LaSalle Bank Corporation to Offer Improved Services for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Equip for Equality recently concluded successful negotiations with LaSalle Bank Corporation resulting in a far-reaching agreement that will significantly enhance the independent access to banking services for the blind community. The settlement agreement impacts services at both LaSalle Bank, which is based in Chicago and is the second largest bank in Chicago, and at Standard Federal Bank, headquartered in Troy, Michigan, and one of the largest banks in the Midwest. LaSalle agreed to initiate several major initiatives as a result of negotiations with Equip for Equality and Lainey Feingold, a California lawyer who has assisted members of the blind community nationally on this issue. The major initiatives include the installation of talking automated teller machines (ATMs), a more user-friendly format on the banks' websites and greater accessibility of printed materials. A link to the settlement agreement is available online.

Equip for Equality approached LaSalle on behalf of the American Council of the Blind of Metropolitan Chicago (ACBMC) and Kelly Pierce. The ACBMC is the Chicago chapter of the national organization, the American Council of the Blind. The ACBMC works to improve the educational, economic, social and cultural opportunities for people of all ages in the Chicago area who are blind or visually impaired. Kelly Pierce is a Chicago blind advocate and technology specialist. ACBMC and Pierce contributed their expertise in working out many of the details of the agreement. The structured negotiations format allowed for collaboration of the parties and resulted in a positive and forward-thinking approach to solving problems, and ultimately to a strong and successful agreement.

LaSalle Bank and Standard Federal Bank operate a combined network of more than 1,500 ATMs in the Midwest. The banks piloted talking ATMs in various locations beginning in 2004. The agreement contains a phase-in plan to convert 100 percent of the ATM locations owned or leased and operated by LaSalle to talking ATMs by December 31, 2007. Thirty-three percent of the locations will have talking ATMs by December 31, 2005. Under the plan, there will be at least one talking ATM at every LaSalle ATM location.

Individuals can access the talking features, including a brief orientation, by inserting a headset into an audio jack located on the front of the ATM. All the talking ATMs speak in both English and Spanish. Headsets can be obtained free of charge from LaSalle. Talking ATMs will benefit people with visual impairments as well as anyone else who has difficulty reading an ATM screen. These people will be able to bank independently and privately using the talking ATM feature, as sighted people can do. Without talking ATMs, people who are blind or who have visual impairments are often forced to bring a sighted person with them in order to access an ATM.

LaSalle Bank and Standard Federal Bank have also agreed to increase the accessibility of their websites. The sites are being updated according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines on the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium to make them more accessible. This will allow people with visual impairments more access by making the Web pages easier to navigate using screen reader software.

A new service now available at LaSalle and Standard Federal Banks as a result of the agreement allows customers with visual impairments to obtain retail banking documents in alternative formats, including Braille, large print, audiotape cassette and floppy or computer disk. Customers can request that the banks provide these auxiliary aids and services for deposit account statements, account disclosures and information related to consumer banking products and services. Once a customer requests that the consumer deposit account statements be provided in an alternative format, that format will automatically continue until the request is modified or discontinued by the customer. Auxiliary aids and services for any other print materials related to consumer banking products and services may be made upon individual request.

Additional commitments made by LaSalle include the provision of raised-line checks for the same price as standard checks, training of LaSalle staff regarding the new services available and applicable procedures, and updated bank policies reflecting upgraded accessibility for people with vision impairments. LaSalle will also be doing outreach to the blindness community to spread awareness concerning the improved accessibility. Any person who encounters a problem or has comments concerning LaSalle's new accessible services may contact Equip for Equality.

Amy F. Peterson, senior attorney at Equip for Equality and manager of Equip for Equality's Assistive Technology Project, negotiated the agreement with co-counsel Lainey Feingold.

"We applaud LaSalle Bank Corporation for its proactive approach to improving banking services for the blind community and others with difficulty reading standard print," says Peterson. "This is an example of how assistive technology can make a significant difference in the lives of people with disabilities."

Equip for Equality's Assistive Technology Project assists individuals with disabilities in Illinois obtain assistive technology devices and services to increase, maintain and/or improve their functional capabilities. The AT Project handles cases having broad impact on major AT problems, such as this case, as well as providing information and referral, technical assistance, advocacy and representation to individuals in such areas as Medicaid, Medicare, special education, employment and vocational rehabilitation.

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