----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Pattison" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "VIP-L" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 5:52 AM
Subject: Fwd: AOL Press Release


From: David Andrews [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]

America Online:  Our Commitment to Accessibility

In our increasingly technological society, the ability to stay connected
online to the people and things that matter most is essential in both our
personal and business lives.  This effort is an all too familiar challenge
for people who are blind or visually impaired.  However, advances in
assistive and mainstream technology are making it easier and more convenient
than ever to get the most out of your Internet experience.  Here's an
overview of ongoing accessibility initiatives at America Online.

At America Online, accessibility is about delivering an Internet experience
that is friendly and easy to use for all members.  AOL's Accessibility
Policy addresses the technology needs of  people with a wide range of
disabilities, including deafness, cognitive limitations and mobility
restrictions.  For members who are blind or visually impaired, accessibility
at AOL means the Company is continually working to expand its products'
compatibility with assistive technologies.  AOL continues to collaborate
with the blind community on ways they can further improve the usability of
the service.  From advances in screen reader support to a special
subscription offer for members who are blind or visually impaired, AOL is
committed to keeping accessibility considerations in mind during the design
of new products and services.

Responsibility Towards Accessibility

The driving force behind the company's recent accessibility initiatives is
AOL's Director of Accessibility, Tom Wlodkowski.  Wlodkowski, who is blind
himself, is a respected expert on accessibility and managed several key
accessibility projects during his nine plus years with the WGBH Media Access
Group, including the development of audio menus to make DVDs accessible and
the co-authoring of design guidelines to make science and math-based
multimedia
software accessible.  Wlodkowski, who has been with AOL since June of 2002,
has brought this same innovation and dedication to AOL's accessibility
agenda.

"We have a responsibility to our members to deliver the most accessible
Internet service possible," Wlodkowski explains.  One of the key factors in
making AOL easy to use for people who are blind or visually impaired is
developing an infrastructure that allows AOL software to meet screen reader
and screen magnification software halfway. The challenge of compatibility
lies in the subtle differences in the way the various assistive technologies
acquire information.  With this in mind, AOL maintains regular contact with
several assistive software vendors, including Freedom Scientific, GW Micro
and others.

In addition to AOL's efforts with assistive technologies, the Company also
offers members who are blind or who have low vision an easy to use
audio-based email service called AOLbyPhone.  With AOLByPhone, access to
your e-mail is as close as your nearest telephone.  Members simply dial a
toll free number to retrieve their emails via the phone.  They can also
respond to messages via voice, access 411 resources or get information
that's relevant to their daily lives, including news, sports and weather.
And since the entire system is voice activated it couldn't be easier, you
simply listen and speak.  For a limited time, AOL is offering members who
are blind or visually impaired a special package that offers  a discount to
the AOL service plus access to AOLbyPhone.   Call 1-866-854-1025 for more
information.

An especially rewarding aspect of accessibility is that its value is not
limited just to people with disabilities, improving the usability of the
service benefits everyone.  With the launch of AOL 8.0 this past October,
the Company introduced several new mainstream enhancements, which also
deliver accessibility benefits for members who are blind or visually
impaired.  For example, AOL 8.0 supports hundreds of custom Instant Message
sounds, which allow members to easily identify people who are online.
Likewise new audio cues alert members to the arrival of new e-mail,
improving the ability to monitor incoming mail.

AOL member Suzanne Tritten, who has been with the service for close to five
years, remarks on her experience with AOL as a blind user, "AOL has truly
made great strides in the area of accessibility over the past few years. One
of the most useful new features is the custom Instant Message sounds that
come with AOL 8.0.  When I receive an IM from another AOL 8.0 user, I know
who it is before JAWS tells me. For example, if I hear a big dog bark, I
know it's my friend Mike; if the sound is a trumpet fanfare, it's got to be
Tina.  There are so many sounds available that no one on my Buddy List has
yet chosen one that already belongs to someone else.  It's a great addition
to the service."

Collaboration is Key

Wlodkowski notes that it's important to realize AOL's accessibility
initiatives are not conceived in a vacuum, but are rather the product of
close collaboration with a variety of disability groups.  He meets regularly
with the AOL Accessibility Advisory Committee, a cross disability group of
advocacy leaders who advise AOL on current accessibility issues and provide
feedback on topics relevant to their communities.  One great example of the
sort of success the committee can engender is last year's wireless program
for the deaf and hard of hearing.   One of AOL's Accessibility Advisory
committee members, a faculty member from Gallaudet University, shared that
the freedom to email and instant message others while on the go using a
wireless, hand-held device was an invaluable resource for Gallaudet
students.   Together, Gallaudet and AOL devised a pilot program where AOL
Mobile Communicator devices were made available free of charge to a group of
university students.  The pilot program was so well received that the
Company extended it last year for a limited time to the entire base of AOL
members who are deaf or hard of hearing.  This program is an example of how
AOL works with various disability communities to better understand, and
react to specific technology needs.

Awareness & Education

Another key component of AOL's accessibility agenda lies in employee
awareness.  Wlodkowski explains, "In order to design a more accessible
service, it's crucial for employees to understand as well as possible the
unique challenges facing members with disabilities.  We encourage our
employees to think about how people with disabilities use the computer and
keep those ideas in mind when they design new features." One way AOL
reinforces this priority placed on accessibility is with the yearly employee
awareness campaign called New Sensations.

Now in its second year, New Sensations offers a range of opportunities for
employees to become familiar with AOL's commitment to accessibility.  This
year's program featured interactive kiosks where employees could test
different kinds of assistive technologies including a Braille embosser,
customized keyboard overlays, and a mouse alternative for people with
limited mobility.  An art exhibit featured work by artists with cognitive
disabilities and the Company launched a new internal website where employees
can access the latest information on assistive technologies.  The day was
capped by a powerful keynote address delivered by Erik Weihenmayer, the
world-class athlete who became the first blind person to reach the summit of
Mt. Everest.

"New Sensations was a huge success this year and was well attended by both
employees and executives.   We also had a great turnout from members of the
disability community, including ACB Executive Director Charlie Crawford,"
Wlodkowski says.  "We are also sponsoring another internal accessibility
program called The Architect's Challenge.  This exciting employee contest
invites company technologists to brainstorm new accessibility solutions for
AOL.  It's just another way we aim to keep accessibility at the forefront at
AOL and ensure that we are constantly working to make the AOL service easier
to use, more relevant, and more integrated in the daily lives of all of our
members."

Further information on AOL's accessibility efforts and projects can be found
at www.aol.com/accessibility or AOL Keyword: Accessibility.  To learn more
about AOL's limited time offer for members who are blind or visually
impaired, please call 1-866-854-1025.

Regards Steve
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