[Nfbc-info] FYI FW: [Nfbnet-members-list] FW: National Federation of the Blind Postpones Planned Protest Tomorrow: New York City Schools Panel Cancels Vote on Amazon Deal

[Michael Hingson]

In case you haven’t seen this. 

 

 

Best Regards,

 

 

Michael Hingson

 

 

From: Nfbnet-members-list [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Kuhnke, Kristian via Nfbnet-members-list
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 2:58 PM
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] FW: National Federation of the Blind
Postpones Planned Protest Tomorrow: New York City Schools Panel Cancels Vote
on Amazon Deal

 

 
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 <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org> 
 


National Federation of the Blind Postpones Planned Protest Tomorrow


 


New York City Schools Panel Cancels Vote on Amazon Deal


 
Baltimore, Maryland (August 25, 2015): The National Federation of the Blind
<https://nfb.org/>  (NFB), the nation’s leading advocate for equal education
for blind students, commented today on a proposed $30 million contract under
which Amazon, Inc. would construct an electronic storefront for New York
City schools and become the primary provider of educational materials for
students. The NFB planned to protest the deal before a meeting of the school
system’s Panel for Educational Policy tomorrow, but will not go forward with
the protest because the panel has canceled the vote on the proposal in order
to investigate NFB’s concerns.
 
Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind
<https://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind> , said: “The
National Federation of the Blind is firmly committed to the principle that
blind students must have equal access to the materials used by their sighted
peers if they are to receive an equal education and live the lives they
want. That is why we have expressed our strong opposition to the deal with
Amazon as currently proposed. While we stand ready to take any and all steps
necessary to protect the rights of New York City’s blind students, we are
now hopeful, in light of the cancellation of tomorrow’s vote on this deal,
that we can resolve the issue through an amicable and productive dialogue
with school officials. We continue to urge everyone concerned about the
rights of students who are blind or who have print disabilities to contact
Chancellor Carmen Fariña and let her know that equal access and equal
education are one and the same.” 
 
 

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About the National Federation of the Blind

 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.
 
 

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