From webmaster at nfb.org Thu May 28 20:30:18 2020 From: webmaster at nfb.org (National Federation of the Blind) Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 20:30:18 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [FOPBC] Time-sensitive Information: Blind Pennsylvanians Win Victory on Absentee Voting Message-ID: <20200528203018.3BD9F610A85F@lx-web-pri.nfb.org> [1] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLIND PENNSYLVANIANS WIN VICTORY ON ABSENTEE VOTING _STATE ORDERED TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEM ALLOWING THE BLIND TO CAST ABSENTEE AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS PRIVATELY AND INDEPENDENTLY_ HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (MAY 28, 2020): A federal district judge has ordered the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide an accessible write-in ballot (AWIB) to blind Pennsylvania voters for the June 2 primary election. The ruling is a victory for Joseph Drenth, a blind Chalfont resident, who fears going to his local polling place because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Drenth's immune system is slightly compromised, and his wife and mother-in-law, with whom he lives, both have asthma and complicating factors. The Honorable Jennifer P. Wilson, district judge for the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, issued a temporary restraining order after a Wednesday hearing in the lawsuit that Mr. Drenth and the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania (NFB-PA) filed last week. The court's order requires the state to provide blind voters with a list of the candidates on the ballot for their voting district along with an accessible electronic form on which they can type in their choices for each office. Blind Pennsylvania voters who wish to use the AWIB must request the accessible form by no later than 8PM on Friday, May 29. Eligible voters must have applied for an absentee or mail-in ballot by the May 26, 2020 deadline, and not yet have submitted a paper ballot. The AWIB must be submitted along with a declaration and a valid identification number. Voters must return their AWIB materials by first-class mail or hand-delivery to the County Board of Elector's office in the voter's jurisdiction by no later than 8:00 p.m. on June 2, 2020. More details are available in this press release [2] from the Pennsylvania Department of state. The lawsuit, which will continue in order to resolve the question of accessible absentee and mail-in ballot solutions for elections later this year, alleges violations of Title II of the Americans with disabilities act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973. The plaintiffs were represented by Disability Rights Pennsylvania [3] and Brown Goldstein Levy LLP [4]. "Although this temporary solution is not ideal, we commend Judge Wilson for ruling expeditiously, for making it clear that commonwealth officials must respect the rights of blind voters, and for recognizing that the status quo was unacceptable," said Lynn Heitz, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. "In light of this ruling and the judge's clear direction at the hearing, we hope that the commonwealth will work quickly with us to identify and implement a fully ADA-compliant voting solution for future elections." ### ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at www.nfb.org [5]. 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 [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 Unsubscribe [11] | Opt Out [12] | Sign Up for Our E-newsletter [13] .. 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URL: From webmaster at nfb.org Fri May 29 21:15:17 2020 From: webmaster at nfb.org (National Federation of the Blind) Date: Fri, 29 May 2020 21:15:17 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [FOPBC] Blind Students and Advocates Resolve Dispute with College Board over AP Exams Message-ID: <20200529211517.B93276174C31@lx-web-pri.nfb.org> [1] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BLIND STUDENTS AND ADVOCATES RESOLVE DISPUTE WITH COLLEGE BOARD OVER AP EXAMS _STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE BRAILLE EXAMS, TACTILE GRAPHICS_ BALTIMORE, MARYLAND (MAY 29, 2020): Kaleigh Brendle, a blind advanced-placement (AP) high school student from New Jersey, and the National Federation of the Blind [2] (NFB), the nation's leading advocate for the equal education of the blind, have resolved their dispute with the College Board [3] over its administration of the advanced placement examinations to blind and deaf-blind students during the coronavirus pandemic. Ms. Brendle and the NFB filed complaints with the United States Department of Education and Department of Justice on behalf of themselves and four other named students, as well as the class of all other blind and deafblind students. The complaints alleged that the students' rights were violated when the College Board instituted a digital-only format for the exams because of the pandemic and did not provide hard-copy Braille tests and/or hard-copy tactile graphics to students who had requested and been granted those accommodations. The complaints have been withdrawn in light of today's resolution. Without admitting wrongdoing, the College Board has agreed [4] to allow certain students to re-take AP exams using hard-copy tactile graphics (including charts, coordinate planes, diagrams, maps, etc.) and to administer hard-copy Braille tests to students who were already approved for Braille and who request to take or re-take their exams with hard-copy Braille. Students will be able to take the Braille tests by September 15, 2020. For students who re-take exams with hard-copy tactile graphics or hard-copy Braille, any prior answers or test scores will be disregarded. The College Board will also provide a letter to affected high school seniors explaining the delay in testing and scoring so that these seniors can provide that information to institutions of higher education. In a separate letter not related to the complaints, the College Board has also agreed to consult with the National Federation of the Blind on procedures for administering the SAT and SAT subject tests to blind and deafblind students. "My fellow blind and deafblind AP scholars and I never sought confrontation, compensation, or publicity. We desired only to receive fair treatment and to be provided with the materials we require in order to succeed," said Kaleigh Brendle. "We raised our voices on behalf of those who could not, with the hope that every student who needed Braille would receive it. We are grateful to the College Board for listening to and understanding our concerns and working with us to institute change. Now, we can resume preparing for these influential exams and shaping our futures as empowered advocates of equality and opportunity." "It has been a privilege to work alongside these courageous students who raised their voices about the unfair treatment they received during an already stressful time," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "This swift and equitable agreement exemplifies the power of collective action. We look forward to further cooperation and collaboration between the College Board and the organized blind movement to improve opportunities for all blind and deafblind scholars." Ms. Brendle and the National Federation of the Blind were represented by Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum [5] and Kevin Docherty [6] of Brown Goldstein Levy LLP [5]. ### ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at www.nfb.org [7]. 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 [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 Unsubscribe [13] | Opt Out [14] | Sign Up for Our E-newsletter [15] .. 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URL: From webmaster at nfb.org Fri Jun 5 12:45:17 2020 From: webmaster at nfb.org (National Federation of the Blind) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2020 12:45:17 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [FOPBC] National Federation of the Blind Sues Duke University Message-ID: <20200605124517.36C7D61653C9@lx-web-pri.nfb.org> [1] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND SUES DUKE UNIVERSITY _Lawsuit Alleges Discrimination Against Blind Students_ RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (JUNE 4, 2020): Duke University systematically discriminates against blind students and alumni in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, according to a lawsuit filed today. The action, brought by the National Federation of the Blind and Duke MBA Mary Fernandez, alleges that Duke failed to ensure that blind students can interact with digital content and platforms and access course materials--including hard-copy Braille materials and hard-copy tactile graphics when requested and appropriate--on an equal basis with students without disabilities. According to the lawsuit, Plaintiff Mary Fernandez is a blind student who began the Duke Daytime MBA program in the fall of 2018. To read print, Ms. Fernandez uses screen access software, Job Access with Speech ("JAWS"), which vocalizes the text using synthesized speech or displays it on a connected device called a refreshable Braille display. For STEM subjects, Ms. Fernandez also uses hard-copy Braille and tactile graphics to better understand the complex concepts because refreshable Braille displays only display a single line of Braille cells at a time, and thus are not useful for complex equations, coordinate planes, diagrams, maps, and other graphics. Ms. Fernandez met with the Assistant Director of Student Life before she enrolled and was assured Duke would provide the accommodations she needed to have equal access to her education. From the start, however, Ms. Fernandez experienced barriers that permeated every aspect of her educational experience. When she applied for admission, she encountered an inaccessible web-based application. When she registered online for courses, she could not access the course descriptions. When she utilized the employer recruiting system, she could not set up her user profile and could not utilize any of the search functions. In addition, Duke failed to provide Ms. Fernandez with timely access to accessible course materials, including hard-copy Braille and tactile graphics when she requested them. As a result, Ms. Fernandez was continually forced to divert her time and attention away from her studies to advocate for equal access to her education. "Blind students must have access to course materials in accessible formats including Braille, along with equal access to digital platforms and content, at the same time as sighted students in order to have an equal opportunity to succeed," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "This is not a new issue; it has been a focus of our advocacy for nearly two decades, and institutions of higher education have no excuse for not meeting this legal and moral obligation. The blind cannot and will not tolerate discrimination of this kind." "The failure to provide blind students with timely, accessible course materials and career services not only harms their educational experience, it puts their future career and economic self-sufficiency at risk," said Virginia Knowlton Marcus, chief executive officer of Disability Rights North Carolina. "Duke University, in particular, has previously been sued by Disability Rights NC regarding the inaccessibility of its course materials and has the responsibility to know better and do better." "I expected an institution with Duke's high standards and reputation to be able to meet my needs as a blind student and was assured that would happen," said Ms. Fernandez. "Instead, my time at Duke has been something of a nightmare. I hope the action I am now taking will improve things for future blind students who want to attend Duke." The plaintiffs are represented by the attorneys of Disability Rights NC and the law firm of Brown Goldstein Levy LLP [2]. ### ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at www.nfb.org [3]. ABOUT DISABILITY RIGHTS NORTH CAROLINA Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) is the federally mandated protection and advocacy agency for the State of North Carolina dedicated to advancing the rights of all people with disabilities, of all ages, statewide. DRNC is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a member of the National Disability Rights Network. Learn more about Disability Rights North Carolina at www.disabilityrightsnc.org [4]. 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 Holly Stiles Litigation Counsel Disability Rights North Carolina (919) 856-2195 holly.stiles at disabilityrightsnc.org [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 Unsubscribe [10] | Opt Out [11] | Sign Up for Our E-newsletter [12] .. Links: ------ [1] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17231&qid=3745758 [2] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17215&qid=3745758 [3] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17216&qid=3745758 [4] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17217&qid=3745758 [5] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17219&qid=3745758 [6] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17220&qid=3745758 [7] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17221&qid=3745758 [8] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17222&qid=3745758 [9] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17224&qid=3745758 [10] https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=14271&qid=3745758&h=86d0db272d8bb853 [11] https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=14271&qid=3745758&h=86d0db272d8bb853 [12] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17225&qid=3745758 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From webmaster at nfb.org Fri Jun 5 17:00:20 2020 From: webmaster at nfb.org (National Federation of the Blind) Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2020 17:00:20 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [FOPBC] Time-sensitive: Blind New Yorkers Achieve Access to Absentee Voting Message-ID: <20200605170020.4555F61653C9@lx-web-pri.nfb.org> [1] BLIND NEW YORKERS ACHIEVE ACCESS TO ABSENTEE VOTING _STATE AGREES TO IMPLEMENT INTERIM SYSTEM ALLOWING THE BLIND TO CAST ABSENTEE AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS PRIVATELY AND INDEPENDENTLY FOR JUNE 23 ELECTION_ A federal district judge has approved an agreement requiring the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE) to instruct local election boards to provide accessible absentee ballots to blind voters for the June 23, 2020 primary election. The ruling resolves a request for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit [2] filed by the National Federation of the Blind of New York and a coalition, including: Disability Rights New York; American Council of the Blind--New York, Inc.; Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York; Disability Rights Advocates; and several New York voters with disabilities. Read the full official press release [3] on our website. Blind voters will be able to request an accessible electronic absentee ballot through a page on the NYSBOE website [4] or through their local county board of elections. They must do so by June 16, 2020. The National Federation of the Blind of New York is also asking blind voters to provide feedback on the accessible absentee voting process. They can complete a survey by calling 716-222-3NFB (716-222-3632) or visiting www.nfbny.org [5]. The court's order is the third in a recent string of successes for the National Federation of the Blind to protect the rights of blind voters as states shift to absentee and mail-in ballots because of the coronavirus pandemic. Battles for accessible absentee voting in primary elections have also been won in Michigan [6] and Pennsylvania [7]. "We are pleased that an agreement has been reached swiftly regarding the June 23 primary," said Mike Robinson, president of the National Federation of the Blind of New York. "We hope to work productively with NYSBOE to identify a more permanent solution and that other jurisdictions across the country will take note of our efforts in the empire state." The lawsuit, which will continue in order to resolve the question of accessible absentee and mail-in ballot solutions for elections later this year, alleges violations of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The National Federation of the Blind of New York is represented by Eve Hill [8] of Brown Goldstein Levy LLP [9]. ### ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at www.nfb.org [10]. 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 [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 Unsubscribe [16] | Opt Out [17] | Sign Up for Our E-newsletter [18] .. 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URL: From iamjorgeapaez94 at gmail.com Tue Jun 9 20:21:01 2020 From: iamjorgeapaez94 at gmail.com (Jorge Alejandro Paez) Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2020 16:21:01 -0400 Subject: [FOPBC] Intro Message-ID: <0713049C-FF0E-487F-887B-C4FDE09BBF8C@gmail.com> Hello everyone. My name is Jorge, and I?m a member of the NFB of Florida, the state wide chapter and the Greater Broward chapter as well as being part of the NFB nationally, FLAGDU and NAGDU. I?m totally blind, 25 and run several advocacy initiatives and I?m starting to get involved in grassroots community organizing as well. I joined this list to support the group, and be a resource for all of you, and to provide a different prospective as someone who grew up with sighted parents and was there from the other side, so to speak. So if any of you have any questions at all that you don?t want to post on the list or any info about anything I write on here please feel free to message me offline whenever. I?m here to help. Jorge A. 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