STRATEGIC PARTNERS
January 21, 2002
HERNDON, Va. -- The Electronic Funds Transfer Association will present "New ADA Challenges to the ATM Industry," a one-day special conference focusing exclusively on proposed federal regulations that would require ATM owners to provide ATMs capable of being operated by sight-impaired consumers, on June 27 at the Hilton Crystal City at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va.
The federal Access Board, created by Congress to help develop accessibility guidelines for facilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities and the Architectural Barriers acts, is currently working with the financial industry and consumers on increasing accessibility by blind and visually impaired consumers to ATMs.
"The impact of requiring audio ATMs will affect not only sight-impaired consumers, but all consumers for many years to come," said H. Kurt Helwig, EFTA executive director. "Ultimately, the requirements could reduce the number of ATMs available to all consumers, and increase the operating costs for those that remain."
The conference will feature a variety of banking, technology, academic, consumer and manufacturing perspectives, said Helwig. Sessions will cover the challenges of audio ATMs, consumer perspectives, the technology of audio ATMs, the financial impact of complying with the audio ATM requirement and a demonstration of audio ATM technology.
