Radio Shack’s Commitment to Customers with Visual Impairments
SCCB according to Lucas McFadden
Walgreens Opens Distribution Center in Anderson, SC
Radio Shack’s Commitment to Customers with Visual Impairments
RadioShack has announced that it has undertaken a nationwide initiative to improve services for it customers with visual impairments. Installing new point of sale equipment with tactile keypads to protect the privacy and security of visually impaired shoppers and improving their Web site to benefit customers who are visually impaired and/or may have other disabilities.
By the end of September this year, every RadioShack store will have the new devices, which are designed to protect financial privacy of blind and visually impaired shoppers. The devices will have tactile keys arranged like a standard telephone keypad and plug easily into existing point of sale payment terminals. The units will also allow RadioShack shoppers who have difficulty reading information on a touch screen to privately and independently enter their PIN, telephone number, and other confidential information.
RadioShack will make changes to www.RadioShack.com in accordance with the guideline issued by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WIA). The changes do not affect the look or feel of the website but ensure that there is a benefit to users who use screen readers or magnification technology who rely on a keyboard instead of a mouse.
This program came in part from the work of RadioShack, American Council of the Blind, California Council of the Blind and the American Federation of the Blind.
SCCB according to Lucas McFadden
I really had a fun time this morning (June 13, 2007) at the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. Today we learned about a summer teen program for those individuals who are visually impaired. Teenagers from all over the state come to Columbia for four weeks to improve their skills in such areas as home management skills, Braille instruction and workshop projects.
Today we had a huge crowd at the commission's rehab building located on Bull Street. In addition to the staff members there, we had several teenagers on hand to share with us their experiences. First of all I couldn't believe how excited they were to be on the show. Yesterday they went to Carowinds and I was afraid they would be tired, but no way. The teens showed us how they fold clothes and they gave me a blind fold so I could see what it was likes to fold clothes with limited eyesight. I thought the hardest part was just getting the buttons to line up. Then the students taught me how to read Braille and I caught on really quick. During the last half hour of our show we worked with our hands to build a clock and a candy machine. I was so impressed by how great these students again visually impaired did when it came time to make these items. I put on the blindfold and tried to saw a piece of wood. It took me a couple of seconds, but then I got the hang of it.
I enjoy each trip to the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. The teenagers and adults try so hard to live a normal life and they do it without complaining. We are so blessed to have our eyesight, so when you think you have a bad day just think about these students.
Walgreens Opens Distribution Center in Anderson, SC
Walgreens celebrated the official opening of its 12th full-service distribution center in Anderson, SC. Ed Bible, T and E Director, was on hand to attend the grand opening celebration.
What makes Anderson’s distribution center so unique is that 42 percent of the facility’s workforce has a physical or cognitive disability such as autism or mental retardation. There is one blind employee at this time. SCCB is working diligently to have more of our blind employees hired in that workforce.
Walgreens worked with the Anderson County Disabilities and Special Needs Board and the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department to develop training for people with special needs. Flexible workstations that adjust for height touch screen computes with large icons and easy-to-read signs are some of the accommodations that are made for the diversity of challenges Walgreens disabled employees may have.
Walgreens is the nation’s largest drugstore chain and is rapidly growing. Walgreens will continue to open distribution centers hiring people with disabilities. The next planned expansion will be in 2009 in Windsor, Connecticut.
