In 2006, the American Council of the Blind (ACB), the California Council of the Blind (CCB) and the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) entered negotiations with Trader Joe's Company, Inc. claiming that the grocer failed to comply with disability statutes. Keypads used on the point of sale devices (credit card readers) at Trader Joe's stores featured only digital screens, which are impossible to read for many of the visually impaired. As a result, customers were forced to tell cashiers their credit card Personal Identification Numbers (PIN), resulting in significant privacy and security issues.

In 2006, the parties agreed to a roll out, in stages, of tactile keypads on California-based Trader Joe's stores. Such devices allow the visually impaired to determine what numbers they are pressing by touch, helping keep PINs secret. Trader Joe's would first test devices and then progressively place tactile keypads on point of sale devices across the state. The parties agreed to later negotiate to determine the time-frame for statewide application.

Abe Hiatt - 03/05/2013


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