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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=4><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><b>CONTACT:<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">Chris Danielsen<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">Director of Public Relations<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">National Federation of the Blind<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
</font><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">
cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"> <br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">Jeffery Seay<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">University Communications<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">Florida State University<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">(850) 644-0277<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">jseay@admin.fsu.edu<br>
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<div align="center"><h1><font size=4><b>Florida State University Resolves
Litigation with Students</b></font></h1><br><br>
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<br>
<div align="center"><h2><b>National Federation of the Blind Praises
Comprehensive Settlement Agreement</i></b></h2><br><br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><b>Tallahassee, Florida (March 6,
2012):</b> Florida State University and two students who are
blindChristopher Shane Toth and Jamie Ann Principatohave resolved a
<a href="http://stage.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=819">lawsuit
brought by the two students</a> with the assistance of the
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">National Federation of the Blind</a> last
summer. <br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"> <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">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. <br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"> <br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">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. <br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"> <br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">“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.”<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"> <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">“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.<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"> <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">“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.”<br>
</font><br>
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. <br><br>
<div align="center"><b>###<br>
</b></div>
<br>
<br><br>
<b>About the National Federation of the Blind <br>
</b><br>
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.</blockquote></body>
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