[nabs-l] [Blindtlk] National Federation of the Blind Commends Department ofEducation for New Accessible Technology Guidelines

[Chris Nusbaum]

 ---- Original Message ------
From: "Freeh,Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org> (by way of David Andrews 
<dandrews at visi.com>)
Subject: [Blindtlk] National Federation of the Blind Commends 
Department ofEducation for New Accessible Technology Guidelines
Date sent: Fri, 27 May 2011 04:12:21 -0500


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org




National Federation of the Blind Commends
Department of Education for New Accessible Technology Guidelines




Urges Schools to Deploy Technology That Blind Students Can Use



Baltimore, Maryland (May 26, 2011): The National Federation of 
the
Blind urged all elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools 
to
follow guidelines issued today by the Department of Education's
Office of Civil Rights and to deploy new or emerging technologies
only if they are accessible to blind students.  The guidelines, 
in
the form of
<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201
105.html>Frequently
Asked Questions, were issued to supplement the department's
<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-2010
0629.html>Dear
Colleague letter of June 29, 2010.  That letter informed all 
college
and university presidents that their institutions must be sure 
that
emerging technologies that they plan to deploy to students are
accessible to the blind and other students with disabilities.  A
<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-2011
05-ese.html>second
Dear Colleague letter issued today made clear that the same legal
obligations apply to elementary and secondary schools.



Dr.  Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the 
Blind,
said: "The National Federation of the Blind is pleased that the
Department of Education has issued this guidance to the entire
education community.  If blind students are to succeed in the
twenty-first century, they must have access to the same 
technologies
as their sighted peers.  These comprehensive answers to commonly
asked questions about the legal obligation to purchase and deploy
accessible technology should be immensely helpful to school
administrators.  We urge educators to review them carefully and 
apply
them whenever they are considering the purchase or deployment of 
new
educational technologies.  We will continue our efforts to hold
accountable those institutions that ignore their legal 
obligations to
their blind students."





###







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.












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