[MD-Sligo] National Federation of the Blind Sues Duke University

Sat Jun 6 21:32:01 UTC 2020

why do uAll suckDook U th ischoo.

On 6/5/20, National Federation of the Blind via MD-Sligo
<md-sligo at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
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> 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
>
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>  		 [9]
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>  		 National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD
> 21230 | 410-659-9314
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