BALTIMORE, April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the largest consumer organization of blind people in the U.S., has awarded its NVA (non-visual accessibility) certification to the Merck & Co., Inc., Web site, Merck.com. Merck is the first U.S. pharmaceutical company to earn NFB-NVA certification, which signifies that a Web site is as accessible to people who are blind as to the sighted.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050120/PHTH039LOGO )

"Many blind people are computer savvy and want to use the Internet to improve their personal and professional lives," said Marc Maurer, President of the NFB. "Doing what needs to be done to make a Web site accessible is not only good business, but a step forward on the road to total equality for blind people in the United States."

People who are blind navigate the Internet by using screen reading software that converts the text on a Web page to synthetic speech or Braille. If a Web site is not set up with accessibility in mind, it can be difficult and frustrating for blind people to find the information they are looking for and often impossible for them to complete forms, make purchases, or navigate tables such as bus and train schedules.

On Merck.com, people who are blind or have other types of disabilities now can access information on Merck medicines; patient assistance programs through which eligible patients can receive free and discounted Merck medicines; Merck press releases on product, research and development, corporate and financial news; and feature articles on a variety of health-related topics. In the near future, information on careers also will be accessible.

"As a research-based pharmaceutical company, one of Merck's core values is access. Whether it's helping to provide access to our medicines or to health information on Merck.com, it is an important part of who we are and what we do," said Deborah Dagit, Executive Director of Diversity & Work Environment, Merck & Co., Inc. "We are proud to be the first pharmaceutical company in the United States to achieve the National Federation of the Blind stamp of approval for our Web site. Now all visitors can access information on our business, research and medicines."

Working with members of the technology community, the NFB has developed a rigorous procedure by which Web sites and applications that have made special efforts to be accessible to the blind can be identified and recognized. Merck & Co., Inc., worked with one of the NFB's technology partners, Deque, Inc., to make its Web site fully accessible.

"Deque is honored to have worked with Merck to help them achieve Web accessibility as a key priority. Their organizational commitment clearly indicates they see this as a business reality, not a passing trend. When done right, accessibility, can not only increase the usability and maintainability of a Web site, but can send a clear message that equality matters to an organization and they are willing to act on it." Said Preety Kumar, CEO of Deque. "Deque's three-year partnership with National Federation of the Blind (NFB) ensures a seamless Web accessibility certification for our customers," she added.

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States.

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. For more information, visit http://www.merck.com/.

Deque is a pioneer in making information accessible to all Web users, regardless of personal physical ability. For more information, visit http://www.deque.com/.

For additional information or to participate in a live, telephone press conference on April 18, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. EDT, please contact Linda McCarty, (410) 659-9314, ext. 2220, (410) 340-0475 (cell) or email lmccarty@nfb.org by 12:00 p.m. EDT.

CONTACT: Marc Maurer, President of National Federation of the Blind,
+1-410-659-9314, or fax, +1-410-685-5653

Web site: http://www.merck.com/

Web site: http://www.deque.com/

Web site: http://www.nfb.org/

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