[Arizona-students] FW: RadioShack Announces Point of Sale, Web Site Initiative for Customers with Visual Impairments

Thu Jun 14 07:07:46 CDT 2007

Hi Karla and all,

It is important that we follow up on these proposed improvements and make 
sure accessibility gets enhanced as promised.  For example, near the end of 
this coming September (if not sooner as occasion may dictate) I plan to be 
checking out my local Radio Shack to see if I really can use their POS 
terminals independently.  Similarly, I plan to check the web site from time 
to time to see if access there is really improving.

It looks like other companies, like Safeway and Walmart, really are 
following through on these sorts of things.  We are finding that, more and 
more often, we can once again safely use our credit or debit cards to make 
purchases.  I was afraid this basic ability to do business was being slowly 
taken away from us.  I am glad to see that this disturbing trend is starting 
to reverse.

Darrell Shandrow - Accessibility Evangelist
Information should be accessible to us without need of translation by 
another person.
Blind Access Journal blog and podcast: http://www.blindaccessjournal.com
Check out high quality telecommunications services at http://ld.net/?nu7i
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rivas-Parker, Karla, K" <KRivas at azdes.gov>
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Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 7:42 AM
Subject: [Arizona-students] FW: RadioShack Announces Point of Sale,Web Site 
Initiative for Customers with Visual Impairments

This message is being sent on behalf of American Foundation for the
Blind.

The following statement was released to the press earlier this morning.
For more information, contact Mark Richert, Director, Public Policy,
American Foundation for the Blind, mrichert at afb.net.

RadioShack Announces Point of Sale, Web Site Initiative

for Customers with Visual Impairments

Blind Community Leaders Applaud RadioShack's Commitment

Washington, DC (June 13, 2007) -- In a move praised by state and
national blindness organizations, RadioShack (NYSE:RSH) today announced
it has undertaken a nationwide initiative to improve services for
RadioShack's customers with visual impairments.  As part of the program,
RadioShack will install new point of sale equipment with tactile keypads
to protect the privacy and security of visually impaired shoppers and
will make improvements to its Web site that will benefit visually
impaired shoppers and other customers with disabilities.

Today's announcement is the result of collaboration between RadioShack
and major blindness organizations including the American Foundation for
the Blind, American Council of the Blind, and California Council of the
Blind.

Point of Sale Improvements

It is anticipated that by the end of September of this year, every
RadioShack store will have the new device, which is designed to protect
the financial privacy of blind and visually impaired shoppers.  The
devices, manufactured by Ingenico (www.ingenico.com
<http://www.ingenico.com/> ), have tactile keys arranged like a standard
telephone keypad and plug easily into existing point of sale payment
terminals.  The new units will allow RadioShack shoppers who have
difficulty reading information on a touch screen to privately and
independently enter their PIN, telephone number, and other confidential
information.

Blind community representatives praised RadioShack's plan to upgrade its
point of sale devices.  "Point of sale devices must have tactile keys so
blind people do not have to share their PIN with strangers," explained
Melanie Brunson, executive director of the American Council of the
Blind.  "Today's announcement, and the collaboration that led to it,
demonstrates RadioShack's understanding of this fact and its strong
commitment to blind and visually impaired customers."

Web Site Access

Today's initiative includes RadioShack's commitment to design
www.RadioShack.com <http://www.radioshack.com/>  in accordance with
guidelines issued by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World
Wide Web Consortium (w3c) (www.w3.org/wai). The guidelines, which do not
affect the content or look and feel of a Web site, ensure that Web sites
are accessible to persons with a wide range of disabilities.  The
guidelines are of particular benefit to blind computer users who use
screen reader or magnification technology on their computers and who
rely on a keyboard instead of a mouse.

"Web site accessibility is of critical importance to both the blind
community and to people with disabilities generally," said Paul
Schroeder, vice president, programs and policy group of the American
Foundation for the Blind.  "We applaud RadioShack's leadership role in
committing to address the accessibility of its Web site, thereby
improving the browsing and shopping experience for a broad range of
on-line shoppers."

"The program announced today is one way we can help customers who are
blind or visually impaired enjoy a better shopping experience in their
neighborhood RadioShack stores as well as on www.RadioShack.com and
complements our on-going efforts to improve the shopping experience of
all our customers with disabilities," said Frank Espinoza, vice
president-store operations of RadioShack Corporation. "RadioShack would
like to thank the American Council of the Blind, the California Council
of the Blind, and the American Foundation for the Blind, for their
cooperation and expertise in making RadioShack a better place to shop
for our customers with disabilities."

About RadioShack Corporation

RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) is one of the nation's most
experienced and trusted consumer electronics specialty retailers. The
company has a presence through more than 6,000 company-operated stores
and dealer outlets in the United States, over 100 RadioShack locations
in Mexico and nearly 800 wireless phone kiosks. RadioShack's dedicated
force of knowledgeable and helpful sales associates has been
consistently recognized by several independent groups as providing the
best customer service in the consumer electronics and wireless
industries. Operating from convenient and comfortable neighborhood and
mall locations, RadioShack stores deliver personalized product and
service solutions within a few short minutes of where most Americans
either live or work. For more information on RadioShack Corporation, or
to purchase items online, visit www.radioshack.com
<http://www.radioshack.com/> .

About American Council of the Blind (ACB) and California Council of the
Blind (CCB)

American Council of the Blind is a national consumer-based advocacy
organization working on behalf of blind and visually impaired Americans
throughout the country, with members organized through seventy state and
special interest affiliates.  California Council of the Blind is the
California affiliate of the ACB, and is a statewide membership
organization, with 40 local chapters and statewide special interest
associations.  ACB and CCB are dedicated to improving the quality of
life, equality of opportunity and independence of all people who have
visual impairments.  Their members and affiliated organizations have a
long history of commitment to the advancement of policies and programs
which will enhance independence for people who are blind and visually
impaired.  More information about ACB and CCB can be found by visiting
www.acb.org <http://www.acb.org/>   and http://www.ccbnet.org/.

About American Foundation for the Blind

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that
expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities
include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of
information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision
loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with
vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and
timely resources. AFB is also proud to house the Helen Keller Archives
and honor the over forty years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with
AFB. For more information visit us online at www.afb.org.

###

=======================================
Barbara Jackson LeMoine
Policy Analyst
American Foundation for the Blind
Public Policy Center
Washington, DC
202-408-8169
E-mail: blemoine at afb.net <mailto:blemoine at afb.net>
Web: http://www.afb.org/gov.asp
Expanding possibilities for people with vision lossTM
=======================================

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