, July 30, 2009: CVS/pharmacy, the nation's largest retailpharmacy, announced today that it is implementing functional improvements tobenefit its customers with visual impairments and other disabilities. Thecompany has installed tactile keypads in all CVS stores and it will enhanceits website in 2009. Today's announcement is the result of a collaboration between CVS/pharmacy,the American Foundation for the Blind, American Council of the Blind andCalifornia Council of the Blind. CVS/pharmacy's actions were applauded bythese groups. "We are pleased to collaborate with organizations committed to advocacy forthe blind and introduce service enhancements in our stores and online thatwill increase access for our visually impaired customers," said HelenaFoulkes, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of CVSCaremark. Point of Sale Improvements CVS/pharmacy's point of sale improvements are designed to assist customerswho cannot read information on a flat screen point of sale device andtherefore cannot privately enter their PIN or other confidentialinformation. All CVS stores have been equipped, at a minimum, with atactile device at both the front check out counter and the pharmacy counterto ensure that customers unable to use a flat screen keypad do not have toprovide their PIN to a store employee. The company is also training itsstore employees to provide appropriate interaction with visually impairedcustomers regarding the use of the new tactile devices. "Without tactile keys, blind and visually impaired people have no choice butto share their PINs with strangers," explained Melanie Brunson, executivedirector of the American Council of the Blind. "Today's announcement, andthe collaboration that led to it, demonstrates CVS/pharmacy's ongoingcommitment to its blind and visually impaired customers. " Web Site Access The initiative includes CVS/pharmacy's commitment to ensure that its onlinepharmacy, , is accessible to persons witha wide range of disabilities, including blind computer users who use ascreen reader or magnification technology on their computers and those whorely on a keyboard instead of a mouse.