Wal-Mart Installs New Equipment to Protect Financial Privacy of Wal-Mart Shoppers With Visual Impairments Blind Community Leaders Praise Wal-Mart's Actions

submitted by John Barrett, Supervisor
Library Services to Persons with Disabilities
Talking Book Section
N.H. State Library

In a move applauded by members of the blind community nationwide, Wal-Mart announced that it has begun installing state-of-the-art point of sale devices to protect the privacy and security of Wal-Mart shoppers with visual impairments. The new devices have tactile keys arranged like a standard telephone keypad and will allow Wal-Mart shoppers who have difficulty reading information on a touchscreen to privately and independently enter their PIN and other confidential information.

Today's announcement is the result of collaboration between Wal-Mart and major blind organizations including the American Council of the Blind and the California Council of the Blind. Speaking for the organizations, Melanie Brunson of the American Council of the Blind and Jeff Thom of the California Council of the Blind commended Wal-Mart's actions: "Wal-Mart has taken a leadership role in ensuring that persons with visual impairments do not have to disclose confidential information when purchasing products and services." According to the website of the American Foundation for the Blind, there are approximately 10 million blind and visually impaired people in the United States.

For the complete story, http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051107/dam034.html?.v=34.

-Reprinted with permission