CHICAGO - McDonald's Corp. has said it would introduce updated Braille and picture menus to its U.S. restaurants in a move to lure more blind as well as speech- and hearing-impaired customers.

"We're committed to serving our customers, and that includes all our customers," said McDonald's spokesman Dick Starmann. "We've been able to open the door to have more people visit McDonald's with these new menus."

McDonald's, now the only fast-food chain to offer Braille and picture menus nationally, has had the plastic Braille menus in some stores since 1979. It updated them to include new products, including the McLean Deluxe, chicken fajitas and breakfast burritos.

The American Foundation for the Blind collaborated with McDonald's on the menu's design and applauded the Oak Brook, Ill.-based company for its efforts.

"Enabling persons who are blind to have immediate access to ordering information from a menu is a simple act, but one that goes a long way in encouraging their participation in mainstream life," said Carl Augusto, president and executive director of the foundation.

McDonald's picture menus allow speech- or hearing-impaired people to point to the items they want without feeling uncomfortable, Starmann said. The chain has had picture menus in some stores since 1988.

The different menus are to be located in a holder at the front counter in most of McDonald's 8,700 stores in the United States, Starmann said last week. The company seeking to expand the service in stores abroad, he said.