[Nfbk] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Supports Blind Mother’s Suit Against Seattle Public Schools

[Cathy Jackson]

Good Morning All,
Read the press release below. NFB continues to fight the good fight.

Cathy


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Freeh, Jessica <JFreeh at nfb.org>
Date: Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 8:25 AM
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Supports Blind Mother’s Suit
Against Seattle Public Schools
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 *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




*National Federation of the Blind Supports Blind Mother’s Suit Against
Seattle Public Schools*

*Seattle, Washington (August 21, 2014):* With the assistance of the
National Federation of the Blind <http://www.nfb.org>, Noel Nightingale, a
blind mother of three children enrolled in Seattle schools, filed suit (case
2:14-cv-01286) yesterday in the United States District Court for the
Western District of Washington, Seattle Division, against Seattle Public
Schools. The suit alleges discrimination against Ms. Nightingale under the
Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, because the Seattle Public Schools website and ST Math, a software
program that students are required to use to complete math assignments, are
not accessible to her. She therefore cannot obtain information from the
website, including information about her children’s academic progress, or
assist her children with math assignments. Blind people use computers,
smartphones, and tablets equipped with special software that allows the
contents of websites, applications, and documents to be read aloud or
displayed in Braille on a connected Braille device. When websites,
applications, or documents are not properly coded, however, they cannot be
accessed with the technology used by the blind.

Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
“Like all parents, blind parents have the right to participate in their
children’s education. In twenty-first century America, parents have an
unprecedented level of access to information about their children’s schools
and academic performance, but blind parents are denied this access when the
technology that public school systems use is inaccessible to them. That is
why we are assisting Ms. Nightingale and will fight for the right of all
blind parents to access the technology used by the schools their children
attend.”

Ms. Nightingale said: “As a parent, I want to do all I can to help my
children to succeed in school and to keep track of their academic progress.
I cannot do these things when I am denied access to all of the same
information and tools provided by their school system to sighted parents. I
hope that Seattle Public Schools will quickly make its technology
accessible to all blind people who are part of the school system.”

Ms. Nightingale is represented in this matter by Jesse Wing and Joseph
Shaeffer of the Seattle firm Macdonald Hoague & Bayless, and by Daniel F.
Goldstein and Emily L. Levenson of the Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein &
Levy, LLP.



*###*



*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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