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Talking ATMs: Ten Years of Accesible Technology for the Blind and Visually Impaired Community
Arlington, VA
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Contacts:
American Council of the Blind
Melanie Brunson
202) 467-5081
California Council of the Blind
Jeff Thom
916) 995-3967
Bay State Council of the Blind
Bob Hachey
781) 893-6251
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2009 -- The American Council of the Blind and its affiliates in California, Massachusetts and around the country are proud to recognize Oct. 1, 2009 as the 10th anniversary of the first Talking ATM in the United States.
Ten years ago, the first Talking ATM was installed in San Francisco, Calif. Since that time, ACB and its affiliates, led by the California Council of the Blind, have engaged in extensive Talking ATM advocacy. Today, as a result of that advocacy and the work of ACB members and others, there are tens of thousands of Talking ATMs in the U.S. and around the world.
ACB congratulates blind advocates across the country for persistent effort over the past many years to increase independent and confidential access to financial information and technology.
ACB also congratulates the financial institutions and ATM manufacturers for demonstrating leadership in accessibility technology for the blind community. Wells Fargo, with over 7,000 Talking ATMs, was a leader in installing the machines.
"Wells Fargo was the first financial institution in the country to develop a plan for installing ATMs with voice instruction for the visually impaired, so we couldn't be more excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first Talking ATM," said Alicia Moore, head of Wells Fargo ATM Banking. "Today, we're proud that all Wells Fargo ATMs are Talking ATM® machines with voice instructions in English and Spanish. "
Other banks which have been champions on this issue since the beginning include Chase Bank (with over 11,000 Talking ATMs) and Bank of America (with over 16,000 Talking ATMs).
Talking ATMs allow blind and visually impaired customers to use ATMS privately and independently. The machines provide spoken instructions for all ATM functions delivered confidentially through a headset. They ensure financial privacy so critical in an era of rampant identity theft. Learn more at http://www.lflegal.com/faqs/#talking-atms
About American Council of the Blind (ACB), Bay State Council of the Blind (BSCB) 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 70 state and special-interest affiliates. The Bay State Council of the Blind and the California Council of the Blind are the Massachusetts and California state affiliates of the ACB. ACB, BSCB 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, BSCB and CCB can be found by visiting www.acb.org, http://www.acb.org/baystate/, and www.ccbnet.org.
American Council of the Blind
Melanie Brunson
202) 467-5081
California Council of the Blind
Jeff Thom
916) 995-3967
Bay State Council of the Blind
Bob Hachey
781) 893-6251
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2009 -- The American Council of the Blind and its affiliates in California, Massachusetts and around the country are proud to recognize Oct. 1, 2009 as the 10th anniversary of the first Talking ATM in the United States.
Ten years ago, the first Talking ATM was installed in San Francisco, Calif. Since that time, ACB and its affiliates, led by the California Council of the Blind, have engaged in extensive Talking ATM advocacy. Today, as a result of that advocacy and the work of ACB members and others, there are tens of thousands of Talking ATMs in the U.S. and around the world.
ACB congratulates blind advocates across the country for persistent effort over the past many years to increase independent and confidential access to financial information and technology.
ACB also congratulates the financial institutions and ATM manufacturers for demonstrating leadership in accessibility technology for the blind community. Wells Fargo, with over 7,000 Talking ATMs, was a leader in installing the machines.
"Wells Fargo was the first financial institution in the country to develop a plan for installing ATMs with voice instruction for the visually impaired, so we couldn't be more excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first Talking ATM," said Alicia Moore, head of Wells Fargo ATM Banking. "Today, we're proud that all Wells Fargo ATMs are Talking ATM® machines with voice instructions in English and Spanish. "
Other banks which have been champions on this issue since the beginning include Chase Bank (with over 11,000 Talking ATMs) and Bank of America (with over 16,000 Talking ATMs).
Talking ATMs allow blind and visually impaired customers to use ATMS privately and independently. The machines provide spoken instructions for all ATM functions delivered confidentially through a headset. They ensure financial privacy so critical in an era of rampant identity theft. Learn more at http://www.lflegal.com/faqs/#talking-atms
About American Council of the Blind (ACB), Bay State Council of the Blind (BSCB) 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 70 state and special-interest affiliates. The Bay State Council of the Blind and the California Council of the Blind are the Massachusetts and California state affiliates of the ACB. ACB, BSCB 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, BSCB and CCB can be found by visiting www.acb.org, http://www.acb.org/baystate/, and www.ccbnet.org.
Sharon Lovering
Editor
American Council of the Blind
Arlington, VA
202-467-5081
703-465-5085
