(Pocono Record)
February 12, 2013
STROUDSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA– [Excerpt provided by Inclusion Daily Express] Surely banks could have done better in making their automated teller machines accessible to the blind.
It seems like a natural: keypads with Braille, audio prompts and the like. And advocates for the seeing-impaired have been working with the industry since 1999 to provide just such adaptations.
So why does it take a series of costly federal lawsuits to force banks to comply with changes they agreed years ago were needed?
Advocates for the blind and sight-impaired have filed 146 cases since December against banks in Pennsylvania New Jersey, Ohio and Texas, calling for them to come into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act by making all their ATMs, which are considered a public accommodation, accessible to the blind. Among the affected banks in the Pocono region are Honesdale Bank, Citizens, PNC, US Bank, Sovereign Bank, M&T Bank, First Niagara and BB&T. About 60 cases have been settled.
The National Federation of the Blind began discussions with ATM manufacturers and the banking industry as early as 1999 to define ATM accessibility for the blind. Some of the larger banks, including Bank of America, began making the accommodations right away. Still, 14 years later, many ATMs don’t have tactile cues on their keypads, Braille instructions an audible component with a screen over the shield to ensure privacy.
Entire article:
Banks lag in basic service to the blind
http://tinyurl.com/ide0212134
Planet of the Blind 
In Canada, the ATM’s from major banks have the ability to talk you through the transaction – but the staff of the banks have no idea how to use it. Good job guys!
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