[NFB_of_Georgia] Greyhound Website and Mobile App to Become More Accessible to Blind Users

Fri Jul 20 15:26:13 UTC 2018

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Andrews via NFBNet-Members-List" 
<nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
To: <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2018 7:37 PM
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: Greyhound Website and Mobile App to 
Become More Accessible to Blind Users


>
>>
>>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>
>>Release Date: Tuesday, July 17, 2018
>>Category: National
>>
>>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 Reaches Comprehensive Agreement with 
>>Greyhound
>>
>>San Francisco (July 17, 2018): Greyhound has committed to make its website 
>>(<https://www.greyhound.com/>www.greyhound.com/) and mobile apps more 
>>accessible to blind passengers who use screen-reader software to access 
>>these services. An agreement with the National Federation of the Blind 
>>(NFB) resolves a 
>><https://nfb.org/blind-californians-and-advocates-sue-greyhound>lawsuit 
>>filed by the NFB and five blind California residents who had trouble using 
>>the website.
>>
>>Under the agreement, Greyhound will ensure that greyhound.com and the 
>>mobile apps allow blind users to gain the same information and engage in 
>>the same transactions with an ease of use substantially equivalent to that 
>>of a sighted person using the same browser or operating system without 
>>screen-reader software. Changes needed to accomplish this goal will be 
>>made in less than a year. Until then, Greyhound will inform blind 
>>passengers of alternative methods for purchasing bus tickets on the 
>>website and mobile apps. The website and mobile apps will also clearly 
>>state Greyhound's longstanding policy that blind passengers who 
>>self-identify to customer service representatives and state that they have 
>>had difficulty using the website or mobile apps will not be charged any 
>>call center booking fee or other additional charge solely because they 
>>have used the Call Center under these circumstances. The National 
>>Federation of the Blind will conduct a "secret shopper" program to report 
>>to Greyhound whether the operators at its call centers are following this 
>>policy.
>>
>>"We commend Greyhound for agreeing to remove access barriers on its 
>>website and mobile apps on a robust timeline," said Mark Riccobono, 
>>President of the National Federation of the Blind. "We further commend the 
>>company for its commitment to treat blind passengers fairly when we are 
>>unable to complete transactions through its website or apps, and urge 
>>other transportation providers to follow Greyhound's example in both 
>>respects. The National Federation of the Blind will work closely with 
>>Greyhound to help ensure that booking passage on its bus service is a 
>>fully accessible experience for current and future blind passengers."
>>
>>"As we complete our work on our new websites and mobile apps, we are 
>>grateful to have the assistance of the capable and committed members of 
>>the leadership of the National Federation of the Blind in ensuring that 
>>these websites and apps are easy to use and fully and equally accessible 
>>to all of our customers," said Todd Koch, Vice President of strategy and 
>>business development, Greyhound Lines, Inc.
>>
>>The plaintiffs are represented by Timothy Elder and Anna Levine of the TRE 
>>Legal Practice, <http://www.trelegal.com>www.trelegal.com, and by Lisa 
>>Ells and Michael Nunez of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP, 
>><http://www.rbgg.com>www.rbgg.com.
>>
>>###
>>
>>About the National Federation of the Blind
>>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is 
>>the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded 
>>in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the 
>>fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights 
>>of blind people of all ages, and provides information and support to 
>>families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and 
>>more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together 
>>to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and 
>>initiatives at nfb.org.
>>
>>About Greyhound
>>Greyhound, a FirstGroup plc company, is the only national provider of 
>>scheduled intercity coach services in the U.S. and Canada. Based in 
>>Dallas, Greyhound provides scheduled passenger services to 3,200 
>>destinations carrying approximately 18 million passengers a year. The 
>>company's point-to-point service, Greyhound Express, serves more than 135 
>>markets and also operates brands for local markets including BoltBus, 
>>Lucky Streak casino service and Greyhound Connect. Greyhound is the first 
>>U.S.-based intercity bus company to operate domestic service within Mexico 
>>as well as international connections to Texas. For fare and schedule 
>>information and to buy tickets, call 1-800-231-2222 or visit the website 
>>at <http://www.greyhound.com>www.greyhound.com. For the latest news and 
>>travel deals, follow us on Twitter at 
>><http://www.twitter.com/GreyhoundBus>www.twitter.com/GreyhoundBus. Like us 
>>on Facebook at 
>><http://www.facebook.com/GreyhoundBus>www.facebook.com/GreyhoundBus, 
>>follow us on Instagram at 
>><http://www.instagram.com/greyhoundlines>www.instagram.com/greyhoundlines, 
>>download a high resolution photo at 
>><http://www.bit.ly/GreyhoundBusPhotos>www.bit.ly/GreyhoundBusPhotos, or 
>>follow our award winning blog, The Hound, at 
>><http://www.bloggreyhound.com>www.bloggreyhound.com.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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