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

Sun Jun 7 01:48:44 UTC 2020

y su doke it is a good school

On 6/6/20, Deborah via MD-Sligo <md-sligo at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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
>>
>>  		 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=37456
>> 49
>> [2]
>> https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17215&qid=37456
>> 49
>> [3]
>> https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17216&qid=37456
>> 49
>> [4]
>> https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17217&qid=37456
>> 49
>> [5]
>> https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17219&qid=37456
>> 49
>> [6]
>> https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17220&qid=37456
>> 49
>> [7]
>> https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17221&qid=37456
>> 49
>> [8]
>> https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17222&qid=37456
>> 49
>> [9]
>> https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17224&qid=37456
>> 49
>> [10]
>> https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=14271&qid=
>> 3745649&h=95e75d4b15c985d1
>> [11]
>> https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=14271&qid=37456
>> 49&h=95e75d4b15c985d1
>> [12]
>> https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17225&qid=37456
>> 49
>>
>
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