Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe) (04/24/91)
Index Number: 15093
V> What a silly thought, a blind person could not use an ATM and so
V> therefore, is likely to be using someones stolen card!!! Heheh!
Seems just as absurd as a deafie driving an automobile to me. ;-)
V> Some of the ways I can use ATMs seem like they should be almost
V> obvious! The first and most obvious would be, "with assistance!"
Vix, The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Committee A117
is currently updating the American National Standard for Accessible
and Usable Buildings and Facilities. This is something that happens
once every five years, the last update being in 1986.
The 1986 Standard had no provision for ATMs. They has not invaded
our culture at that time to the extent they have today. But the
revision that is currently out for public comment does address the
ATMs. It attempts to set a standard which would make ATMs usable
more conveniently by blind persons and persons in wheelchairs. I'll
quote the applicable section below:
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4.30 Automatic Teller Machines
Automatic Teller Machines shall be mounted so that all features
requiring user activation comply with 4.2.5 or 4.2.6. Clear floor
space shall comply with 4.2.4. Automatic teller machines shall
have a tactually discernable control panel with braille and raised
print characters accessible to persons with visual impairments.
Where print appears on the display screen, the automatic teller
machine video display screen shall use san serif print that is a
minimum of 18 point size, and shall contrast with the background
by a minimum of 70%. The contents of the video display screen
shall also be available audibly through a telephone handset or
other private listening device. Where the automatic teller
machine is designed to be used by pedestrians, the video display
screen shall be placed so that the lower edge shall be at a height
of 38 in (965 mm) maximum off the ground or be adjustable.
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The A117 standard is open for public comment until April 23.
Comments (if you w1sh to offer any) should be addressed to:
Secretariat - ANSI Committee A117
c/o Council of American Building Officials
5203 Leesburg Pike, #708
Falls Church, VA 22041
Or you might find it more convenient to get in touch with a
colleague in Sacremento, Gene Lozano, who is Chairman of the
Environmental Access Committee of the American Council of the
Blind and is the ACB representative on ANSI Committee A117.
The ANSI A117 Committee membership is 25% disability advocates
and 75% others. Most of the others represent groups that will
have to expend $$$ to provide access, so you can imagine that it
is uphill every inch of the way. The new A117 standard contains
a greatly improved standard for visual alarm systems for hearing
impaired persons, but it completely misses the boat on telephone
accessibility, assistive listening systems and other deaf issues.
Proposals addressing these were voted down in committee, so any
supportive comments to the Secretariat would be welcome.
The battle did not end with the signing of the ADA - far from it.
The Congress giveth - The regulation writers taketh away!
Arghhhh.
... lllegitimii non Carborundum!
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