Though it hasn’t dropped its lawsuit against Target.com, the National Federation of the Blind has signed a new agreement with Amazon.com to improve how the visually impaired can navigate and shop the largest online retail site.
The six-year agreement, which the National Federation of the Blind says Amazon will implement by Dec. 31, calls for both parties to jointly develop and implement on Amazon.com better screen access software. The technology would vocalize or translate into Braille the visual information displayed on a computer screen by a web browser.
Amazon, No. 1 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide, says it will work on site accessibility issues and the federation will provide more technical expertise. In a 10-page agreement, the National Federation will appoint the director of its international Braille and technology center as its liaison. “We look forward to working with Amazon.com to perfect techniques and technologies that will make the Internet more accessible to blind computer users,” says president Marc Mauer.
A federation spokesman says Amazon approached the group about developing and implementing the new working agreement. The spokesman also says the National Federation of the Blind continues to pursue its lawsuit against Target.com.
In September, a federal judge ruled that a lawsuit--filed by the National Federation of the Blind and others--could move forward. The complaint contends that Target.com violates the Americans with Disabilities Act because it’s impossible for the blind to use the site. Target isn’t talking about the suit to the press, but the retailer in court said it believes it is in compliance with all applicable laws.
On April 12 a federal judge will begin to examine the class action status of the suit, the federation spokesman says.
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