Participate in the U.S. Access Board Meeting on Accessible Drug Labels

Mark your calendar!  You have the opportunity to listen in on the U.S. Access Board's meeting to develop best practices for making drug labels accessible to people who are visually impaired.  The Access Board will hold a teleconference on February 5 from 1:00 to 5:15 (Eastern Time). Members of the public can follow the proceedings through the toll-free conference line.  You should even have the opportunity to add your two cents at the end of the teleconference. Hopefully you can tell them how beneficial ScripTalk is to your life.  They really need to hear from real people using accessible prescriptions.

Teleconference of the Accessible Prescription Drug Labels Working Group

February 5, 1:00 - 5:15 (Eastern Time)

Dial: (888) 603-7094

Passcode: 6317703

For further information, visit the Board’s website or contact Susan Crawford at crawford@access-board.gov, (202) 272-0029 (v), or (202) 272-0082 (TTY).

Accessible Prescriptions - What a Difference a Year Makes

The year 2012 has been a great year when it comes to the spread of pharmacies providing accessible prescriptions for the blind and visually impaired.   Several major chains are now beginning to provide free services like ScripTalk in their nationwide mail order programs.  In addition, many of these same pharmacies are now testing inside local stores.  Even some smaller pharmacies are taking note and adding this value added service to their standard offering.

 

Let’s not kid ourselves though; it’s been a massive struggle to get here.  In the beginning, retail pharmacies just refused to see and acknowledge the importance of this issue.  The response of most major pharmacies was that they were “looking into it.”  In actuality, they were hoping it would somehow just go away.  But days turned into months which turned into years.  What they didn’t understand is that accidents happen every day and that adverse drug-related reactions need to stop now, not later!  For heaven sakes, the Department of Veterans Affairs realized this nearly a decade ago when they mandated ScripTalk for all vets. 

People are now signing up for ScripTalk in record numbers. For the first time, these individuals are getting a chance to experience accessible prescriptions for themselves.  Nothing can compare to the peace of mind that comes along with prescription independence.   

We’re glad pharmacies are finally waking up, but there’s still a long way to go.  Although it’s evident that more and more pharmacies are beginning to see the light, plenty needs to be done to make 2013 the year of accessibility inside pharmacies.  Each one of us needs to do our part to keep the pressure on pharmacies.  We need to be unrelenting when it comes to our goals for equality for all.