The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the nation’s leading advocate for access by the blind to the Internet, in partnership with its Web accessibility consultant Deque Systems, Inc., will launch the NFB Nonvisual Access (NVA) Certification Program later this week.  The launch will take place at the annual Technology and People with Disabilities Conference conducted in Los Angeles by the Center on Disability at California State University at Northridge—commonly referred to as the CSUN conference.

Date:           March 13, 2008

Location:     Los Angeles Airport Marriott
                  5855 West Century Boulevard
                  Los Angeles, California 90045

Time:           8:00 a.m. - NFB and Deque officials available to answer questions at Booth 411, New Orleans Section, Hall of Cities
                  3:10 p.m. - Presentation, “The NFB Nonvisual Access Seal of Approval,” Dallas Ballroom

The Nonvisual Access Certification Program provides a way for Web site and application developers to work with leading experts on blindness and accessibility to ensure that their Internet sites or applications are fully accessible to and usable by blind people employing screen access software.  Applicants go through a rigorous evaluation and testing procedure and work with a web accessibility consultant (WAC) to address any accessibility issues discovered during the evaluation.  Once the site or application 
has addressed all accessibility issues, it is granted the right to display an NFB-NVA seal of approval on its site.  Participating in the Nonvisual Access Certification Program is an excellent way for corporations and organizations to demonstrate social responsibility and commitment to access for everyone.