I would rather see them improve there products and put ham radio equipment
back in there inventory.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard Kaufman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 2:07 PM
Subject: Fw: Badger Bytes: RadioShack Point of Sale accessibility
>>>>The following statement was released to the press earlier this
>>>>morning.
>>>>For more information, contact Mark Richert, Director, Public Policy,
>>>>American Foundation for the Blind, [log in to unmask]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>RadioShack Announces Point of Sale, Web Site Initiative
>>>>
>>>>for Customers with Visual Impairments
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Blind Community Leaders Applaud RadioShack's Commitment
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Washington, DC (June 13, 2007) -- In a move praised by state and
>>>>national blindness organizations, RadioShack (NYSE:RSH) today
>>>>announced
>>>>it has undertaken a nationwide initiative to improve services for
>>>>RadioShack's customers with visual impairments. As part of the
>>>>program,
>>>>RadioShack will install new point of sale equipment with tactile
>>>>keypads
>>>>to protect the privacy and security of visually impaired shoppers and
>>>>will make improvements to its Web site that will benefit visually
>>>>impaired shoppers and other customers with disabilities.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Today's announcement is the result of collaboration between RadioShack
>>>>and major blindness organizations including the American Foundation
>>>>for
>>>>the Blind, American Council of the Blind, and California Council of
>>>>the
>>>>Blind.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Point of Sale Improvements
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>It is anticipated that by the end of September of this year, every
>>>>RadioShack store will have the new device, which is designed to
>>>>protect
>>>>the financial privacy of blind and visually impaired shoppers. The
>>>>devices, manufactured by Ingenico (www.ingenico.com
>>>> ><http://www.ingenico.com/> ), have tactile keys arranged like a
>>>>standard
>>>>telephone keypad and plug easily into existing point of sale payment
>>>>terminals. The new units will 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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Blind community representatives praised RadioShack's plan to upgrade
>>>>its
>>>>point of sale devices. "Point of sale devices must have tactile keys
>>>>so
>>>>blind people do not have to share their PIN with strangers," explained
>>>>Melanie Brunson, executive director of the American Council of the
>>>>Blind. "Today's announcement, and the collaboration that led to it,
>>>>demonstrates RadioShack's understanding of this fact and its strong
>>>>commitment to blind and visually impaired customers."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Web Site Access
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Today's initiative includes RadioShack's commitment to design
>>>>www.RadioShack.com <http://www.radioshack.com/> in accordance with
>>>>guidelines issued by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the
>>>>World
>>>>Wide Web Consortium (w3c) (www.w3.org/wai). The guidelines, which do
>>>>not
>>>>affect the content or look and feel of a Web site, ensure that Web
>>>>sites
>>>>are accessible to persons with a wide range of disabilities. The
>>>>guidelines are of particular benefit to blind computer users who use
>>>>screen reader or magnification technology on their computers and who
>>>>rely on a keyboard instead of a mouse.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Web site accessibility is of critical importance to both the blind
>>>>community and to people with disabilities generally," said Paul
>>>>Schroeder, vice president, programs and policy group of the American
>>>>Foundation for the Blind. "We applaud RadioShack's leadership role in
>>>>committing to address the accessibility of its Web site, thereby
>>>>improving the browsing and shopping experience for a broad range of
>>>>on-line shoppers."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"The program announced today is one way we can help customers who are
>>>>blind or visually impaired enjoy a better shopping experience in their
>>>>neighborhood RadioShack stores as well as on www.RadioShack.com and
>>>>complements our on-going efforts to improve the shopping experience of
>>>>all our customers with disabilities," said Frank Espinoza, vice
>>>>president-store operations of RadioShack Corporation. "RadioShack
>>>>would
>>>>like to thank the American Council of the Blind, the California
>>>>Council
>>>>of the Blind, and the American Foundation for the Blind, for their
>>>>cooperation and expertise in making RadioShack a better place to shop
>>>>for our customers with disabilities."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>About RadioShack Corporation
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) is one of the nation's most
>>>>experienced and trusted consumer electronics specialty retailers. The
>>>>company has a presence through more than 6,000 company-operated stores
>>>>and dealer outlets in the United States, over 100 RadioShack locations
>>>>in Mexico and nearly 800 wireless phone kiosks. RadioShack's dedicated
>>>>force of knowledgeable and helpful sales associates has been
>>>>consistently recognized by several independent groups as providing the
>>>>best customer service in the consumer electronics and wireless
>>>>industries. Operating from convenient and comfortable neighborhood and
>>>>mall locations, RadioShack stores deliver personalized product and
>>>>service solutions within a few short minutes of where most Americans
>>>>either live or work. For more information on RadioShack Corporation,
>>>>or
>>>>to purchase items online, visit www.radioshack.com
>>>><http://www.radioshack.com/> .
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>About American Council of the Blind (ACB) 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 seventy state
>>>>and
>>>>special interest affiliates. 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. 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 ACB and CCB can be found by visiting
>>>>
>>>>www.acb.org <http://www.acb.org/> and http://www.ccbnet.org/.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>About American Foundation for the Blind
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit
>>>>that
>>>>expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities
>>>>include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of
>>>>information and tools for the professionals who serve people with
>>>>vision
>>>>loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with
>>>>vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and
>>>>timely resources. AFB is also proud to house the Helen Keller Archives
>>>>and honor the over forty years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly
>>>>with
>>>>AFB. For more information visit us online at www.afb.org.
>>
>> Troy Hergert
>> Badger Association of the Blind
>> 414-615-0122
>>
>> --
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database:
>> 269.8.15/847 - Release Date: 6/12/2007 9:42 PM
>>
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