[Blindtlk] Blind New York State Employee Unable to Perform Job Due to Inaccessible Software

[Freeh, Jessica]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Public Relations Specialist

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org


Blind New York State Employee Unable to Perform
  Job Due to Inaccessible Software




National Federation of the Blind Assisting In Litigation
  Against State Crime Victims Board



New York, New York (November 13, 2008): Dawn Whitfield, a blind woman 
who has worked for the New York State Crime Victims Board for over 
twenty years, filed suit today in federal court because she is no 
longer able to perform the functions of her job.  The State Crime 
Victims Board has purchased and implemented software that cannot be 
used by a blind person and is therefore in violation of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law which requires that 
entities receiving federal funds must have information technology in 
place that is accessible to blind employees.  Because of the new 
software, which is manufactured by a company called Emerging Soft, 
Ms. Whitfield has been unable to perform the functions of her job 
since May of 2008.  The National Federation of the Blind, the 
nation's oldest and largest organization of blind people, is 
assisting in the litigation.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "Like all workers in the twenty-first century, blind people 
must have access to information technology in order to do their jobs 
effectively.  Without access to information technology in the 
workplace, Ms. Whitfield does not have meaningful access to her 
workplace and is therefore experiencing discrimination under the 
Rehabilitation Act.  The National Federation of the Blind will do 
everything we can to assist her in seeking a remedy for this 
deplorable situation."



Carl Jacobsen, president of the National Federation of the Blind of 
New York, said: "The National Federation of the Blind of New York 
will not tolerate a situation in which hard-working blind state 
employees are relegated to second-class status because the agencies 
they work for refuse to follow the law and purchase software that is 
accessible to them.  We are committed to ensuring that Dawn Whitfield 
and all blind New Yorkers employed by this state have full and equal 
access to information technology in the workplace."



Dawn Whitfield said: "It is extremely frustrating that I cannot do my 
job effectively because my agency did not take my needs into 
consideration when purchasing new computer software, even though I 
made it clear to my supervisors that I had specific needs as a blind 
employee and the agency was well aware of the potential problems with 
this new software.  I hope that this situation can be resolved 
quickly so that I can go back to assisting crime victims in the state 
of New York with their claims for compensation as I have for over 
twenty years.  I enjoy my work but lately it has become a nightmare; 
I look forward to being a productive employee of this agency once again."



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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.  Please visit our 
Web site: <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.