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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This is such an important victory to all blind/visually impaired students in our country.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I am proud of being a member of NABS and proud of the courage and assertiveness of these students who value their rights and fought for them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I feel ever so confident on the positive influence that the National Federation of the Blind has on all of us, especially our younger members.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This is such an inspiration to keep on building the National Federation of the Blind!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><img width=66 height=96 style='width:.6833in;height:1.0in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1ZgHpSssGZH8Ha8eT7TdSo82HZg3BXUnY&revid=0BzVxKaP_Tl4tWlF0ZEJKeDcvUWFtbkRlTFd0RkQxZEU0bDFrPQ"><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Diana Oliveira</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>NFBF Miami-Dade Chapter, Secretary of the board</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>NFBF Legislative Committee, member</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>NFB Employment Committee, member</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>NABS, member</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>(305)988-2713</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>(202)909-0410</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><a href="mailto:dianaoliveira58@gmail.com" target="_blank">dianaoliveira58@gmail.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><b>From: </b><a href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">National Federation of the Blind via NFBF-L</a><br><b>Sent: </b>Friday, May 29, 2020 11:29 PM<br><b>To: </b><a href="mailto:nfbf-l@nfbnet.org">nfbf-l@nfbnet.org</a><br><b>Cc: </b><a href="mailto:webmaster@nfb.org">National Federation of the Blind</a><br><b>Subject: </b>[NFBF-L] Blind Students and Advocates Resolve Dispute with College Board over AP Exams</p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal> </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> [1]</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>BLIND STUDENTS AND ADVOCATES RESOLVE DISPUTE WITH COLLEGE BOARD OVER AP</p><p class=MsoNormal>EXAMS</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>_STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE BRAILLE EXAMS, TACTILE GRAPHICS_</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>BALTIMORE, MARYLAND (MAY 29, 2020): Kaleigh Brendle, a blind</p><p class=MsoNormal>advanced-placement (AP) high school student from New Jersey, and the</p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind [2] (NFB), the nation's leading advocate</p><p class=MsoNormal>for the equal education of the blind, have resolved their dispute with the</p><p class=MsoNormal>College Board [3] over its administration of the advanced placement</p><p class=MsoNormal>examinations to blind and deaf-blind students during the coronavirus</p><p class=MsoNormal>pandemic. Ms. Brendle and the NFB filed complaints with the United States</p><p class=MsoNormal>Department of Education and Department of Justice on behalf of themselves</p><p class=MsoNormal>and four other named students, as well as the class of all other blind and</p><p class=MsoNormal>deafblind students. The complaints alleged that the students' rights were</p><p class=MsoNormal>violated when the College Board instituted a digital-only format for the</p><p class=MsoNormal>exams because of the pandemic and did not provide hard-copy Braille tests</p><p class=MsoNormal>and/or hard-copy tactile graphics to students who had requested and been</p><p class=MsoNormal>granted those accommodations. The complaints have been withdrawn in light</p><p class=MsoNormal>of today's resolution. </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Without admitting wrongdoing, the College Board has agreed [4] to allow</p><p class=MsoNormal>certain students to re-take AP exams using hard-copy tactile graphics</p><p class=MsoNormal>(including charts, coordinate planes, diagrams, maps, etc.) and to</p><p class=MsoNormal>administer hard-copy Braille tests to students who were already approved</p><p class=MsoNormal>for Braille and who request to take or re-take their exams with hard-copy</p><p class=MsoNormal>Braille. Students will be able to take the Braille tests by September 15,</p><p class=MsoNormal>2020. For students who re-take exams with hard-copy tactile graphics or</p><p class=MsoNormal>hard-copy Braille, any prior answers or test scores will be disregarded.</p><p class=MsoNormal>The College Board will also provide a letter to affected high school</p><p class=MsoNormal>seniors explaining the delay in testing and scoring so that these seniors</p><p class=MsoNormal>can provide that information to institutions of higher education. </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In a separate letter not related to the complaints, the College Board has</p><p class=MsoNormal>also agreed to consult with the National Federation of the Blind on</p><p class=MsoNormal>procedures for administering the SAT and SAT subject tests to blind and</p><p class=MsoNormal>deafblind students. </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"My fellow blind and deafblind AP scholars and I never sought</p><p class=MsoNormal>confrontation, compensation, or publicity. We desired only to receive fair</p><p class=MsoNormal>treatment and to be provided with the materials we require in order to</p><p class=MsoNormal>succeed," said Kaleigh Brendle. "We raised our voices on behalf of those</p><p class=MsoNormal>who could not, with the hope that every student who needed Braille would</p><p class=MsoNormal>receive it. We are grateful to the College Board for listening to and</p><p class=MsoNormal>understanding our concerns and working with us to institute change. Now, we</p><p class=MsoNormal>can resume preparing for these influential exams and shaping our futures as</p><p class=MsoNormal>empowered advocates of equality and opportunity." </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"It has been a privilege to work alongside these courageous students who</p><p class=MsoNormal>raised their voices about the unfair treatment they received during an</p><p class=MsoNormal>already stressful time," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National</p><p class=MsoNormal>Federation of the Blind. "This swift and equitable agreement exemplifies</p><p class=MsoNormal>the power of collective action. We look forward to further cooperation and</p><p class=MsoNormal>collaboration between the College Board and the organized blind movement to</p><p class=MsoNormal>improve opportunities for all blind and deafblind scholars." </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ms. Brendle and the National Federation of the Blind were represented by</p><p class=MsoNormal>Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum [5] and Kevin Docherty [6] of Brown Goldstein Levy</p><p class=MsoNormal>LLP [5]. </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>### </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is</p><p class=MsoNormal>the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded</p><p class=MsoNormal>in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the</p><p class=MsoNormal>fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of</p><p class=MsoNormal>blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families</p><p class=MsoNormal>with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We</p><p class=MsoNormal>believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to</p><p class=MsoNormal>transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and</p><p class=MsoNormal>initiatives at www.nfb.org [7]. </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>CONTACT:</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chris Danielsen</p><p class=MsoNormal> Director of Public Relations</p><p class=MsoNormal> National Federation of the Blind</p><p class=MsoNormal> 410-659-9314, extension 2330</p><p class=MsoNormal> 410-262-1281 (Cell)</p><p class=MsoNormal> cdanielsen@nfb.org </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> [8] </p><p class=MsoNormal> [9] </p><p class=MsoNormal> [10] </p><p class=MsoNormal> [11] </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> [12] </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD</p><p class=MsoNormal>21230 | 410-659-9314 </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Unsubscribe [13] | Opt Out [14] | Sign Up for Our E-newsletter [15] </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> .. </p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Links:</p><p class=MsoNormal>------</p><p class=MsoNormal>[1] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17128&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[2] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17113&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[3] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17114&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[4] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17115&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[5] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17116&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[6] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17117&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[7] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17118&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[8] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17120&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[9] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17121&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[10] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17122&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[11] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17123&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[12] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17125&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>[13] https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=14217&qid=3710219&h=eae5d819306b65f6</p><p class=MsoNormal>[14] https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=14217&qid=3710219&h=eae5d819306b65f6</p><p class=MsoNormal>[15] https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=17126&qid=3710219</p><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________</p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBF-L mailing list</p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBF-L@nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org</p><p class=MsoNormal>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBF-L:</p><p class=MsoNormal>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/dianaoliveira58%40gmail.com</p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=DefaultFontHxMailStyle><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p></div></body></html>