[Nfbofnc] Fwd: [Nfbnet-master-list] eBay and National Federation of the Blind Partner to Increase Ecommerce Job Opportunities

[Tim Jones]

*News Release**Contacts:                               *Press
Hotline                           Kathy
Chui                                               Chris Danielsen

                                                press at ebay.com
katchui at ebay.com
CDanielsen at nfb.org


(408) 218-9257                                       (410) 262-1281

*

eBay and National Federation of the Blind Partner to Increase

Ecommerce Job Opportunities

** Innovative Partnership aims to empower blind Americans to gain
employment, start businesses while buying and selling on eBay

*


*San Jose, Calif.* – *September 15, 2010 *– eBay, the world’s largest online
marketplace, and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) today announced
a partnership to create more opportunities for blind Americans to access
eBay as buyers and sellers.



eBay.com now includes enhanced
features<http://pages.ebay.com/help/account/accessibility.html>for
users to buy, bid and sell using the keyboard alone, as well as
improved
ways to navigate content using assistive technologies such as screen access
software. The blind can now more easily connect with eBay’s 92 million users
and shop from 200 million live listings.



“We have great respect for the advocacy role the NFB plays in creating
employment opportunities for the blind,” said John Donahoe, President and
CEO of eBay Inc. “eBay has built a reputation as a driver of job creation by
helping entrepreneurs start up and grow their businesses. We are excited
about connecting with an even wider audience through this partnership and
providing blind Americans with easier access to our marketplace for both
buying and selling.”



“eBay is demonstrating true leadership and commitment to accessibility,
along with creating exciting opportunities for blind Americans,” said Dr.
Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “The
National Federation of the Blind is thrilled with the accessibility of
eBay’s buying and selling experience, and we look forward to working
together with eBay on employment opportunities for blind Americans. This
partnership demonstrates that when the blind and business leaders work
together, everyone wins.”



With seventy percent of blind Americans either unemployed or underemployed1,
job creation is critical to tackle the employment challenges facing the
blind. The NFB and eBay aim to provide additional tools and support to the
blind community to enable their success on eBay such as:



·        Providing seed funding for promising blind entrepreneurs

·        Recruiting members of the blind community to become eBay Trainers
to educate other blind individuals in selling on eBay

·        Creating an NFB ecommerce store on the eBay platform

*About eBay

*Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) connects
hundreds of millions of buyers and sellers globally on a daily basis through
eBay, the world's largest online marketplace. For more information about the
company and our global portfolio of online brands, visit
www.ebayinc.com<http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebayinc.com&esheet=6362743&lan=en-US&anchor=www.ebayinc.com&index=9&md5=cfb04b27cc42c93f650d249e50a6f73c>.


*About the National Federation of the Blind

*With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the
largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the
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 in the United States for the blind led by the blind.  For
more information about the National Federation of the Blind, please visit
www.nfb.org.



1National Center for Health Statistics


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-- 
Tim Jones
North Carolina Food Service
Fort Bragg, NC
Office:  910-396-2297
Cell:  704-491-1486