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

Sat Jul 2 21:48:57 UTC 2011

good luck

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <blackbyrdfly at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 4:22 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?


> 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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