Important Content

Navigation Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Intro: The answers to Frequently Asked Questions in connection with Structured Negotiations and Lainey’s work appear below. These questions and answers are divided into the following topics:

There is also a section in these FAQs about finding information on this web site. Please contact us if there is information that you think would be helpful on this page.

Finding information on this web site

How Can I find Settlement Agreements on this web site?
This web site offers a list of all settlement agreements in alphabetical order. You may also search for settlement agreements by category. For example, there are nine settlement agreements in the Web Accessibility Settlements category, and twenty settlement agreements in the Talking ATM Settlements category.

[ Intro ]

Structured Negotiations Questions

What are Structured Negotiations?
Structured Negotiations are both an advocacy method and a dispute resolution method. The method is collaborative, focuses on solution and seeks a win-win resolution to issues of accessibility. Structured Negotiations occur without litigation.
How do Structured Negotiations begin?
Structured Negotiations begin with a letter describing the accessibility problem and explaining the legal reasons why accessibility is required, the importance of accessibility to the disability community, and potential solutions to the identified issue. If the entity to whom the letter is sent is willing to engage in the process, a “Structured Negotiations Agreement” is signed to protect the interests of all parties during the negotiations.
What are the results of Structured Negotiations?
Structured Negotiations are collaborative. If all parties agree, a legally binding written settlement agreement is negotiated and signed. A current list of all Settlement Agreements reached as a result of Structured Negotiations is available on this site.
What issues are best suited for Structured Negotiations?
Structured Negotiations has been used to achieve Talking ATMs, accessible websites, braille, large print and audio financial information, tactile point of sale devices, and accessible pedestrian signals. The method is also potentially effective with other issues as well.
How can individual advocates and advocacy organizations become involved in Structured Negotiations?
If you have an issue you think might be appropriate for Structured Negotiations that involves a national, state or regional institution, and have been unable to resolve it on your own, please contact us.

[ Intro ]

Accessible Credit Reports Questions

How can I get my free annual credit report on-line?
Accessible on-line credit reports can be found by going to the free annual credit report web site sponsored by the major United States credit reporting agencies. This site and the reports themselves have been designed to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines issued by the World Wide Web Consortium (w3c).
How can I get my free annual credit reports in Braille, large print, or audio formats?
People who are blind or visually impaired within the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act may order Braille, Large Print or Audio credit reports from any of the three credit reporting agencies by calling, toll free 877-322-8228.
Where can I obtain more information about accessible credit reports?
Additional information is available on this web site in the post about accessible credit reports. You can also read the full accessible credit reports settlement agreement and the accessible credit reports press release that was issued by the American Council of the Blind and others.

[ Intro ]

Talking ATMs Questions

What is a Talking ATM?
A Talking ATM is an ATM that delivers all information and instructions necessary to use the machine audibly and privately through a headphone jack on the face of the unit. A Talking ATM has a tactile keypad so a user can independently and privately enter all required information and perform all transactions necessary to use the device. Read more about Talking ATM features and functions.
When was the first Talking ATM installed in the United States?
The first Talking ATM was installed in the U.S. on October 1, 1999 in San Francisco, California. Read more about the history of Talking ATMs by selecting the Talking ATM History link on the Categories page of this website.
What companies manufacture Talking ATMs?
All major ATM manufacturers now produce Talking ATMs. In the United States, these manufacturers include Triton, NCR, Wincor-Nixdorf, Diebold, and Fujitsu.
Which banks have Talking ATMs?
Among the banks in the United States that have installed Talking ATMs are the following: Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, Citizens Bank, Washington Mutual, Union Bank of California, BankNorth, Chase, Chevy Chase Bank, LaSalle Bank, Sovereign Bank, HSBC, Wachovia, San Francisco Federal Credit Union, and State Employees Credit Union (North Carolina). Please contact us if you know of other financial institutions that should be added to this list.
Are Talking ATMs located in places other than banks?
Yes. Talking ATMs can be found at retailers across the country. Cardtronics settled a lawsuit that resulted in thousands of Talking ATMs. Retailers such as 7-Eleven, Target and Wal-Mart have Talking ATMs.
Where can I read press releases about Talking ATMs?
Most of the Talking ATM press releases issues as a result of Structured Negotiations are posted in the Talking ATM Press Release Category of this website.
How can I convince my bank or other local retailer to install Talking ATMs?
You can ask your bank to install Talking ATMs and suggest that the bank review the Talking ATM Settlement Agreements on this website. You can also provide the bank with the names of other banks that have Talking ATMs and with the names of companies that make Talking ATMs.

[ Intro ]

Accessible Pedestrian Signals Questions

What is an accessible pedestrian signal?
An accessible pedestrian signal is a device that communicates information about pedestrian timing in nonvisual format such as audible tones, verbal messages, and/or vibrating surfaces. Working with the blind community and using Structured Negotiations, Lainey and co-counsel Linda Dardarian negotiated the first APS settlement agreement in the United States in which a city agreed to a comprehensive APS installation program. As part of that agreement, the parties negotiated Technical Specifications that provide more details about the features and functions of an APS.
Where can I learn more about Accessible Pedestrian Signals?
AccessWorld, a publication of the American Foundation for the Blind, published an article about APS in May, 2009 written by Lainey Feingold in Jessie Lorenz. Read about the AccessWorld article. A wealth of information can be found on the website of APS experts Beezy Bentzen and Janet Barlow.

[ Intro ]

[ Top ]