[Blindtlk] [nabs-l] Fw: National Federation of the Blind and Law SchoolAdmissions Council Agree to Settlement

[Chris Nusbaum]

 ---- Original Message ------
From: "Scott C.  LaBarre" <slabarre at labarrelaw.com
Subject: [nabs-l] Fw: National Federation of the Blind and Law 
SchoolAdmissions Council Agree to Settlement
Date sent: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:15:10 -0600

FYI

Please distribute this far and wide.  We are particularly 
interested in hearing about the experience of those who will be 
applying to law school through LSAC.  Everything should now be 
accessible, or at least starting in the fall.
----- Original Message -----
From: Freeh, Jessica
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 8:08 AM
Subject: National Federation of the Blind and Law School 
Admissions Council Agree to Settlement


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind and
Law School Admissions Council Agree to Settlement
LSAC Will Make its Web Site Fully Accessible to the Blind


Baltimore, Maryland (April 26, 2011): The National Federation of 
the Blind (NFB) today announced that it has settled a lawsuit 
with the Law School Admissions Council, Inc.  (LSAC) regarding 
access to the LSAC Web site (www.lsac.org) by blind people.  As 
part of the settlement, LSAC will provide full and equal access 
to its Web site for blind users by September 1, 2011.  Changes 
will be made to the LSAC Web site that will allow blind users 
utilizing screen access technology, which converts what is on the 
computer screen into synthesized speech or Braille, to read and 
interact with it.  The accessibility requirements extend to all 
parts of the Web site on which services or products are made 
available to prospective law school applicants or to LSAT and 
Credential Assembly Service registrants, including, but not 
limited to, the process of applying to law schools through 
lsac.org and the documents and practice tests LSAC makes 
available online.



Dr.  Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the 
Blind, said: "Access to Web sites is critical to the full and 
equal participation of blind people in all aspects of modern 
life.  In this instance, access is especially critical, since 
without it blind people experience significant barriers to 
entering the legal profession.  The National Federation of the 
Blind is pleased to have reached a settlement with the Law School 
Admissions Council and we look forward to working with its 
officials and technical staff in the coming months.  It is our 
sincere hope that other educational entities and credentialing 
organizations that provide vital services over the Internet will 
follow LSAC's example and take affirmative steps to provide full 
access to their Web sites by blind consumers."



Deepa Goraya, a named plaintiff in the suit, said: "As someone 
who has gone through the law school application process and 
struggled to use the Law School Admission Council's Web site, I 
am pleased to see that the Web site will be made fully accessible 
and the process of gaining admission to law school will now be 
easier for all blind people who are interested in entering this 
noble profession."



Under the settlement, the National Federation of the Blind will 
perform semi-annual accessibility testing of the LSAC Web site 
until September 1, 2012.



The National Federation of the Blind is represented in this 
matter by Daniel F.  Goldstein of the Baltimore firm Brown, 
Goldstein, and Levy; Laurence W.  Paradis, Anna Levine, and Karla 
Gilbride of the Berkley firm Disability Rights Advocates; and 
Scott C.  LaBarre of the Denver firm LaBarre Law Offices.





###





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.






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