[blindlaw] McCarran International Airport Discriminates Against Blind Passengers

[Freeh, Jessica]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org 





McCarran International Airport Discriminates Against Blind Passengers




National Federation of the Blind Files Suit Over Inaccessible Kiosks



Las Vegas, Nevada (March 30, 2011): The National 
Federation of the Blind and four blind 
individuals­Alan and Billie Ruth Schlank, Joyce 
Pratt, and Mark Adreon­who frequently fly or plan 
to fly to and from Las Vegas through McCarran 
International Airport, have filed a class-action 
lawsuit in the United States District Court for 
the District of Nevada against Clark County, 
Nevada; the Clark County Board of Commissioners; 
and the Clark County Department of Aviation, 
which administers McCarran International 
Airport.  McCarran uses common-use self-service 
(CUSS) ticketing kiosks that employ a visual 
touchscreen interface without any auxiliary aids, 
such as a voice guidance program, and therefore 
cannot be used by blind passengers.  Passengers 
who are able to use the kiosks can access 
information about flights, check in for flights, 
print tickets and boarding passes, select seats, 
upgrade to business or first-class cabins, check 
baggage, and perform other transactions relevant 
to their air travel plans.  CUSS kiosks are 
unique because they are owned or controlled by 
the airport instead of by individual airlines and 
allow passengers to access most of the airlines 
operating at McCarran from any machine.  The suit 
alleges that the defendants are violating the 
Americans with Disabilities Act and the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 because the benefits 
provided to travelers through these kiosks are 
not available to blind visitors to the 
airport.  McCarran could easily add an audio 
interface, a tactile keypad, or interactive 
screen reader technology that works with 
touchscreens to its kiosks, or purchase kiosks 
with these features, but has neglected to do 
so.  McCarran has also refused to respond to the 
plaintiffs’ offer to work collaboratively on 
implementing available technological solutions.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National 
Federation of the Blind, said: “Blind passengers 
have always experienced discrimination in air 
travel, but the fact that airports like McCarran 
are now deploying inaccessible technology to 
perform routine travel functions is the greatest 
threat to the privacy and independence of blind 
air travelers that we have seen.  Airports and 
airlines are engaging in this blatant 
discrimination even though the technology to make 
kiosks accessible is readily available, has been 
deployed by others, and involves little 
cost.  Instead of enjoying the features and 
convenience of these kiosks, including a quicker 
and more convenient check-in process, blind 
passengers must either wait in long lines at the 
ticket counter or share personal information with 
strangers in order to use the kiosks.  We will 
not tolerate a separate and unequal experience 
for blind travelers and demand that the 
defendants cease their discrimination against us as soon as practicable.”



Plaintiffs are represented in this matter by 
Daniel F. Goldstein, Gregory P. Care, and Timothy 
P. Elder of the Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein, 
and Levy; Laurence W. Paradis, Karla Gilbride, 
and Kevin Knestrick of the Berkeley firm 
Disability Rights Advocates; and Eric Taylor of 
the Las Vegas firm Alverson, Taylor, Mortenson & Sanders.





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About the National Federation of the Blind

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.  The NFB improves 
blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, 
research, technology, and programs encouraging 
independence and self-confidence.  It is the 
leading force in the blindness field today and 
the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 
the NFB opened the National Federation of the 
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and 
training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.