Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers, Canada's largest chain of retail flower shops, announced today a new partnership with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ to feature assistive technology that extends the companies online services to Canadians with physical disabilities. It is part of a Disability Community Involvement initiative sponsored by March of Dimes Canada.
eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ and March of Dimes Canada are leading this initiative by bringing organizations together to connect with and empower the disability community in a meaningful way. eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ allows organizations to make expensive assistive technology available to all for free, thereby extending access to important online information and services to more Canadians.
Grower Direct is the very first fresh flower retailer to integrate this program into their website.
"Grower Direct is committed to providing the best possible access to our customers on our website,” says Doug Munro CEO of Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers. “We are very happy and proud to be the first flower retailer to work with eSSENTIAL Accessibility™ in this initiative and provide a more comprehensive service to our physically disabled customers."
Users will now be able to click on the icon located on www.GrowerDirect.com and use assistive technology to access the internet. The application is available to the more than two million Canadians who have difficulty typing, moving a mouse or reading a web page. It is a virtual wheelchair for websites that empowers users with dexterity limitations that arise from a variety of conditions including stroke, paralysis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's disease among others. It also helps individuals who have difficulty reading because of literacy deficiencies, limited English proficiency, dyslexia, or mild visual impairment.
""Eliminating the digital divide has become increasingly important as essential services migrate online," said Simon Dermer, managing director, eSSENTIAL Accessibility™. "Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers, along with other organizations that are joining this initiative, is setting a new standard as they build a bridge to the disability community."
About Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers
Grower Direct is Canada’s largest chain of retail flower shops with over 40 franchised locations throughout BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Each location is independently owned and operated; a complete list of locations is available on their website. Grower Direct is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta and through its website provides consumers with flower delivery worldwide.
About eSSENTIAL Accessibility™
eSSENTIAL Accessibility(TM) makes online environments instantly accessible to individuals with physical disabilities. It is a virtual wheelchair for websites that empowers users with dexterity 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 the eSSENTIAL Accessibility(TM) icon as part of a Disability Community Involvement initiative sponsored by March of Dimes Canada. The symbol displayed on the homepage acts as a clickable icon through which any visitor can obtain the assistive technology they require free of charge. For more information visit www.essentialaccessibility.com.
Source: Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers
