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

Sun Jun 7 01:18:47 UTC 2020

Chika,  please write carefully when you send a message.  

Debbie

-----Original Message-----
From: MD-Sligo [mailto:md-sligo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chikodinaka
mr. Oguledo via MD-Sligo
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2020 5:32 PM
To: National Federation of the Blind <webmaster at nfb.org>; Sligo Creek
Chapter list, NFB of Maryland <md-sligo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Chikodinaka mr. Oguledo <chikodinaka.2girls at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [MD-Sligo] National Federation of the Blind Sues Duke
University

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:
>
>
>  		 [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
>
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