Resolution
regarding the inaccessible Kiosk’s for the Washington State Ferry System
WHEREAS
the Washington State Ferry (WSF) System walk-on passenger ticket purchase
options have historically been accessible to blind and sighted persons and;
WHEREAS
in an effort to enhance customer service and decrease the time spent purchasing
tickets, the WSF purchased touch screen ticket vending kiosks so that
passengers could purchase tickets without a cashier and;
WHEREAS
the Washington State Ferry System (WSF) knowingly purchased touch screen kiosks
that were not accessible “if someone is severely sight impaired or completely
sightless” and;
WHEREAS
the WSF claims that the inaccessibility issue lies with their developer, TRACE
Research and Development at the University of Wisconsin because their design,
which was finalized in 2004, was not compatible with the “complex menus and
structures” needed to offer patrons a full selection, and;
WHEREAS
Sound Transit, a Regional Transit Authority, also offers their customers touch
screen ticket vending kiosks which are accessible to blind and print impaired
customers through the use of a keypad and audio output and;
WHEREAS
when inquiries were made to the WSF regarding the retrofitting of these kiosks
the President of the Greater Seattle Chapter of the NFBW was told that blind
patrons were able to use the cashiers at the toll booths and thus the kiosks
did not inhibit the process of ticket purchases, and;
WHEREAS
when purchasing tickets at a cashier with a credit card or debit card a blind patron
still requires the assistance of the cashier because the acceptance button is
on a flat electronic screen and must be touched precisely by the light pen
before the transaction can be completed, and;
WHEREAS
the attitude of the WSF System appears not to value independence and first
class citizenship of blind persons seeking to purchase passage on the ferry
system: NOW, THEREFORE,
BE
IT RESOLVED on this 21st day of October 2007 in the City of Olympia that the National
Federation of the Blind of Washington condemn and deplore the WSF decision to
knowingly purchase inaccessible kiosks and;
LET
IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that the NFBW demands the WSF remedy this situation by
either retrofitting the inaccessible kiosks and signature pads, replacing the kiosks
with ticket vending machines similar to those of Sound Transit or removing the
kiosks and electronic signature boards all together.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we insist that the WSF make the credit/debit payment signature
screens at the cashier desk be accessible to blind persons. .