Alternative Format Settlements

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 settlement agreements reached in Structured Negotiation guaranteeing alternative formats.

Fleet Bank Initial Settlement Agreement

Posted on Updated on April 3, 2018
The Fleet Bank initial settlement agreement was 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. Fleet, which was subsequently purchased by Bank of America, agreed in this document to install Talking ATMs, adopt a comprehensive alternative formats policy, and make its website accessible. Structured Negotiations offers the flexibility to have multiple agreements when all parties agree. In the final Fleet settlement agreement, the bank agreed to install Talking ATMs at 100% of its ATM locations. Read more… Fleet Bank Initial Settlement Agreement

First Union Final ATM, Web and Alternative Format Agreement

Posted on Updated on April 3, 2018
This settlement agreement is the second First Union agreement negotiated by Lainey and Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations on behalf of representatives of the blind community in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Tom Earle, formerly with the Disabilities Law Project in Philadelphia, now known as the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, also represented the Claimants. In the initial First Union agreement, the bank began its Talking ATM roll-out. In this agreement, First Union, subsequently purchased by Wachovia, expanded its Talking ATM commitment, agreed to make its website accessible, and adopted a comprehensive alternative format policy. As of early 2008, Wachovia has thousands of Talking ATMs throughout the United States. Read more… First Union Final ATM, Web and Alternative Format Agreement

Bank of America California and Florida Agreement

Posted on Updated on April 3, 2018
The Bank of America California and Florida Agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations 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. This was the first agreement in the country in which a bank committed to make its website accessible, and the first in which a bank committed to install Talking ATMs in more than one state. This was the first of three agreements involving Bank of America’s services for blind customers. The interim Bank of America national agreement and the final Bank of America national agreement are posted in the Settlement Agreement Category. Read more… Bank of America California and Florida Agreement

Bank of America Accessible Mortgage Information Agreement

Posted on Updated on April 3, 2018
The settlement agreement posted here details Bank of America’s commitment to improving the accessibility and usability of mortgage documents for customers who are blind. The agreement was reached in Structured Negotiation; no lawsuit was needed or filed. The Law Office of Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian, of the Oakland civil rights firm Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian and Ho represented Bank of America mortgage holder Jessie Lorenz in the negotiation. This agreement reflects Bank of America’s ongoing commitment to its disabled customers, begun more than fifteen years ago when the bank assumed a leadership role in rolling out Talking ATMs and making its online banking platform accessible. Visit the Bank of America Accessibility topic on this website for links to press releases and settlement agreements demonstrating the bank’s accessibility commitment. Read more… Bank of America Accessible Mortgage Information Agreement

Wells Fargo California Talking ATM and Alternative Format Agreement

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
The Wells Fargo California ATM and Alternative Format Settlement Agreement was the first in the United States in which a bank made a state-wide commitment to install Talking ATMs. The Agreement was negotiated by Lainey and Co-Counsel Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations. Claimants in the case were the California Council of the Blind and the… Read more… Wells Fargo California Talking ATM and Alternative Format Agreement

American Cancer Society Accessible Website and Alternative Formats Agreement

Posted on Updated on March 10, 2016
The ground breaking agreement posted here recognizes the growing importance of accessible health care information to people with visual impairments. Working with the American Council of the Blind (ACB) in the Structured Negotiations process, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has agreed to design and generate its website in accordance to well accepted web accessibility standards. ACS has also agreed to undertake a pilot program for making its print materials available in alternative formats including Braille, Large Print, audio and electronic formats. Read more… American Cancer Society Accessible Website and Alternative Formats Agreement

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

Humana Talking Prescription Label and Accessible Information Settlement Agreement.

Posted on Updated on February 9, 2016
The settlement agreement posted here was reached through Structured Negotiations, an alternative dispute resolution process that focuses on collaboration and solution without lawsuits. Working with the American Council of the Blind and blind Humana customers in Structured Negotiations, Humana agreed to provide talking and braille prescription labels to allow blind people and others with print disabilities to access important health and safety information on prescription labels. Read more… Humana Talking Prescription Label and Accessible Information Settlement Agreement.

Bank One Final Agreement

Posted on
The Bank One Final Agreement was negotiated by Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian using Structured Negotiations on behalf of blind advocates Kelly Pierce and Anna Byrne. In the Agreement, Bank One (now Chase) agreed to install 1,500 Talking ATMs, institute a national alternative formats policy, and upgrade its website to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) promulgated by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium. As of March, 2008, Chase Bank, the successor to Bank One, had over 9,000 Talking ATMs. Read more… Bank One Final Agreement