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

Fri Nov 14 05:36:46 UTC 2008

The same here--it is simply intolerable that government agencies and 
public entities have not after more than thirty years learned that 
artificial barriers to the blind cannot and will not be tolerated.

It's one thing if we cannot do the prescribed job because of some genuine 
attribute of the duties that require vision.  It's quite another when a 
lack of consideration coupled with stubborn refusal introduce a barrier 
that should not be.  I don't believe in luck (I'm Catholic), so I will 
wish Dawn and the NFB success in their quest for justice and equality.

If they won't learn on their own, we will educate them.

Joseph

On Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 02:28:43PM -0800, Gloria wrote:
>I wish Dawn Whitfield the best!
>
>
>Gloria Whipple
>Corresponding Secretary
>Inland Empire chapter
>nfb of WA
>Cell phone: 509-475-4993
> 
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
>Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 1:28 PM
>To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>Subject: [Blindtlk] Blind New York State Employee Unable to Perform Job Due
>to Inaccessible Software
>
>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."
>
>
>
>###
>
>
>
>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.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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