[NFB-DB] Request for Help From Our Legal Program

[Labarre, Scott]

Hey Everyone:

I just want to thank this community for its excellent thoughts and comments you have been sending me!!  I am working on the amicus brief tomorrow and Wednesday.  When I use any of the stories, I will make it all anonymous.  There are a couple of you who have called, and I will be trying to reach back out tomorrow or Wednesday.  Thanks again!!

All best,
Scott

From: NFB-DB <nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Labarre, Scott via NFB-DB
Sent: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 1:36 PM
To: nfb-db at nfbnet.org
Cc: Labarre, Scott <slabarre at nfb.org>
Subject: [NFB-DB] Request for Help From Our Legal Program

Greetings Everyone!

I am Scott LaBarre, General Counsel to the NFB.  I am sure that I know many of you and likewise.  I am writing to this list today for help.

We are participating in an amicus brief, friend of the court, brief in a case being brought by Disability Rights Minnesota.  They are representing a deaf blind individual who has been denied hundreds of rides on buses operated by the Metropolitan Transit  Council because the drivers either don’t pull up to the designated transit sign and/or make no effort to communicate with their client.  Additionally, even though it is MTC policy, many drivers do not pull up to the sign when there are multiple buses in a line at a particular stop.  This deaf blind individual has no way of telling that a second or third bus is in line unless it pulls up to the sign after the first bus has departed etc.

Anyway and unfortunately, the lower court issued a very bad decision ruling that the MTC does not violate the ADA when they fail to communicate effectively with this individual.  Disability Rights is appealing this to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

We would like to offer our perspective, and this is where your help comes into the picture.  I would like to know your stories and find out what troubles you have had with transit entities not appropriately pulling up to designated stops and not identifying themselves to you.  It would probably be best if you wrote me off line.  My contact info is below.  I thank you in advance for your help!!

Sincerely,
Scott C. LaBarre
General Counsel, NFB

410 659-9314, Ext. 2424
slabarre at nfb.org<mailto:slabarre at nfb.org>

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