NYNEX adopts Universal Design

[Karen Ozmun]

[forwarded from listserv out of gallaudet university.]

            NYNEX Adopts Universal Design Principles
                     by Frank G. Bowe, Ph.D.

     NYNEX Corporation, the "Baby Bell" that provides voice and
data communications services to hundreds of thousands of
customers in residential, business, and not-for-profit
organization settings in the Northeast, recently adopted five
"Accessibility and Universal Design Principles" that, taken
together, promise more and better services and products for NYNEX
customers with disabilities. The five principles can be
encapsulated in the idea that NYNEX values and aims to serve all
its customers.

     These principles are shown below, with narration by the
author, a long-time consultant to different business units of
NYNEX.

                              -----

       NYNEX Accessibility and Universal Design Principles

Principle 1

     NYNEX will provide quality services that can reasonably
     accommodate a broad range of diverse users, including
     individuals with disabilities.

     In this principle, NYNEX articulates a goal of providing
services and products that the broadest range of its customers
can use. NYNEX is committed to providing high quality services
to all customers. This principle will guide NYNEX in making
products and services accessible to and useable by Americans with
disabilities.

Principle 2

     NYNEX will review its existing services to determine which
     services should be made more accessible.

     This, too, is an important goal. NYNEX is saying with this
second principle that it will not only work to make new services
accessible, but it will go back to services introduced in past
months and years and decide which can and should be made more
accessible.

     The Corporation's statement of these principles
asserts: "NYNEX will conduct a thorough review, and make
modifications where 'readily achievable.'" The term "readily
achievable" is used in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L.
104-104) in describing the standard by which communications
companies are expected to make new services and equipment
accessible.

     Significantly, NYNEX intends to do more: it will
apply the same standard to existing services so as to broaden the
impact of its services for people with disabilities. NYNEX's
statement of these principles continues by saying: "If a
modification is not 'readily achievable,' NYNEX will conduct a
cost-benefit analysis to determine whether the modification
should nonetheless be made. NYNEX will consult with users in
conducting this review."

Principle 3

     NYNEX will design and develop its services, to the extent
     readily achievable, so as to be accessible to a broad range
     of diverse users.

     In this third principle, NYNEX commits to a common-sense
approach in creating new services and new products. All evidence
on the question indicates that designing something from scratch
to be accessible is much less costly, and far more preferable,
than is modifying it later. Here, NYNEX states that it will
follow universal design criteria from the earliest design and
product development stages so that future services and future
products will be as accessible as is readily achievable.

     The Corporation's statement of these principles explains
that a product design is accessible if it neither disadvantages
nor stigmatizes any group of users; if it is easy to use; if it
communicates information to users regardless of any limitations
those users may have in the ways they can receive and process
information; and if appropriate size and space is offered for
reach, manipulation and use regardless of the user's body size,
posture, or mobility.

Principle 4

     NYNEX will market and provision its services in a manner
     consistent with accessibility by a broad range of diverse
     users.

     With this principle, NYNEX commits to marketing to all NYNEX
customers. Advertisements, commercials, bill inserts, and other
communications to audiences that include people with disabilities
will be accessible. This means captioning commercials on
television, making bill inserts available in Braille and in large
print, and offering TTY as well as voice numbers for customers to
call if they have questions or needs.

Principle 5

     NYNEX will employ these Universal Design Principles
     NYNEX-wide, in its relationships with customers, employees,
     shareholders, and suppliers. NYNEX will encourage companies
     related to but not controlled by NYNEX to adopt these
     Principles.

     This final principle acknowledges that people with
disabilities may be, and often are, stock owners, employees,
contractors, and suppliers as well as customers. For example, if
a video were to be sent to employees' homes, as sometimes happens
when an important new service is about to be launched, it will be
captioned and also will be video described. (Video description
adds spoken explanations that articulate what is happening on-
screen, so that blind people can more easily follow the video.)

                              -----

     The Corporation's statement of these principles adds that
"Each business unit will be responsible for implementing "the
five accessibility and universal design principles" and that
business unit managers "will be encouraged to incorporate
universal access in networks and network services."

     The statement goes on to add that "NYNEX's commitment to
universal design will be communicated to suppliers. Suppliers of
equipment will be directed to address specific issues of
functional access for customers with disabilities as part of
their contractual arrangements."

     In addition, NYNEX will continue to "participate in
organizations which set standards, and will encourage those
bodies to adopt standards which conform to the universal design
concept."

     The steps NYNEX is taking are the kinds of initiatives that
will be needed throughout corporate America if the "Information
Age" is to become as accessible to people with disabilities as
the built environment now is becoming.

     Think of other companies whose products or services you use
on a regular basis. Have these firms adopted universal design
criteria? If not, consider bringing to their attention these five
principles. Tell the companies: "I appreciate what NYNEX is
doing. The Corporation respects and values my patronage. I hope
your company will, too."