<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
p.MsoTitle, li.MsoTitle, div.MsoTitle
{mso-style-priority:10;
mso-style-link:"Title Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
font-size:28.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
letter-spacing:-.5pt;}
p.MsoTitleCxSpFirst, li.MsoTitleCxSpFirst, div.MsoTitleCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:10;
mso-style-link:"Title Char";
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
font-size:28.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
letter-spacing:-.5pt;}
p.MsoTitleCxSpMiddle, li.MsoTitleCxSpMiddle, div.MsoTitleCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:10;
mso-style-link:"Title Char";
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
font-size:28.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
letter-spacing:-.5pt;}
p.MsoTitleCxSpLast, li.MsoTitleCxSpLast, div.MsoTitleCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:10;
mso-style-link:"Title Char";
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
font-size:28.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
letter-spacing:-.5pt;}
p.MsoSubtitle, li.MsoSubtitle, div.MsoSubtitle
{mso-style-priority:11;
mso-style-link:"Subtitle Char";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:8.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#5A5A5A;
letter-spacing:.75pt;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.TitleChar
{mso-style-name:"Title Char";
mso-style-priority:10;
mso-style-link:Title;
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
letter-spacing:-.5pt;}
span.SubtitleChar
{mso-style-name:"Subtitle Char";
mso-style-priority:11;
mso-style-link:Subtitle;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
color:#5A5A5A;
letter-spacing:.75pt;}
span.EmailStyle23
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>In response to concerns raised during the live Presidential Release question and answer period. A blind person attempting to obtain service using a drive-thru was denied said service. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Camille <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> NFBNet-Members-List <nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Danielsen, Chris via NFBNet-Members-List<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 3, 2020 3:31 PM<br><b>To:</b> NCB Staff <NCBStaff@nfb.org>; nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org; State Affiliate Leadership List <state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbnet-members-list] Blind Americans Encountering Discrimination by Restaurants and Other Services During COVID-19 Crisis<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoTitle align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Blind Americans Encountering Discrimination by Restaurants and Other Services During COVID-19 Crisis</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoSubtitle align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext'>Restaurants, Banks, and Others Denying Service to Blind Pedestrians</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpFirst style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Baltimore, Maryland (April 3, 2020):</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> The National Federation of the Blind, America’s civil rights organization of the blind, today demanded that restaurants, banks, and other businesses, as well as drive-through COVID-19 testing facilities, provide equal service to blind customers, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, whether the blind customer is on foot or in a vehicle. Many businesses are offering drive-through service only during the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Federation of the Blind has received numerous reports of discrimination against blind people who have tried to access drive-through windows on foot, and at least </span><a href="https://www.news8000.com/people-with-disabilities-face-new-challenges-under-coronavirus-orders/"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>one local television station</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> has reported on the problem.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“We reject the argument that accessing a drive-through window on foot is unsafe for blind people, since we regularly cross busy intersections and interact with vehicles,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “But even if a restaurant, bank, or testing center is unable or unwilling to offer pedestrian access to its drive-through window, the law clearly requires that it offer reasonable modifications to allow the blind and others with disabilities to take advantage of its public services. The bottom line is that, especially at a time when access to vehicle transportation for non-drivers is limited, there is no legal or moral excuse for denying service to blind people simply because we are not in a car. To do so is unlawful and discriminatory, and we will not tolerate it.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>###</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>About the National Federation of the Blind </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at </span><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>www.nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>CONTACT:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Chris Danielsen</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Director of Public Relations</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>this news brief is also available at: </span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-americans-encountering-discrimination-restaurants-and-other-services">https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-americans-encountering-discrimination-restaurants-and-other-services</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | cdanielsen@nfb.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Twitter: @rlawyer <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='color:blue;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=262 height=95 style='width:2.7333in;height:.9916in' id="_x0000_i1028" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D60AAD.38CC6E70" alt="Image removed by sender. National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style='color:blue;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=30 height=30 style='width:.3083in;height:.3083in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D60AAD.38CC6E70" alt="Image removed by sender. Facebook"></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style='color:blue;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=30 height=30 style='width:.3083in;height:.3083in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D60AAD.38CC6E70" alt="Image removed by sender. Twitter"></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style='color:blue;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=30 height=30 style='width:.3083in;height:.3083in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D60AAD.38CC6E70" alt="Image removed by sender. Youtube"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>