[nabs-l] Fwd: [blindlaw] NFB sues LSAC

Thu Feb 19 19:18:12 UTC 2009

Thought you might find this of interest.
Ronza

____________________________________
 From: slabarre at labarrelaw.com
Reply-to: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
To:  blindlaw at nfbnet.org
Sent: 2/19/2009 12:38:45 P.M. Eastern Standard  Time
Subj: [blindlaw] NFB sues LSAC

Greetings:

I am part of the legal team filing this  complaint today and thought the list 
would be interested in the below  release.
*****************

FOR IMMEDIATE  RELEASE

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

LSAC  Discriminates Against Blind Law School Applicants
National Federation of  the Blind Sues Law School Admissions Council for 
Inaccessible Web Site and  LSAT Preparation Materials

Baltimore, Maryland (February 19, 2009):  The National Federation of the 
Blind, the nation's oldest and largest  organization of blind people; its 
California affiliate; and a blind law school  applicant, Deepa Goraya, are filing a 
lawsuit today against the Law School  Admissions Council (LSAC).  The complaint 
asserts that the LSAC, the body  that administers the Law School Admissions 
Test (which most aspiring law  students must take) and provides other services 
to law schools and law school  applicants, violates the California Disabled 
Persons Act and the Unruh Act  because its Web site (www.lsac.org) and LSAT 
preparation materials are  inaccessible to blind law school applicants.  The 
plaintiffs have  attempted to meet with the LSAC to resolve the matter, but the LSAC 
canceled a  planned meeting.

Blind people access Web sites on computers  equipped with screen access 
software that converts what is on the screen into  synthesized speech or Braille.  
The keyboard is used instead of a mouse  to navigate the Web site and click on 
selected links or buttons. If a Web site  is improperly coded, however, blind 
computer users cannot access the  site.  Blind people can also use screen 
readers to access certain kinds  of electronic documents, including those in the 
popular Portable Document  Format (PDF).  However, if PDF files are not 
properly "tagged," they  cannot be used by the blind.  The LSAC Web site contains 
accessibility  barriers including improperly formatted online forms, tables and 
charts that  cannot be read by screen access software, and faulty keyboard 
navigation  support.  These access barriers make it difficult or impossible for 
blind  people to use the Web site to register to take the LSAT, among other  
things.  The Web site is also the only avenue for people to apply online  to any 
law school accredited by 

the American Bar  Association.  However, blind applicants cannot submit their 
applications  without sighted assistance because the application forms are 
improperly  formatted.  In addition, none of the LSAT practice materials, which  
include previously administered versions of the test that sighted people can  
obtain on the LSAC Web site, are available in accessible electronic  formats.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation  of the Blind, said: 
"The Internet is extremely useful to blind people, as well  as our sighted 
peers, when Web sites are properly formatted according to  well-established 
guidelines; there is no good reason for any Web site offering  goods and services to 
the public to be inaccessible to blind people.  For  too long, blind people 
have experienced barriers to entering the legal  profession, despite our long 
history of demonstrated success in that  field.  The National Federation of the 
Blind will not sit quietly while  the LSAC willfully refuses to provide the 
same services to blind people  seeking admission to law school that it does to 
the sighted.  The LSAC is  engaging in blatant discrimination against the blind 
and we will not stand for  it."

Deepa Goraya, a law school applicant and named plaintiff  in the suit, said: 
"Trying to use the LSAC Web site made the experience of  applying to law 
school a nightmare when it should have been as easy for me as  for anyone else.  I 
had to select and rely upon a reader for over fifty  hours to complete my law 
school applications.  Also, none of the practice  tests available on the Web 
site were accessible.  I want the process of  gaining admission to law school 
to be easier for all blind people who are  interested in entering this noble 
profession, and I hope this action will  achieve that goal."

###

About  the National Federation of the Blind

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.  

Scott C. LaBarre,  Esq.

LaBarre Law Offices P.C.
1660 South Albion Street, Ste.  918
Denver, Colorado 80222
303 504-5979 (voice)
303 757-3640  (fax)
slabarre at labarrelaw.com (e-mail)
www.labarrelaw.com  (website)

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message may contain confidential  and privileged 
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