Innovation
How to make ATMs ADA compliant
ATMs need to go above and beyond to ensure financial inclusivity especially to the disabled.
June 3, 2025 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
ATMs are a cornerstone of financial inclusion, as they provide convenient access to cash and self-service banking. It is also of the utmost importance that ATMs meet the regulations of the American Disabilities Act and to go beyond to create a truly inclusive experience.
On the most basic level, ATMs need to be accessible for those in wheelchairs and visually impaired users so they can have easy access to cash, but how to do that is another matter entirely.
To learn more about how ATMs can meet ADA requirements, ATM Marketplace reached out via email interview to Jodi Neiding, VP of Americas Banking Portfolio, at Diebold Nixdorf and Neill Harris, Executive Director, Products, NCR Atleos
Q: What are some main ADA guidelines for ATMs and how have ATMs traditionally met these needs?
Neiding:
The ATM is a critical touch point to access financial services. So, it must be accessible to all — a challenge that requires accessibility to be a key concern in developing any solution. Under the American Accessibility Act, ATMs must be accessible to individuals with disabilities, with requirements including:
- Speech is enabled for all displayed functions, activated through a standard headphone jack.
- The ATM must be within reach — no higher than 48 inches from the floor — for wheelchair users, and operable with one hand without tight grasping.
- The screen should be visible from a seated position, with characters at least 3/16 inch tall and high contrast.
- Input controls must be tactile discernible for easy navigation, with Braille or raised symbols on function keys. Braille instructions must also be available to initiate speech mode.
- The ATM should be on an accessible route with clear floor space for wheelchair access and must have the option to protect the user's privacy during transactions.
Q: What are some tools for ATMs to go above and beyond for disabled patrons?
Harris:
ATMs are closed by design in order to maintain security, so users cannot add any additional technology or 'tools'. This is different to an open system like a computer at home which allows people to add USB devices, install a text-to-speech engine or make many other changes. However, NCR Atleos has been at the forefront of accessibility for many years, and our ATMs are designed to be usable by all. Over the years NCR Atleos has pioneered many innovations to support the needs of all users. Including raised features on keyboard, voice guidance, accessible PIN on glass and Interactive Teller.
With the increase in more modern browser-based ATM applications we are seeing a number of new innovations arising. Preferences can really help accessibility — enabling someone to set their font size, language, or color-way once — and have it appear and set each time at an ATM – this is a tool NCR Atleos provides today. We are also seeing an increase in the use of images/icons rather than just relying on words — with larger screens this becomes more feasible and can help with cognitive impairments such as dyslexia and dyspraxia, and can also help with literacy issues (e.g. those for whom the ATM is not in their native language).
Neiding:
For people with disabilities, the future of ATM access could be as simple as using their own smartphone. Personal devices already adapted with accessibility features like screen readers, voice control or custom interfaces — could connect to ATMs via NFC, Bluetooth or QR codes. This would allow users to predefine and complete transactions without needing to navigate unfamiliar or less accessible ATM interfaces, offering a more seamless, dignified and empowering banking experience.
Q: What are some innovative tools that your company uses to meet the needs of disabled patrons?
Neiding:
Historically, accessibility has been approached through hardware solutions. Diebold Nixdorf ensures that both our ATM hardware and software are designed with accessibility in mind. With our DN SoftADA software, users can utilize a hardware button to easily lower the screen, allowing wheelchair users to interact with the user interface. We are also enhancing ATM accessibility by incorporating visual cues that illuminate interaction points, thereby assisting users throughout their transactions.
By combining these innovative solutions for users with visual, auditory or mobility challenges with accessible design features like Braille keypads, audio guidance, adjustable interfaces and ADA-compliant height and reach, Diebold Nixdorf'\/s DN Series ATMs are delivering a seamless banking experience for all.
Harris:
There is a rigorous in-house process that considers accessibility throughout the development process from initial sketches, requirements, all the way through to validating before release.
From there, we embed accessibility specialists into the design team and do substantial User testing with people including older adults, those with poor manual dexterity, those with mobility issues, and blind and partially sighted people. This helps ensure NCR Atleos products meet the needs of the widest range of the population.
In addition, we also use human modelling software, including detailed analysis of joint constraints, reach and manual dexterity for a wide range of users with multiple complex needs. NCR Atleos software products are designed to meet UI accessibility requirements as well as provide the flexibility to support many UI customization meeting the needs and preferences of all.
We will increasingly see contactless being more ubiquitous at the ATM — which makes it easier for those who struggle with hand dexterity — and wheelchair users for that matter if they don't need to put a card into a reader — or even DIP which can be very difficult for those affected by Parkinson's or other hand mobility challenges. Pinless ATM transactions make ATMs more accessible with less need for fine motor skills, this could be done with prestaging the whole transaction on a mobile device that could be easier for some users.
Q: Anything else to add?
Neiding:Diebold Nixdorf continuously monitors standards and regulations in conjunction with other industry and accessibility experts to ensure all requirements are met. We design our solutions with global accessibility standards in mind and tested by user groups that encompass those with various abilities. By consistently integrating ADA-compliant features into our ATMs, we ensure that all users, regardless of physical abilities, can access banking services with ease. If we want truly accessible banking, the ATM has to work for everyone.
About Bradley Cooper
Included In This Story
NCR Atleos
NCR Atleos expands self-service financial access for retailers and financial institutions who leverage our expertise, operational scale, always-on global services and constant innovation to deliver convenient self-service banking.
Diebold Nixdorf
As a global technology leader and innovative services provider, Diebold Nixdorf delivers the solutions that enable financial institutions to improve efficiencies, protect assets and better serve consumers.
Related Media
Subscribe
Get the latest news and resources from ATM Marketplace.
