Amazon.com Accessibility to be Completed June 30, 2008

1/4/2008

The National Federation of the Blind and online retailer Amazon, Inc., have announced that work to make Amazon.com fully accessible to blind computer users is to be completed by June 30, 2008.  In March of 2007, Amazon entered into a technology development agreement with the National Federation of the Blind pursuant to which Amazon was to attempt to make Amazon.com fully accessible by December 31, 2007.  Because of the complexity of the task, it was recognized that this was an ambitious goal and that problems might be encountered; accordingly, the agreement provided that Amazon could have a six-month extension, if necessary, to complete work on making its Web site fully accessible to blind computer users.  Amazon’s Web site has improved; nonetheless, Amazon recognizes that it is not yet fully accessible.  Amazon has indicated that it will complete the task within the extended period. 

Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Full and equal access to the Internet is critical in order for the blind to participate fully in today’s society.  While Amazon.com is not yet fully accessible, we are pleased with the progress that has been made and we believe that the company remains committed to making the site fully accessible.  We will continue to work with Amazon.com to ensure that the blind can shop for books, music, movies, and the myriad other products available at this leading online retailer with the same ease and convenience as all other shoppers.”

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