[Fabs] Fwd: Florida State University Resolves Litigation with Students

[David Andrews]

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>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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>
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>CONTACT:
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>Chris Danielsen
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>Director of Public Relations
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>National Federation of the Blind
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>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
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>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
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><mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
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>
>
>Jeffery Seay
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>University Communications
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>Florida State University
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>(850) 644-0277
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>jseay at admin.fsu.edu
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>
>
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>Florida State University Resolves Litigation with Students
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>National Federation of the Blind Praises Comprehensive Settlement Agreement
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>Tallahassee, Florida (March 6, 2012): Florida 
>State University and two students who are 
>blind­Christopher Shane Toth and Jamie Ann 
>Principato­have resolved a 
><http://stage.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=819>lawsuit 
>brought by the two students with the assistance 
>of the <http://www.nfb.org/>National Federation of the Blind last summer.
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>The students claimed that they experienced 
>discrimination in violation of state and federal 
>disability laws, including failure to reasonably 
>accommodate their disability and lack of 
>accessible technology.  As a result, they 
>claimed, they were unable to complete courses 
>related to their academic majors.
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>Without admitting liability or wrongdoing, the 
>university has agreed to pay each of the 
>students $75,000 in settlement of their claims 
>and to continue its efforts to make courses 
>accessible to all students.  Specifically, the 
>university will examine technology-based 
>instructional materials currently in use for 
>accessibility compliance, and ensure 
>accessibility in future software and hardware procurements.
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>“We are extremely pleased with this settlement 
>agreement, which will benefit all current and 
>future blind students at Florida State,” said 
>Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National 
>Federation of the Blind.  “We commend the 
>university for showing leadership and commitment 
>to treating students with disabilities equally 
>and hope that other institutions of higher 
>learning will follow the example set by Florida State.”
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>“I am greatly relieved and pleased that this 
>litigation has been resolved and look forward to 
>continuing my academic career at Florida State 
>on an equal basis with my sighted peers,” Principato said.
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>“We are committed to the success of all of our 
>students, including those with disabilities,” 
>said Garnett S. Stokes, provost and executive 
>vice president for academic affairs at Florida 
>State.  “We will continue our efforts to make 
>our institution a welcoming and rewarding 
>environment for students with disabilities.”
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>The plaintiffs are represented in this matter by 
>Daniel F. Goldstein, Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum, and 
>Brooke E. Lierman of the Baltimore firm Brown, 
>Goldstein, and Levy; and Matthew Dietz of the 
>Miami firm Law Offices of Matthew W. Dietz, P.L.
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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.