News and Articles

New York A.G. Announces Comprehensive Web Access Settlement

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Congratulations to New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo’s office for its announcement this week of a comprehensive accessibility settlement with HSBC Card Services. Read the NY AG’s press release. The settlement, negotiated by attorney Jeffrey Powell in the Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection, addresses web accessibility, alternative formats for visually impaired customers, relay service for deaf and hearing impaired customers, and other important accessiblity issues. Under the Agreement, the HSBC web site will satisfy Conformance level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, promulgated by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (w3c) no later than May 31, 2010. Read more… New York A.G. Announces Comprehensive Web Access Settlement

Google Acquires reCAPTCHA: Potential Boost for Web Accessibility

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Web Accessibility activists take note: Google has just purchased reCAPTCHA, the most widely used audio CAPTCHA on the internet. In this post you can read about the Google Announcement, the importance of blind user testing for CAPTCHAs, key features for effective audio CAPTCHAs, and my personal congratulations to ReCaptcha Co-Founder Luis von Ahn. Read more… Google Acquires reCAPTCHA: Potential Boost for Web Accessibility

Happy Birthday LFLegal: An Accessible Website Turns 2

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Two years ago today, on March 10, 2008, I launched this website, LFLegal.com. Back then, I had never heard of an anchor that wasn’t on a boat, and didn’t know an ordered list from a market list. But Mike Cherim built me an accessible web site and taught me how to use it. Today, even though most people I know have sites far older than mine, I’m happy to be celebrating the beginning of LFLegal’s third year. Read more… Happy Birthday LFLegal: An Accessible Website Turns 2

MLB.com Opening Day Accessibility Update

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
The 2010 baseball season has started and with it come accessibility improvements to mlb.com. Yes, there will no doubt be glitches and outstanding issues as the season gets underway. We are confident that MLB wants to and will continue to make improvements, and we encourage fans with visual impairments to send specific feedback to MLB through the channels listed in this post. In this post you can find information about the 2010 MLB media players and the new on-line accessibility resources on mlb.com. You can also find information on how to contact MLB about accessibility issues. Read more… MLB.com Opening Day Accessibility Update

Accessible Websites, One Small Law Firm, and the U.S. Department of Justice

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Can a small law firm’s website help the United States Department of Justice in its web accessibility rulemaking process? When the website — LFLegal.com — has been designed to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, I think the answer is yes. In its July 26, 2010 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking about web accessibility, the United States Department of Justice asks several questions about how web accessibility regulations might affect small businesses. This post provides information about the accessibility of this law firm’s (a small business) website, and is intended as a resource for individuals and organizations preparing comments in response to the DOJ ANPRM. Read more… Accessible Websites, One Small Law Firm, and the U.S. Department of Justice

Wells Fargo California Talking ATM Press Release

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
The press release about Wells Fargo’s initial Talking ATMs in California was issued as a result of the Wells Fargo California Settlement Agreement. The agreement was the first in the country in which a bank agreed to install Talking ATMs at every location in a single state. It was negotiated using Structured Negotiations by Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian on behalf of the California Council of the Blind and individual members of the blind community. The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) also represented the Claimants. Read more… Wells Fargo California Talking ATM Press Release

Bank of America California Pilot Press Release

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
This press release, announcing Bank of America’s first 15 Talking ATMs, was issued as a result of the first Bank of America settlement agreement negotiated using the process of Structured Negotiations. The agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian on behalf of the California Council of the Blind (CCB) and several individual blind advocates. The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) also represented the Claimants. As of early 2008, the bank has installed more than 11,000 Talking ATMs. Read more… Bank of America California Pilot Press Release

Clarence Whaley (1947 – 2008)

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Clarence Whaley, who died on June 14 at the too young age of 60, was an unsung hero of Structured Negotiations. Along with blind advocate Paul Parravano, Clarence was a Claimant in the negotiations with American Express about Braille and Large Print statements. Clarence’s calm yet forceful presence was crucial to the outcome: a binding settlement agreement with American Express in which the company agreed to provide Braille and Large Print statements to all visually impaired account holders in the United States. Read more… Clarence Whaley (1947 – 2008)

TCF Bank Talking ATM Press Release

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
TCF BANK TO INSTALL TALKING ATMs AND ENHANCE OTHER SERVICES FOR CUSTOMERS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS Bank Announces Collaboration with the Illinois Council of the Blind and Equip for Equality Wayzata, MN, (December 3, 2008)– TCF Bank (TCF), a subsidiary of TCF Financial Corporation (NYSE: TCB), the Illinois Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, and Equip for Equality announced today that TCF has launched a major initiative intended to provide easier access to its banking services for individuals with visual impairments. Read more… TCF Bank Talking ATM Press Release