eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ helps LCBO to improve shopping experience for customers with disabilities

TORONTO, June 19, 2012 /CNW/ - eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ is pleased to announce that the LCBO is joining the Disability Community Involvement Initiative championed by March of Dimes Canada. In collaboration with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™, LCBO will feature an interactive icon to enhance online access for Ontarians with physical disabilities.

"As a retailer, it's important to ensure all our customers have full access to our products and services," says LCBO President & CEO Bob Peter. "Being part of this initiative allows us to better engage with physically-challenged customers and enhance their shopping experience."

eSSENTIAL Accessibility is committed to bringing organizations together with the common goal of empowering the disability community. With eSSENTIAL Accessibility, LCBO is helping to connect visitors with physical disabilities to the product information, knowledge base, location and event information they need.

By clicking on the eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ icon located on www.lcbo.com, visitors can access the online tools they need to navigate the Web more easily. These tools are available to the more than 500,000 Ontarians who have difficulty typing, moving a mouse or reading a web page. eSSENTIAL Accessibility empowers users with dexterity limitations that arise from a variety of conditions including stroke, paralysis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's disease.  It also helps individuals who have difficulty reading because of literacy deficiencies, limited English proficiency, dyslexia, or mild visual impairment. 

"Almost one in five Canadians are living with disability," said Simon Dermer, Managing Director of eSSENTIAL Accessibility. "LCBO recognizes the importance of serving this demographic properly. By taking part in the Initiative, they are joining a growing number of forward-thinking companies creating economic and social value by factoring people with disabilities into their planning."

eSSENTIAL Accessibility helps Ontario organizations meet standards in customer service, employment and communication as mandated by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We all benefit from greater accessibility given the contributions, involvement and spending power of people with disabilities. For more information and to see the eSSENTIAL Accessibility application in action, visit www.lcbo.com.

About LCBO

LCBO is an Ontario government enterprise and one of the world's largest buyers and retailers of beverage alcohol. Through more than 620 retail stores, catalogues and special order services, it makes some 20,000 products available annually to consumers and licensed establishments.

In fiscal 2011-12, LCBO sales topped $4.7 billion and it delivered a $1.63 billion dividend to the Ontario government, not including taxes. This revenue helps pay for health care, education and other important services. LCBO has also won more than 200 awards in customer service, innovative retailing, social responsibility, staff training, store design, marketing and corporate communications.

About eSSENTIAL Accessibility

eSSENTIAL Accessibility is an assistive technology application that helps bridge the gap between people with disabilities and the organizations and brands they know and trust. It's a virtual wheelchair for websites that empowers users with dexterity and visual limitations that arise from a variety of conditions including stroke, paralysis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's disease, among others.  Moreover, it also helps those who have difficulty reading because of literacy deficiencies, limited English proficiency, dyslexia, or mild visual impairment.

Organizations feature eSSENTIAL Accessibility as part of a Disability Community Involvement Initiative championed by March of Dimes Canada.  The symbol displayed on websites acts as an interactive icon through which assistive technology can be downloaded free of charge. eSSENTIAL Accessibility does not ensure conformance with World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).  For more information, visit www.essentialaccessibility.com.

Jennifer Nebesky
eSSENTIAL Accessibility
647-962-7600
[email protected] 

Chris Layton
LCBO Media Relations Coordinator
416-864-6772, Cell: 416-587-3729
[email protected]