Alternative Format Press Releases

Alternative formats are so named because they are alternatives to standard print. Alternative formats allow blind and other print-disabled people private access to information, including critical financial, health and insurance information. Alternative formats include braille, accessible electronic documents, large print and audio formats as well as accessible online content. This category includes press releases about settlement agreements reached in Structured Negotiation guaranteeing alternative formats.

World Braille Day Question: Is your Information Accessible?

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January 4, 2011 marks the 202d birthday of Louis Braille. The milestone is celebrated throughout the world: World Braille Day across the globe, National Braille Week in the UK, National Braille Literacy Month in the United States. In an era when access to information grows increasingly important, the birth of the founder of Braille is certainly worth celebrating. But thinking about Braille is also sobering. Despite strong civil rights laws guaranteeing effective communication to people with visual impairments, too much critical information is not available in Braille for those who need it. Read more… World Braille Day Question: Is your Information Accessible?

Accessible Credit Reports Press Release

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National Credit Reporting Companies, Blind Community, Announce Landmark Initiative to Provide Accessible Online Credit Reports Braille and Other Formats also to be Made Available Washington, D.C. (April 23, 2008) – The nation’s three major consumer credit reporting companies today unveiled a comprehensive program to provide improved access to important credit information for people who are blind or visually impaired. The initiative, crafted with the American Council of the Blind, its California affiliate and several individual members of the blind community, will help protect the credit information of individuals who cannot read a standard print credit report. Read more… Accessible Credit Reports Press Release

LaSalle Bank Talking ATM and Web Press Release

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This press release was issued as a result of the LaSalle Bank Settlement Agreement which addressed ATMs, the bank’s website, and alternative formats. The agreement was negotiated using Structured Negotiations on behalf of the Chicago affiliate of the American Council of the Blind and Kelly Pierce, a long-time advocate for Talking ATMs and financial service access. The settlement was negotiated by Lainey and co-counsel Amy Peterson of the Chicago-based disability rights organization Equip For Equality. Read more… LaSalle Bank Talking ATM and Web Press Release

Citizens Bank Press Release

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The Citizen’s Bank press release was issued as a result of the Citizens Bank Agreement, negotiated by Lainey Feingold and co-counsel Stan Eichner of the Disability Law Center in Boston, Massachusetts, using Structured Negotiations on behalf of the Bay State Council of the Blind and other Massachusetts advocates. Read more… Citizens Bank Press Release

Sovereign Bank Press Release

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The Sovereign Bank Press Release was issued as a result of a comprehensive settlement agreement negotiated by Lainey Feingold and co-counsel Stan Eichner of the Disability Law Center in Boston, Massachusetts, using Bay State Council of the Blind and other Massachusetts advocates. In the Sovereign settlement agreement the bank agreed to install Talking ATMs at all its locations, institute a comprehensive alternative format policy and make its website accessible. Read more… Sovereign Bank Press Release

Washington Mutual Talking ATM Press Release

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This release about Washington Mutual’s Talking ATMs was issued as a result of a Settlement Agreement negotiated by Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian on behalf of the California Council of the Blind, the Florida Council of the Blind, and individual members of the blind community. The full Settlement Agreement, which also covers the accessibility of the bank’s website and its alternative format program, is posted in the Talking ATM Settlements Category. Read more… Washington Mutual Talking ATM Press Release

Fleet Bank First Press Release

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The press release posted below was issued as a result of a 2001 Settlement Agreement negotiated using Structured Negotiations. In the Agreement, Fleet agreed to make its web site accessible, install over one thousand Talking ATMs, and implement a comprehensive alternative format policy. Lainey was co-counsel with Stan Eichner of the Disability Law Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Claimants in the case included the Bay State Council of the Blind (BSCB), the American Council of the Blind’s Massachusetts affiliate. Read more… Fleet Bank First Press Release