Banks are routinely discriminating against customers with hearing loss by failing to provide equal access to services, a Times investigation has found. Deaf customers report being regularly inconvenienced and humiliated by banks’ indifference to their hearing loss and the insistence that security measures are carried out by telephone.

Laura Whateley, Journalist, UK

21st February 2012, Trinidad Express

A more iconic (pictorial) set of screen prompts may be better suited to some people since it relies less on a good knowledge of English and reading ability. However, if this were offered as an alternative user interface, it would be necessary to identify which users wish to use the pictorial version and which users preferred text or audio modes of interaction. Web-based ATM technologies would lend themselves better to such alternatives, and the use of alt-text could make such screens more accessible to people with vision impairments.

Tim Noonan, On Behalf of The Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

February 2000 BARRIERS TO USING AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINES