[nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?

Sat Jul 2 21:22:36 UTC 2011

Thanks to everyone who wished us luck in our case. I'll relay your words of encouragement to Christopher as well. 

See you all in Orlando!

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 2, 2011, at 3:21 PM, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:

> Yes she is.
> Jamie, this message is to you, when you look at this list again.
> I pray that you're successful, and that other universities stop
> discriminating against the disabled.
> Blessings, Joshua
> 
> On 7/2/11, Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
>> That is...  outrageous! I believe Jamie's on this list, so I wish
>> you the best of luck! Mr.  Goldstein is a great lawyer and one
>> that NFB has been working with for 20 years, so I think you'll
>> have a good chance of winning the case! Good luck!
>> 
>> Chris
>> 
>> "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
>> 
>> The I C.A.N.  Foundation helps visually impaired youth in
>> Maryland have the ability to confidently say "I can!" How? Click
>> on this link to learn more and to contribute:
>> www.icanfoundation.info or like us on Facebook at I C.A.N.
>> Foundation.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my BrailleNote
>> 
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com
>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Date sent: Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:15:42 -0600
>> Subject: [nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?
>> 
>> Hi, guys.  I thought I might ask you Florida students or any
>> students out there if you've heard that two of my friends are
>> suing FSU, my old university.  They're suing because of the math
>> department and the way the faculty has been treating them.  For
>> more, here's a clip of the article.
>> 
>> Blind Students Sue Florida State University for Discrimination
>> 6/29/2011
>> 
>> 
>> 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
>> 
>> Blind Students Sue Florida State University for Discrimination
>> National Federation of the Blind Outraged at University's Actions
>> Baltimore, Maryland (June 29, 2011): With the assistance of the
>> National
>> Federation of the Blind, two blind students-Christopher Shane
>> Toth and Jamie
>> Ann Principato-filed suit today against Florida State University
>> (FSU) and
>> its board of trustees.  The suit alleges that FSU's Department of
>> Mathematics discriminated against Mr.  Toth and Ms.  Principato
>> by
>> failing to
>> provide them with proper accommodations so that they could
>> successfully
>> complete required math courses for their respective degree
>> programs.  The
>> violations include requiring the students to use an inaccessible
>> Web-based
>> application to complete homework assignments, tests, and quizzes;
>> requiring
>> the use of clickers that cannot be used by a blind person to
>> respond to
>> in-class questions and obtain bonus credit; failing to provide
>> Braille
>> versions of the required textbooks in violation of agreed-upon
>> accommodation
>> plans; and engaging in retaliatory actions when the students
>> complained of
>> these violations.  In all cases, faculty members in the
>> Department of
>> Mathematics were generally uncooperative, unhelpful, and even
>> hostile, and
>> did not provide meaningful alternative methods for Mr.  Toth and
>> Ms.
>> Principato to successfully complete the required courses.  As a
>> result, both
>> students are currently unable to continue their degree programs
>> and find
>> their careers indefinitely on hold.
>> 
>> Dr.  Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the
>> Blind, said:
>> "Discrimination against blind students is all too common, but it
>> rarely
>> stems from actual animus towards the students.  This case,
>> however, involves
>> the repeated, deliberate, and intentional disregard of the rights
>> of these
>> two students, whose academic records have now suffered
>> irreparable damage
>> and who have suffered lost opportunities, emotional distress,
>> embarrassment,
>> humiliation, and retaliation by university officials.  The
>> National
>> Federation of the Blind will not stand for this outrageous
>> treatment of
>> blind students and we will continue to support this lawsuit as
>> fully as
>> necessary in order to ensure that these young people are
>> compensated for the
>> egregious conduct of faculty and staff in FSU's Department of
>> Mathematics."
>> 
>> 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.
>> 
>> Beth Taurasi
>> Sent from my BrailleNote Apex
>> 
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> 
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