[blindlaw] FW: National Federation of the Blind Comments on Iowa Supreme Court Case Regarding Blind People Entering the Chiropractic Medicine Field

[Timothy J. Meloy]

Does anyone know if the oral arguments can be streamed online? Would love to listen.
T.J.

> On Nov 5, 2013, at 3:14 PM, "Scott C. LaBarre" <slabarre at labarrelaw.com> wrote:
> 
> This is a case that I am arguing later today.
> 
> 
> 
> From: Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh at nfb.org] 
> Sent: Monday, November 04, 2013 7:56 AM
> Subject: National Federation of the Blind Comments on Iowa Supreme Court
> Case Regarding Blind People Entering the Chiropractic Medicine Field
> 
> 
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> 
> National Federation of the Blind Comments on Iowa Supreme Court Case
> Regarding Blind People Entering the Chiropractic Medicine Field
> 
> 
> 
> Burlington, Iowa (November 4, 2013): The National Federation of the Blind
> <http://www.nfb.org/> , which has led the fight for the equality of blind
> Americans for over seventy years, today commented on the landmark case of
> Aaron Cannon and Davenport Civil Rights Commission v. Palmer College of
> Chiropractic, which will decide whether blind individuals can still pursue a
> career in chiropractic medicine.  At issue in the case is Palmer's academic
> policy requiring that all students seeking a doctor of chiropractic degree
> must possess "a sufficient sense of vision."  As part of a public outreach
> effort, the Iowa Supreme Court will hold oral arguments in the Cannon case
> on Tuesday, November 5, at the Edward Stone Middle School in Burlington,
> Iowa, at 7:00 pm.  
> 
> 
> 
> "We believe Palmer's policy of requiring vision blatantly discriminates
> against the blind," said Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National
> Federation of the Blind.  "Blind individuals have successfully practiced as
> chiropractors for several decades, and many of them have graduated from
> Palmer.  If the Iowa Supreme Court allows Palmer's policy to stand, the
> effect will be that blind persons will not be able to pursue a chiropractic
> education and thus not be able to obtain licenses to practice in this
> field."  
> 
> 
> 
> In 2005, Aaron Cannon, who is totally blind, started taking classes at
> Palmer College of Chiropractic to obtain his doctor of chiropractic degree.
> His pursuit of the degree halted due to Palmer's policy requiring vision.
> In order to graduate, Cannon filed a complaint with the Davenport Civil
> Rights Commission alleging that Palmer discriminated against him on the
> basis of disability.  After an administrative trial and a thorough review by
> the seven-member commission, the Davenport Civil Rights Commission ruled
> that Palmer had discriminated on the basis of disability and ordered Palmer
> to reinstate Cannon with all necessary accommodations and to pay him
> compensatory damages and attorney fees.  Palmer then appealed the case to
> the Iowa District Court for Scott County where the Honorable Judge Gary D.
> McKenrick reversed the Commission's decision and ruled that vision is an
> essential part of a chiropractic education.  The Davenport Commission and
> Cannon then appealed Judge McKenrick's decision to the Iowa Supreme Court
> resulting in Tuesday's oral argument.
> 
> 
> 
> Palmer claims that chiropractic students must be able to view x-rays, MRIs,
> and other radiographs with their own eyes and cannot use a sighted reader to
> obtain the information being presented.  Dr. Duane Hudspath, a Palmer
> graduate, testified at the Cannon administrative trial that he used sighted
> readers during his chiropractic education and was able to acquire the
> necessary information to receive a quality education and therefore become a
> highly competent chiropractor.  Hudspath has run a successful chiropractic
> practice in Stephen's City, Virginia, for nearly twenty years and has
> treated several thousand patients without difficulty.
> 
> 
> 
> Aaron Cannon is being represented by Scott C. LaBarre of LaBarre Law Offices
> P.C. in Denver, Colorado, and Alan O. Olson of Olson Law Offices in Des
> Moines, Iowa.  LaBarre, a blind attorney from Denver, will deliver the oral
> argument on behalf of Cannon.   
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ###
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> About the National Federation of the Blind
> 
> 
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, and most
> influential nationwide membership organization of blind people in the United
> States. Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for the civil rights and equality
> of blind Americans, and develops innovative education, technology, and
> training programs to provide the blind and those who are losing vision with
> the tools they need to become independent and successful.
> 
> 
> 
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