Structured Negotiations Started in 2011
- Details
- Category: MSCB News
- Created on Friday, 06 January 2012 20:05
2011 Structured Negotiations 2011
Weight Watchers Website and Print Information Access: In August 2011 Weight Watchers agreed to the Structured Negotiations Process regarding the accessibility of its web site, including on-line weight-loss tools, and about alternative formats for print information. Accessibility improvements have already been made and many more are in the works.
Walgreens Accessible Prescription Information: This past summer Walgreens agreed to participate in Structured Negotiations with ACB and the ACB affiliates in California and Illinois on the issue of accessible prescription information. We are working with Walgreens to ensure that prescription information is available in alternative formats including Braille, Large Print and audio for customers who have visual impairments. These issues are also the subject of our Structured Negotiations with Wal-Mart, CVS and Target, and we have also approached Rite Aid. Walgreens has quickly shown a strong commitment to addressing this important safety issue for its customers with visual impairments.
Bank of America On-Line Security Products Access: Bank of America has been a leader in accessible technology and information ever since it signed an early Talking ATM agreement with the California Council of the Blind in 2000. That agreement was the first in the country in which a bank agreed to make its web site and on-line banking services accessible to people with disabilities. While Bank of America maintains its leadership status in providing accessible services to the blind community, this year an issue arose that the parties agreed was suitable for a follow-up Structured Negotiations. With representatives of the Bay State Council of the Blind and two Bank of America customers with visual impairments, we are working with Bank of America to address accessibility issues with on-line security products.
Safeway Website Access: In late 2011, Safeway agreed to participate in Structured Negotiations about access barriers on its website, including its on-line grocery delivery service. We are representing seven individual Safeway customers with visual impairments in these negotiations with the goal of ensuring that Safeway’s website is fully available to all shoppers who have visual impairments.
WellPoint Health Insurance Information Access: WellPoint is one of the nation’s largest health benefits companies, and, among other things, is the parent company of many Blue Cross affiliates across the country. In 2011, on behalf of individual blind customers of WellPoint's health plans, we began a Structured Negotiations on issues regarding the accessibility of WellPoint's websites and print materials. WellPoint has been a willing Structured Negotiations partner and is actively working to improve accessibility for its customers with visual impairments.
Other Structured Negotiations Work in 2011
In addition to the new Structured Negotiations listed above, some other highlights of our work in 2011 are the following:
MLB Website Accessibility: In 2011 we continued to partner with Major League Baseball in their on-going work to ensure accessibility of mlb.com and all major league baseball team web sites. MLB is also working with us on accessibility of applications for mobile devices, and continues to be a committed participant in the Structured Negotiations process. Information about MLB's accessibility work can be found in the MLB category on Lainey's website at http://lflegal.com/category/major-league-baseball-mlbcom-accessibility/.
American Cancer Society Accessibility: In February, 2011 The American Council of the Blind and the American Cancer Society (ACS) issued a joint press release announcing an ACS pilot program regarding the accessibility of the American Cancer Society website and alternative formats for print information. The American Cancer Society has been successfully implementing the agreement throughout the year, providing specified information in Large Print, audio and Braille, and ensuring that its website is accessible. Information on how to order accessible information from the American Cancer Society is available on line at: http://lflegal.com/2011/03/acs-info/
Charles Schwab Website Accessibility: On behalf of a blind Charles Schwab customer Lainey has been working with this leading investment firm on ensuring the accessibility of the Charles Schwab website. Schwab has embraced the Structured Negotiations process and is actively working on site enhancements.
Sutter Health access to medical services/information: Linda continues to monitor implementation of the comprehensive settlement agreement reached with Sutter Hospitals ensuring accessible medical facilities and services to people with visual, hearing, speech and mobility disabilities. Sutter is in the forefront of accessible medical services providers, and is committed to providing alternative formats for printed materials, talking prescriptions, accessible websites, accessible signage, and other features to make services and information available to patients and visitors with visual impairments.
Kaiser access to medical services/information: Linda is co-counseling with Disability Rights Advocates in an effort to engage Kaiser in Structured Negotiations on issues including web accessibility, alternative formats for printed materials, inaccessible paths of travel, inconsistent provision of talking prescriptions, other communication and equipment access issues, and inadequate staff training. We have sent a demand letter to Kaiser and expect to have their response in January.
Cinemark Audio Description: In 2011 we continued our Structured Negotiations efforts with the Cinemark movie chain to get audio description equipment installed in Cinemark Theaters. In these negotiations, we represent the California Council of the Blind and several California Cinemark customers with visual impairments. Cinemark is committed to making audio description available to its blind customers, and we are making steady progress towards reaching agreement with the company.
Accessible Prescription Information: As mentioned above, in 2011 we continued to work with the country's major pharmacy chains on ensuring that prescription information is accessible to customers with visual impairments. We are confident that 2012 will bring good news on this important issue.
Point of Sale Issues: In 2011 we continued efforts to ensure that blind shoppers can privately and confidentially enter their PIN and other confidential information on a tactile keypad. The most recent company to work with us on this important privacy issue is Raley's grocery chain. For a list of all companies who have agreed to install tactile keypads as a result of Structured Negotiations, visit the Point of Sale Press Release category on Lainey's website at http://lflegal.com/category/articles/settlement-agreement-press-releases/press-releases-point-of-sale/.
JetBlue Web and Kiosk Litigation: Although most of our work has been positive this year, the end-of-the-year message for 2011 would not be complete without a reference to our JetBlue website and kiosk litigation. When JetBlue refused to enter into Structured Negotiations with us in 2010, we filed suit under California law in an effort to force JetBlue to make its website and kiosks available to people with visual impairments. Unfortunately, because the United States Department of Transportation insisted that state law does not apply to airline kiosks or airline websites, and because a similar case against United Airlines was thrown out of court a month earlier, in August of 2011 our case too was dismissed. Both the Jet Blue and United cases are currently on appeal, and we hope that we will have a positive report about this case in 2012. More information about the JetBlue litigation can be found on Lainey's website at http://lflegal.com/category/litigation/ .
Lainey Feingold
Law Office of Lainey Feingold
http://LFLegal.com
510.548.5062
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://twitter.com/LFLegal