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The ability to manage finances and have access to banking technology such as Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) is important for almost everyone. And people with disabilities are no exception. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2016, approximately 17.9 percent of people with disabilities were employed. This makes accessible banking a much-needed option for this segment of society.

Disability and banking
Many households headed by someone with a disability have banking issues. According to the National Disability Institute (NDI), 42 percent of disabled-headed households are either underbanked or unbanked. They list a lack of financial literacy, a distrust of the banking system and a lack of knowledge of banking industry technology as barriers.

The last is particularly important. Technology is also an important part of making banking accessible, including accessible automatic teller machines. In 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act set forth specific technical requirements for Automatic Teller Machines to have accessible features including displays, measurements and input controls. Over the years, the requirements have been refined to include a number of new technological improvements. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, these changes include:

• Audio Output: An accessible ATM must have speech output of certain functions and actions to aid individuals with vision impairment, including input verification, audio of displayed text and information on receipts. This can also include a 3.5mm headphone jack.
• Height: ATMs topmost working button must be no more than 48 inches from the base to the topmost working button to ensure easy access. This requirement was reduced from 54 inches in 2012.
• Touch Controls: Input buttons must be tactile (with either raised characters or Braille) and arranged in a familiar, discernable pattern (i.e. a telephone keypad).
• Availability: If there is more than one machine in a location, at least one must be ADA compliant.

Accessible ATM
Many banks have been able comply with ADA standards for accessible ATMs by partnering with ATM suppliers, like Cummins Allison whose line of full-function H34 Series ATMs are all ADA-compliant. The RiverHills Bank of Milford, Ohio, said ADA compliance was one of the key reasons for selecting Cummins Allison ATM models.

"ADA compliance and Windows® 7 were the catalyst for replacing two of our ATMs," said RiverHills Bank Senior Vice President Gail Burnam. "Replacing our ATMs with new models that are ADA compliant, Windows 7 and EMV ready, will save us time and money in the long run."