CVS/pharmacy makes enhancements to Web site, point-of-sales devices for visually impaired customers

WOONSOCKET, R.I. CVS/pharmacy, in collaboration with state and national organizations for the blind, is enhancing accessibility for the visually impaired to its Web site and store point-of-sales devices, the retailer announced on Thursday.

CVS/pharmacy is collaborating with the American Foundation for the Blind, American Council of the Blind and California Council of the Blind.

"We are pleased to collaborate with organizations committed to advocacy for the blind and introduce service enhancements in our stores and online that will increase access for our visually impaired customers," stated Helena Foulkes, EVP and CMO of CVS Caremark.

To help customers who cannot read information on a flat screen point-of-sale devices, the stores have been equipped, at a minimum, with a tactile device at both the front check-out counter and the pharmacy counter to ensure that customers do not have to provide their PIN to a store employee. The company is also training its store associates to provide appropriate interaction with visually impaired customers regarding the use of the new tactile devices.

The company's Web site, located at www.cvs.com, will be enhanced by the end of 2009 to ensure that people with a wide range of disabilities can access the site, including blind computer users who use a screen reader or magnification technology on their computers and those who rely on a keyboard instead of a mouse.