Digital Accessibility

This category includes posts about web and mobile accessibility, broadly referred to as digital access.

Staples Accessible Web Site and Point of Sale Press Release

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Blind Community Leaders Applaud Staples’ Initiative to Enhance Staples.com and Store Point of Sale Equipment Framingham, MA (April 23, 2009)– Major advocacy groups for the visually impaired applaud Staples’ new initiatives designed to improve service to its customers with visual impairments. Staples will be improving its payment service terminals at the in-store point-of-sale with tactile keypads to protect the privacy and security of shoppers with visual impairments. The company will also make improvements to Staples.com that will benefit customers with visual impairments and other disabilities. Read more… Staples Accessible Web Site and Point of Sale Press Release

CVS Accessible Web Site and Point of Sale Press Release

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
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

DOJ Delays Web Accessibility Regulations

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Earlier this month the United States Department of Justice admitted what many of us have suspected: we will not be seeing web accessibility regulations in the United States for commercial and public entities any time soon. Some time in 2013 at the earliest. In July, 2010, the Department issued what is called an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making indicating that it was planning to issue regulations about web accessibility. The step after an “Advanced Notice” is a “Notice of Proposed Rule Making” (NPRM). After that is the rule itself. In its semi-annual regulatory agenda for Spring 2011, however, the DOJ called the NPRM for Web Accessibility a “Long Term Item” not expected until December, 2012. That’s well over a year from now. And it is close to two years after the public comment period on the Advanced Notice closed, and almost two and one half years after the DOJ announced the possible regulations in July, 2010. Read more… DOJ Delays Web Accessibility Regulations

Court Rules in Favor of JetBlue – Airline Websites and Kiosks Not Covered by State Law

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
In a blow to the rights of people with disabilities in California and across the country, a second United States federal judge has ruled that state anti-discrimination laws do not apply to airline websites and kiosks. In a closely watched case against JetBlue Airways, Judge Joseph Spero ruled on August 3, 2011 that regulations issued by the United States Department of Transportation — no matter how weak and ineffective — strip away the rights California residents with visual impairments to access and use JetBlue’s website and airport kiosks. The Judge threw the case out of court on the airline’s motion to dismiss. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of another federal District Court Judge in California who ruled in April that because of the federal Department of Transportation’s actions, United Airlines was free to have airline check-in kiosks that cannot be used by people with disabilities. Read more… Court Rules in Favor of JetBlue – Airline Websites and Kiosks Not Covered by State Law

American Cancer Society Continues Information Accessibility Initiative

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Continuing its collaboration with the American Council of the Blind first announced in 2011, the American Cancer Society is making additional documents available in Braille and Large Print. The American Cancer Society is also continuing to provide a website that satisfies WCAG 2.0 Level AA Success Criteria. And, in addition to its accessible website and Braille and Large Print information, all American Cancer Society publications and brochures three pages or longer are available in Audio CD, Audio MP3 and electronic format sent as an email attachment or mailed on a disc. Brochures with fewer than 3 pages are available in electronic formats. Read more… American Cancer Society Continues Information Accessibility Initiative

American Cancer Society: Extension to Settlement Agreement

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
In 2011 the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Council of the Blind reached a comprehensive agreement regarding ACS information to members of the public with visual impairments. ACS agreed at that time that its website would satisfy WCAG 2.0 Level AA and that it would provide certain ACS information in Braille, Audio, Large Print and electronic formats. In early 2012 the parties agreed to extend the agreement and provide additional materials in Braille and Large Print. The Agreement extension is below. Read more… American Cancer Society: Extension to Settlement Agreement

First Addendum to MLB Settlement Agreement

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
The settlement posted here extends the Agreement between Major League Baseball and the American Council of the Blind and its Massachusetts and California affiliates. This is the first agreement of its kind to address the accessibility of applications for mobile devices. MLB has agreed to use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA as its standard for mobile applications, and has recently released AtBat™ for the iPhone and iPad with enhanced accessibility. Read more… First Addendum to MLB Settlement Agreement

Federal Judge Rules that ADA Covers Web-only Businesses

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Those who believe that web content should be available to everyone regardless of disability received welcomed news on Tuesday, June 19. On that day, a federal district court judge in Massachusetts held that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to web-only businesses. The ruling came in a case brought by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) against Netflix for the streaming video giant’s faiure to provide closed captioning on most of its “Watch Instantly” programming streamed on the Internet. Netflix had tried to get the case thrown out of court, arguing that the ADA only applies to physical places, and not to a web-only operation like Netflix’ streaming video service. The Judge rejected this argument, and the case will now move forward. The U.S. Department of Justice also played a significant role by entering the case in support of the plaintiffs’ position. Read more… Federal Judge Rules that ADA Covers Web-only Businesses

Credit Reports Have Errors: Check Yours in an Accessible Format

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
On February 12, 2013 a New York Times editorial noted that one in five consumers have confirmed errors in their credit reports. The news came from a detailed report issued in December, 2012 by the United States Federal Trade Commission and is a timely reminder about the need for everyone to check their credit reports. As a result of Structured Negotiations, free credit reports are available in Braille, Large Print, Audio CD and online in an accessible format. An accessible credit report is only a click or a phone call away. Here is the information you need to order one today. Read more… Credit Reports Have Errors: Check Yours in an Accessible Format

Bank of America Commits to Enhanced Mobile and Web Accessibility

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Posted here is a press release announcing Bank of America’s most recent accessibility initiative — its commitment to ensure the accessibility of security features on its website and iOS mobile applications. With this release Bank of America continues its leadership role in providing digital access and usability for people with visual impairments. Read more… Bank of America Commits to Enhanced Mobile and Web Accessibility