[blparent] FW: [nfbsc] Fw: National Federation of the Blind Sends Message to America ’ s Teachers

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: "Keith Wiglesworth" <hwiglesworth at carolina.rr.com>
To: <nfbsc at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [nfbsc] Fw: National Federation of the Blind Sends Message to
America's Teachers
Date: 
Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:10:36 -0400


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Freeh, Jessica 
To: Undisclosed recipients
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 9:51 AM
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Sends Message to America's
Teachers


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 Sends Message to America's Teachers
NOOKs in the Classroom Discriminate Against Blind Students
 

Baltimore, Maryland (October 10, 2012): The National Federation of the
Blind, the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind people and
the leading advocate for equal access to education and technology,
commented today on Barnes & Noble's recently announced "Fall Educator
Appreciation Week" promotion, which is designed to promote the use of the
company's NOOK e-readers in the classroom.

 

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"We have a critically important message for America's teachers and school
administrators.  We know that you are deeply committed to the full and
equal education of all of your students, including those who are blind, as
evidenced by your support of educational concepts like Universal Design for
Learning.  For this reason, we ask that you heavily consider the
accessibility of technology when making decisions about whether to
incorporate it into the classroom.  Technologies that are fully accessible
to the blind will also benefit other students who cannot read print or have
difficulty doing so, including students with certain learning disabilities
and those whose native language is not English.  Federal law requires, and
blind students and their parents demand, that the technology that is used
in the classroom provide the same content and the same benefits to blind
students as to all other students.  The Barnes & Noble NOOK e-readers
available to date do not currently meet this standard, nor do we have
evidence as to whether the newest product line, which begins shipping this
fall, will do so.  Please stand up for your students and join us in
demanding that Barnes & Noble make the necessary changes to its e-reading
devices so that they can be used by all students.  Until it does so, please
tell Barnes & Noble that these devices are not appropriate educational
tools."

 

 

###

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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