Greyhound Website and Mobile App to Become More Accessible to Blind Users
National Federation of the Blind Reaches Comprehensive Agreement with
Greyhound
San Francisco (July 17, 2018): Greyhound has committed to make its
website (www.greyhound.com) and mobile apps more accessible to blind
passengers who use screen-reader software to access these services. An
agreement with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) resolves
a lawsuit filed by the NFB and five blind California residents who had
trouble using the website.
Under the agreement, Greyhound will ensure that greyhound.com and the
mobile apps allow blind users to gain the same information and engage in
the same transactions with an ease of use substantially equivalent to
that of a sighted person using the same browser or operating system
without screen-reader software. Changes needed to accomplish this goal
will be made in less than a year. Until then, Greyhound will inform
blind passengers of alternative methods for purchasing bus tickets on
the website and mobile apps. The website and mobile apps will also
clearly state Greyhound's longstanding policy that blind passengers who
self-identify to customer service representatives and state that they
have had difficulty using the website or mobile apps will not be charged
any call center booking fee or other additional charge solely because
they have used the Call Center under these circumstances. The National
Federation of the Blind will conduct a "secret shopper" program to
report to Greyhound whether the operators at its call centers are
following this policy.
"We commend Greyhound for agreeing to remove access barriers on its
website and mobile apps on a robust timeline," said Mark Riccobono,
President of the National Federation of the Blind. "We further commend
the company for its commitment to treat blind passengers fairly when we
are unable to complete transactions through its website or apps, and
urge other transportation providers to follow Greyhound's example in
both respects. The National Federation of the Blind will work closely
with Greyhound to help ensure that booking passage on its bus service is
a fully accessible experience for current and future blind passengers."
"As we complete our work on our new websites and mobile apps, we are
grateful to have the assistance of the capable and committed members of
the leadership of the National Federation of the Blind in ensuring that
these websites and apps are easy to use and fully and equally accessible
to all of our customers," said Todd Koch, Vice President of strategy and
business development, Greyhound Lines, Inc.
The plaintiffs are represented by Timothy Elder and Anna Levine of the
TRE Legal Practice, www.trelegal.com, and by Lisa Ells and Michael Nunez
of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP, www.rbgg.com.
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About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore,
is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans.
Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions
in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the
rights of blind people of all ages, and provides information and support
to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision,
and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work
together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many
programs and initiatives at nfb.org.
About Greyhound
Greyhound, a FirstGroup plc company, is the only national provider of
scheduled intercity coach services in the U.S. and Canada. Based in
Dallas, Greyhound provides scheduled passenger services to 3,200
destinations carrying approximately 18 million passengers a year. The
company’s point-to-point service, Greyhound Express, serves more than
135 markets and also operates brands for local markets including
BoltBus, Lucky Streak casino service and Greyhound Connect. Greyhound is
the first U.S.-based intercity bus company to operate domestic service
within Mexico as well as international connections to Texas. For fare
and schedule information and to buy tickets, call 1-800-231-2222 or
visit the website at www.greyhound.com. For the latest news and travel
deals, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GreyhoundBus. Like us on
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Hound, at www.bloggreyhound.com.
©2018 All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2018 National Federation of the Blind
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David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.David-Goldfield.Com