[Nfbnet-members-list] Amazon to Make more Employment Opportunities Available to the Blind

[National Federation of the Blind]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

AMAZON TO MAKE MORE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THE BLIND

_AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND TO MAKE JOBS AT AMAZON
FULFILLMENT CENTERS ACCESSIBLE TO BLIND WORKERS_

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND (MARCH 25, 2021): The National Federation of the Blind
(NFB), America's civil rights and membership organization of the blind, has
reached an agreement with Amazon.com to expand employment opportunities for
blind people at Amazon's order fulfillment centers. This agreement arose
from complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by five
blind individuals who were hired at Amazon fulfillment centers but alleged
they were not accommodated to do their jobs. As part of the agreement,
Amazon has reinstated four blind individuals who had been terminated but
who still wanted to work at its fulfillment centers, with their start dates
backdated to their original hire dates. The agreement also provides that: 

 	* Beginning in July 2021 and continuing through 2022, Amazon will rollout
accessible technology and accommodations to make fulfillment center "job
paths" accessible for blind employees. Amazon will consult with internal
and external experts to determine what technology and accommodations are
needed to make those job paths accessible for blind employees.
 	* Amazon will also work with the NFB to identify accessibility solutions
and innovations for blind employees, including by providing a tour of a
fulfillment center to allow the NFB's representatives to observe different
types of job paths.
 	* Amazon will develop and, beginning in or around October 2021, provide
online training to the hiring, human resources, operations, and safety
management in all of its fulfillment centers regarding best practices on
providing reasonable accommodations to blind employees.
 	* Amazon will work with the NFB and other interested organizations to
plan and conduct outreach to the blind community to provide details of
Amazon's accommodations processes and the new accessible technologies to
assist blind employees in performing fulfillment center jobs.

"We are pleased that Amazon is committing to the steps needed to make
employment opportunities at its fulfillment centers accessible to current
and future blind workers," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National
Federation of the Blind. "By using accessible technology and engaging blind
employees in an interactive process, there is no reason Amazon cannot
ensure that these demanding jobs can be performed by blind people. We hope
to continue our work with Amazon so that the company becomes a leading
twenty-first-century employer of the blind." 

### 

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore,
defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and
support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing
vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership
and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and
divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe
in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them
into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org
[2]. 

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen
 Director of Public Relations
 National Federation of the Blind
 (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
 (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
 cdanielsen at nfb.org 

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 		 National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD
21230 | 410-659-9314 

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