[NFBV-Richmond-Announce] {Disarmed} Amazon Agrees to Make Remote Customer Service Associate Roles Available to the Blind

[National Federation of the Blind]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

AMAZON AGREES TO MAKE REMOTE CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSOCIATE ROLES AVAILABLE TO
THE BLIND

_DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY BLIND WOMAN RESOLVED_

DETROIT (JULY 16, 2020): Maryann Murad, a blind Michigan resident, and the
National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest and largest
organization of blind Americans, have reached an agreement with Amazon.com
resolving the employment discrimination lawsuit they brought in September
of 2019. Without admitting liability or wrongdoing, Amazon has agreed to
implement accessible technology that will allow blind people to work from
home as Amazon customer service representatives. Amazon will also offer Ms.
Murad a work-at-home customer service position upon her successful
completion of the application process and pay an undisclosed amount of
money. 

In 2017, Ms. Murad tried to apply for a virtual customer service (VCS)
position with Amazon, but the proprietary Amazon technology required to
perform the duties of the VCS role was inaccessible with Voiceover, the
Apple text-to-speech screen-reading software that Ms. Murad uses to
complete tasks on her computer. Amazon has created proprietary technology
that is now accessible. 

"We are pleased to reach this agreement with Amazon and hope that it is an
important step in making the company a leader in twenty-first-century
employment for blind people," said Mark Riccobono, President of the
National Federation of the Blind. "Accessible technology is a key to equal
employment of the blind, and this is even more true with remote employment
on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Blind people can and
must be a part of existing and new work environments in order to live the
lives we want, and the National Federation of the Blind will continue to
ensure that blind Americans are connected and protected." 

### 

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 www.nfb.org [2]. 

CONTACT: 

Chris Danielsen
 Director of Public Relations
 National Federation of the Blind
 (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
 (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
 cdanielsen at nfb.org 

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 		 National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD
21230 | 410-659-9314 

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