Below are the press releases mentioned by the NFB but not published to its
members regarding blind access at the royal Bank of Canada. The press
releases are separated by a line of asterisks.
kelly
ROYAL BANK TO IMPROVE ACCESS FOR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED CLIENTS
OTTAWA -- September 30, 1996 -- The settlement of two human
rights complaints has opened the doors to better accessibility
for visually-impaired clients of the Royal Bank of Canada.
The settlement resolves complaints of discrimination by Chris and
Marie Stark of Ottawa. The Starks, who are blind, alleged that
the bankþs publications and statements were not available in
alternate formats and that information displayed on banking
machine screens was not accessible to them. In their complaints
to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, they also said that
various service counters at the branch at Bank and Queen Streets
in Ottawa were difficult to access.
As a result, the Royal Bank has outlined a new policy to improve
its service to people with visual impairments. It will produce
publications in the format of their clientþs choice including
braille, large print, audio cassette, and computer diskette. The
bank will also study a new type of voice-activated automated
banking machine in a pilot project to take place in London,
Ontario.
The branch at Bank and Queen Streets in Ottawa is in the process
of renovating its entrance and service area to improve
accessibility.
For more information:Donna Balkan
(613) 943-9120
Vous pouvez ^Âgalement obtenir ce communiqu^Â en fran^Çais. Si vous
voulez changer la langue officielle dans laquelle vous avez re^Çu
ce communiqu^Â, ou si vous voulez qu'on ajoute un nom ^Å notre
liste d'envoi, composez le (613) 943-9122. Also available in
French.
LA BANQUE ROYALE SE RENDRA PLUS ACCESSIBLE AUX CLIENTS AYANT UNE
D^ÐFICIENCE VISUELLE
OTTAWA -- Le 30 septembre 1996 -- Le r^Êglement de deux plaintes
concernant les droits de la personne ouvre la voie ^Å une plus
grande accessibilit^Â de la Banque Royale du Canada aux clients et
clientes ayant une d^Âficience visuelle.
Le r^Êglement concerne les plaintes de discrimination de Chris et
Marie Stark dþOttawa. Les Stark, qui sont aveugles, all^Âguaient
que les publications et les bilans de la banque nþ^Âtaient pas
disponibles sous diverses formes et que lþinformation
apparaissant ^Å lþ^Âcran des guichets automatiques ne leur ^Âtait
pas accessible. Dans leurs plaintes ^Å la Commission canadienne
des droits de la personne, ils ajoutaient que divers comptoirs de
service ^Å la succursale de la banque ^Å lþangle des rues Bank et
Queen, ^Å Ottawa, ^Âtaient difficiles dþacc^Ês.
Par suite de ces plaintes, la Banque Royale a ^Âtabli une nouvelle
politique dþam^Âlioration de ses services aux gens ayant une
d^Âficience visuelle. Elle produira des publications en braille,
en gros caract^Êres, sur audiocassette et sur disquette, au choix
du client. La banque se penchera aussi sur la mise au point dþun
nouveau type de guichet automatique activ^Â par la voix dans le
cadre dþun projet pilote ^Å London (Ontario).
La succursale de la banque ^Å lþangle des rues Bank et Queen, ^Å
Ottawa, proc^Êde ^Å la r^Ânovation de son entr^Âe et de son aire de
service pour en am^Âliorer lþaccessibilit^Â.
Pour de plus amples renseignements :Donna Balkan
(613) 943-9120
This Communiqu^Â is also available in English. If you would like
to change the official language in which you received this
Communiqu^Â, or add someone to our distribution list, please call
(613) 943-9122. On peut ^Âgalement obtenir ce Communiqu^Â en
anglais.
****************************************
ROYAL BANK MAKES IT EASIER FOR ALL CLIENTS -- INCLUDING PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND THE ELDERLY --
TO ACCESS FINANCIAL SERVICES INFORMATION
TORONTO, SEPTEMBER 12, 1996 -- Royal Bank today announced that it is making a
number of its frequently-used print publications available in a variety of
other formats -- in
everything from braille to computer diskettes -- to give millions of Canadians
easier access to
essential banking information. People who benefit include people who are
blind,
partially
sighted, Deaf or hard of hearing, have limited mobility, or are unable to read
conventional
printed material because of low literacy skills.
A variety of product and service brochures, employment applications and
banking
agreements will now be available in multiple formats; audio cassette, braille,
computer diskette
and large print. The bank has set up a service so that people can order this
material from
anywhere in Canada free of charge by calling a toll-free number directly.
"It's important that our clients obtain information in the format of
their
choice, including
those who have difficulty accessing conventionally presented material, to
allow
them to make
informed financial decisions," said Lori Galinis, manager, Banking Packages at
Royal Bank.
Clients can call 1800 ROYAL 9-7 (1-800-769-2597) around the clock to
order
from
selected publications in the format of their choice. "We believe we now offer
easier access to
banking information through more alternative formats than any other financial
institution in
Canada." Galinis said.
An external supplier, T-Base Research & Development Inc., produces the
material on
request.
T-Base, a leader in the field of alternative format design and
production,
uses an
integrated computer system to interact with clients by voice or Teletypewriter
(TTY) and
produce information products in multiple formats on demand, in English or
French.
Sharlyn Ayotte, President & CEO of T-Base since 1990 and legally blind
herself, started
her Ottawa-based company's multiple format activities to enable people who
have
disabilities or
difficulty reading conventional print material to fully participate in the
mainstream of society.
"One third of adult Canadians are unable to read everyday printed
material," said Ayotte.
"More than two million Canadians are blind, partially sighted, Deaf or hard of
hearing. And
deteriorating sight and hearing is rapidly increasing because of our aging
population. For
companies, it means a lack of access to a large and growing market."
Royal Bank was the first major chartered bank to introduce deposit
account
statements in
braille five years ago. It also offers fully personalized cheques in large
print as well as cheque
writing guides. Other easy-access Royal Bank services include CommuniCards to
let bank staff
know a client requiring service is Deaf or hard of hearing; Teletypewriter
(TTY) service at our
Visa Card Centres and Royal Direct telephone banking service; wheelchair
access
at many
branches and banking machines; a brochure outlining special services; and a
World Wide Web
home page.
***************************************
ROYAL BANK MAKES IT EASIER FOR
ALL CLIENTS -- INCLUDING PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND
THE ELDERLY --
TO ACCESS FINANCIAL
SERVICES INFORMATION
TORONTO, SEPTEMBER 12, 1996 --
Royal Bank today announced that
it is making a number of its
frequently-used print
publications available in a
variety of other formats -- in
everything from braille to
computer diskettes -- to give
millions of Canadians easier
access to essential banking
information. People who benefit
include people who are blind,
partially sighted, Deaf or hard
of hearing, have limited
mobility, or are unable to read
conventional printed material
because of low literacy skills.
A variety of product and
service brochures, employment
applications and banking
agreements will now be available
in multiple formats; audio
cassette, braille, computer
diskette and large print. The
bank has set up a service so that
people can order this material
from anywhere in Canada free of
charge by calling a toll-free
number directly.
"It's important that our
clients obtain information in the
format of their choice, including
those who have difficulty
accessing conventionally
presented material, to allow them
to make informed financial
decisions," said Lori Galinis,
manager, Banking Packages at
Royal Bank.
Clients can call 1800 ROYAL
9-7 (1-800-769-2597) around the
clock to order from selected
publications in the format of
their choice. "We believe we now
offer easier access to banking
information through more
alternative formats than any
other financial institution in
Canada." Galinis said.
An external supplier, T-Base
Research & Development Inc.,
produces the material on request.
T-Base, a leader in the
field of alternative format
design and production, uses an
integrated computer system to
interact with clients by voice or
Teletypewriter (TTY) and produce
information products in multiple
formats on demand, in English or
French.
Sharlyn Ayotte, President &
CEO of T-Base since 1990 and
legally blind herself, started
her Ottawa-based company's
multiple format activities to
enable people who have
disabilities or difficulty
reading conventional print
material to fully participate in
the mainstream of society.
"One third of adult
Canadians are unable to read
everyday printed material," said
Ayotte. "More than two million
Canadians are blind, partially
sighted, Deaf or hard of hearing.
And deteriorating sight and
hearing is rapidly increasing
because of our aging population.
For companies, it means a lack of
access to a large and growing
market."
Royal Bank was the first
major chartered bank to introduce
deposit account statements in
braille five years ago. It also
offers fully personalized cheques
in large print as well as cheque
writing guides. Other easy-access
Royal Bank services include
CommuniCards to let bank staff
know a client requiring service
is Deaf or hard of hearing;
Teletypewriter (TTY) service at
our Visa Card Centres and Royal
Direct telephone banking service;
wheelchair access at many
branches and banking machines; a
brochure outlining special
services; and a World Wide Web
home page.
end of document
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