Blind Community leaders praise Wal-Mart's Actions
Bentonville, AR November 7, 2005: In a move applauded by members of the
blind community nationwide, Wal-Mart today 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-Marts 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.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters,
Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States.
Internationally, the company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China,
Germany, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The
company's securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges
under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by
visiting
www.walmartfacts.com. Online merchandise sales are available at
www.walmart.com .
About the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the California
Council of the Blind (CCB)
The 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 seventy state and
special interest affiliates. The California Council of the Blind is the
California affiliate of the ACB, and is a statewide membership organization,
with 40 local chapters and statewide special interest associations. The ACB
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 the
ACB and CCB can be found by visiting
www.acb.org and
http://www.ccbnet.org/
CONTACTS:
Linda Blakley, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
479-273-4314; Linda.Blakley@wal-mart.com
Lainey Feingold, ACB, CCB
510-548-5062; lfeingold@earthlink.net
Linda Dardarian, ACB, CCB
510-763-9800; ldar@gdblegal.com
