December 20, 2012.  AT&T's first Chief Accessibility Officer, Christopher Rice, said “Our work on accessibility has led to innovative products and services that improve the lives of all of our customers," at the launch of AT&T's Corporate Accessibility Technology Office. Via a press release, AT&T states it is expanding its commitment to customers with disabilities to further promote accessibility in AT&T’s products and services. The organization will be led by Christopher Rice, recently named for this new post to help ensure accessibility remains a top priority in the future as well as to show more accountability within the corporation. AT&T points to its work on relay services, providing an Easy Remote control for TV programmiing and efforts to provide accessible wireless phone services for people who are blind or with low vision via AT&T Mobile Accessibility Lite as examples of its long-time commitment.

Many advocates believe this new step -- a Chief Accessibility Officer within the organization's corporate structure -- is a model for the industry and that other Fortune 500 companies should follow AT&T’s example.  For more on accessible products and services at AT&T visit their website here.