoso Jennison Asuncion. Virtual and live events are being held around the globe to bring attention to a simple idea: People are different, and we use digital devices and consume digital content in different ways. Read more… GAAD 2014: People are Different and We All Use Technology. Why Isn’t More of it Accessible?

Talking ATMs in the Philippines: Perfect ADA Anniversary Story

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Posted here is a news report from the Philippines about a legislative push for Talking ATMs in that country. Reading this news on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act is fitting. Although the law being celebrated this month is focused on “Americans”, disability advocacy in one part of the globe often has ripple affects across the world. Today we have a global economy and multi-national corporations. We also have global advocacy and international advances in disability access. Especially when it comes to accessible technology. Read more… Talking ATMs in the Philippines: Perfect ADA Anniversary Story

Talking ATMs in Mumbai India

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
For many years the Law Office of Lainey Feingold has been keeping track of Talking ATM installations in countries all over the world. On September 10, 2011, Google’s “Talking ATM” alert brought news of installations in Mumbai India. United States ATM manufacturers NCR and Diebold are featured in the article. Read more… Talking ATMs in Mumbai India

Talking ATMs in Jakarta, Indonesia

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Talking ATM technology continues to spread across the globe. Earlier this month, the Standard Chartered Bank in Indonesia announced installation of that country’s first Talking ATMs. The full article that appeared in the Jakarta Times is posted here. Other posts on this website about Talking ATMs in countries outside the United States may be found in the International Issues category on LFLegal.com. Read more… Talking ATMs in Jakarta, Indonesia

Barclays Bank Agrees to Install Talking ATMs as Part of RNIB Campaign

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Congratulations to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in the United Kingdom for signing up Barclays Bank as part of RNIB’s “Money Talks” program. Barclays has committed to install Talking ATMs at its branches by the end of 2012. Posted here is the article about Barclays that appeared on ZDNet UK on November 22, 2011. Read more… Barclays Bank Agrees to Install Talking ATMs as Part of RNIB Campaign