When it is needed most!

Based on recent developments witnessed in the North American banking industry, stemming from the so called “sub-prime mortgage crisis”, there are rumours of an economic crisis looming. Among many things, difficulty in the housing market and concerns about the broader economy has forced central banks to aggressively slash interest rates, in an effort to ease pressures in the capital markets.  Retail banks have followed suit with rate reductions, hoping to stimulate consumer demand.  

Despite all of this, many economists remain pessimistic. Regardless of who is right, at tumultuous times like this it is more important than ever for financial institutions to clearly communicate with their customers.   And as always, it is essential that this communications is all-inclusive, addressing the needs of all customers, including the blind, deaf-blind, and partially sighted customers. 

I recently came across a sad story that underlines this need in compelling clarity.  A visually impaired woman came home to her apartment to find a padlock and eviction notice on her door. Of course, she couldn’t see the posted notice with all of the carefully crafted legalese, nor did she see the standard print foreclosure notices her bank was sending her.   The only information format that the woman can readily access is braille. As the blind woman approached her door, a neighbor, who had previously assisted her on several occasions to request her financial statements in braille, alerted her to the notice.

Now this is an extreme case, granted, but there are many stories like this that don’t reach the media, and exemplify everyday barriers that exist for some consumers and underline the need to deliver information to consumers is the format that they can most readily access.   Our customers, some of the most progressive financial institutions in the Fortune 500, understand and acknowledge this important requirement, and deserve our recognition for this.    

I started T-Base out of my own personal frustration of not being able to access information in a format that I could read. I channeled that energy into developing the solutions behind T-Base, to help our customers communicate effectively with their print-restricted consumers. It provides me with no end of satisfaction to find more and more financial organizations that are cognizant of the importance of integrating accessible materials into their communication vehicles.  Amongst consumers - it ensures that the blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted can make independent and critical decisions about their investments.  Amongst our financial institution customers it provides one more way to provide a focus on customer retention and brand loyalty.  For both - it is the time when it is needed most.