[nfb-talk] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Nonvisual Accessibility Web Certification Granted to GE

[David Andrews]

>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>CONTACT:
>Chris Danielsen
>Director of Public Relations
>National Federation of the Blind
>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
><mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
>National Federation of the Blind Nonvisual Accessibility
>Web Certification Granted to GE
>
>GE.com Recertified As Equally Accessible to Blind and Sighted Users
>
>Baltimore, Maryland (October 1, 2009): The National Federation of 
>the Blind (NFB), the nation's leading advocate for Internet access 
>by blind Americans, has granted Gold Level NFB-NVA Certification to 
>GE.  The NFB applauds GE's continued commitment to ensuring equal 
>access to its Web site for blind consumers and commends GE's 
>sustained leadership in Web accessibility.
>
>Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
>said: "The National Federation of the Blind commends GE for its 
>continued commitment to making its Web site accessible to all 
>consumers.  GE has been a consistent promoter of access for all 
>Americans and its socially responsible conduct is an example we hope 
>all companies that have an Internet presence will follow."
>
>The NFB Nonvisual Accessibility Web Certification Program connects 
>Web site and application developers with leading experts on 
>blindness and accessibility to ensure that their Internet sites or 
>applications are fully accessible to and usable by blind people 
>employing screen access software.  Applicants go through a rigorous 
>evaluation and testing procedure and work with a web accessibility 
>consultant (WAC) to address any accessibility issues discovered 
>during the evaluation.  In the case of GE, web accessibility 
>consulting was provided by Deque Systems, Inc. 
>[http://www.deque.com].  Once the site or application has addressed 
>all accessibility issues, it is granted the right to display an 
>NFB-NVA seal of approval on its site.  Sites are continuously 
>monitored to ensure that they remain compliant with certification 
>criteria.  GE has maintained a high standard of accessibility and 
>has been recertified by NFB-NVA at the Gold Level.
>
>  "We are honored to be recognized by the National Federation of the 
> Blind for our work on accessibility," said Jen Walsh, GE's digital 
> media director.  "Our content, design, and technology team works 
> hard every day to ensure that GE.com is accessible to people with 
> disabilities.  We remain committed to this important cause."
>
>For more information on the NFB-NVA Certification, please visit 
><http://www.nfb.org/nfb/certification_intro.asp>http://www.nfb.org/nfb/certification_intro.asp. 
>To learn more about the National Federation of the Blind, please 
>visit <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.
>
>
>###
>
>About the National Federation of the Blind
>
>
>With more than fifty thousand members, the National Federation of 
>the Blind is the largest and most influential membership 
>organization of blind people in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns 
>= "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />United States.  The 
>NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, 
>research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and 
>self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field 
>today and the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB 
>opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the 
>first research and training center for the blind led by the blind.
>
>

David Andrews and white cane Harry.