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<div align="center"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
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<h1><b> <br><br>
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<div align="center">Express Employment Professionals Makes Testing
Accessible to Blind Job Seekers</b></h1> <br>
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<b>Baltimore, Maryland (July 11, 2018):</b> Express Employment
Professionals, a leading national staffing company, has committed to
ensuring that its employee testing solutions can be used by blind and
low-vision job seekers and employees. The decision was made after
consultation with the National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and
largest nationwide organization of blind people in the United States and
a leading advocate for equal employment and digital accessibility. The
commitment means that Express’ testing solutions will be usable by blind
applicants who access computers and digital information with technologies
like text-to-speech screen readers and/or Braille displays.<br>
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Express has adopted the accessible IBM Kenexa Assess software nationwide
for evaluating the skills of job applicants. Going forward, Express is
committed to using only accessible assessment software that complies with
the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Version 2.0, Level AA (WCAG
2.0AA), an internationally recognized standard for equal access to
websites and other digital resources.<br>
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“Unemployment among blind people is a chronic problem, primarily driven
by low expectations of our capabilities, but unnecessarily aggravated by
the inaccessibility of technology,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the
National Federation of the Blind. “Blind people often can't successfully
apply for jobs for which they are qualified because of inaccessible
application and testing technologies. The commitment that Express
Employment Professionals has made to accessibility will dramatically
enhance opportunities for blind workers, allowing them to demonstrate
their capacity and ultimately contribute in the workplace. The National
Federation of the Blind commends Express for the steps it is taking to
promote equal access to its testing solutions, and we hope that other
leaders in staffing and recruiting will follow this company’s outstanding
example.”<br>
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“Express Employment Professionals is committed to equal employment
opportunities for all applicants, including the blind,” said Bill
Stoller, CEO of Express. “We are therefore taking steps to ensure that
our employment solutions are always fully accessible to this
underutilized pool of job seekers.”<br>
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<b> <br>
About the National Federation of the Blind <br>
</b>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
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">nfb.org</a>. <br>
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<b>About Express Employment Professionals<br>
</b>Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated
$3.4 billion in sales and employed a record 540,000 people in 2017. Its
long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. For more
information, visit
<a href="https://www.expresspros.com/">expresspros.com</a>.<br>
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<b>CONTACT:<br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br>
Director of Public Relations<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br>
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