Digital Accessibility

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

Weight Watchers Announces Comprehensive Accessibility Initiative

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
Congratulations Weight Watchers! Posted here is a press release announcing Weight Watcher’s commitment to digital accessibility for its members and subscribers who are blind and visually impaired. Weight Watchers will use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA as the standard for its online and mobile application content, and will be providing print material in accessible formats for persons with visual impairments who cannot read standard print. Weight Watchers worked on this initiative in Structured Negotiations with the American Council of the Blind and individual blind Weight Watchers members. They were represented by the Law Office of Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian of the Oakland, California civil rights firm Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho. Read more… Weight Watchers Announces Comprehensive Accessibility Initiative

The Digital Divide and People with Disabilities

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
On August 23, 2013, the New York Times published my letter to the editor about the digital divide and people with disabilities. The letter was in response to an an extensive article published by the Times on August 19, 2013, titled “Most of U.S. Is Wired, but Millions Aren’t Plugged In.” The article, based on a recent report by the U.S. Commerce Department, noted that “tens of millions of people are still on the sidelines of the digital revolution” and it went on to discuss the digital divide caused by various demographics including age, race, geography, education and class. Missing entirely from the Times’ article – disability and the digital divide. Read more… The Digital Divide and People with Disabilities

It’s Hard to be Optimistic About the New DOT Web and Kiosks Regulations

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
On November 5, 2013 the United States Department of Transportation issued regulations governing the accessibility for people with disabilities to websites and kiosks of domestic and foreign airlines that sell air travel to U.S. consumers. While there are positive aspects of the new regulations, the government missed an enormous opportunity to advance and protect the rights of travelers with disabilities. Read more… It’s Hard to be Optimistic About the New DOT Web and Kiosks Regulations

Separate is Not Equal: Good News for Grocery Delivery

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
On February 26, 2014, Safeway took an important step in meeting its goal of a fully usable digital experience for all customers. In a banner posted on its grocery delivery site, Safeway announced it was eliminating the separate text-only website it had maintained for many years. Eliminating the text-only site is part of Safeway’s commitment to making its main site accessible to all users. Read more… Separate is Not Equal: Good News for Grocery Delivery

Structured Negotiations and Mobile Access

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
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

Twenty Five Years From Today

Posted on Updated on February 9, 2016
What will the digital world be like in 2040? Will we even use the term ‘digital?’ Will accessibility and usability be integrated into the new reality? And just how many “things” will be part of the web of things? A workshop Lainey Feingold is co-facilitating at the 2015 Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium will explore these very questions. Read more… Twenty Five Years From Today

More Bank of America Website Accessibility Enhancements

Posted on Updated on February 9, 2016
Bank of America Continues to Enhance Online Access for People With Visual Impairments Enhancements to Travel Rewards Redemption Online Site Improve Accessibility CHARLOTTE – June 4, 2015 As part of its long-standing commitment to customers with visual impairments, Bank of America is enhancing the accessibility of its travel redemption website. The site is used by the bank’s credit card customers to redeem reward points for travel. Read more… More Bank of America Website Accessibility Enhancements

Charles Schwab Web Accessibility Agreement

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Posted here is the settlement agreement between Charles Schwab and one of its blind customers about website accessibility. Schwab engaged in the Structured Negotiations process with the Law Office of Lainey Feingold and has made a significant commitment to ensuring that its website is inclusive for all customers. Schwab has begun making site enhancements and will continue doing so. The company has adopted WCAG 2.0 Level AA as its web accessibility standard. Read more… Charles Schwab Web Accessibility Agreement

Charles Schwab Website Accessibility Press Release

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Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. today announced an initiative to make its website more accessible and inclusive for all customers. Schwab’s initiative will particularly improve the client experience for Schwab customers with disabilities. Schwab has adopted the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0 level AA as its website accessibility standard and has begun working to meet this standard. Read more… Charles Schwab Website Accessibility Press Release