[Nfbk] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Reaches Agreement with U.S. Department of Education

[Cathy Jackson]

More good news from the National Federation of the Blind. Read below.
Cathy
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Freeh, Jessica <JFreeh at nfb.org>
Date: Wed, Oct 8, 2014 at 9:50 AM
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Reaches Agreement with U.S.
Department of Education
To: "State President, New Mexico" <avigil74 at gmail.com>, "State President,
Puerto Rico" <arguza at attglobal.net>, "State President, Nebraska" <
amy.buresh74 at gmail.com>, "State President, Massachusetts" <aruell at nfbma.org>,
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Arizona" <krezguy at cox.net>, "State President, New York" <office at nfbny.org>,
"State President, Oregon" <president at nfb-oregon.org>, "State President, New
Hampshire" <cemcnabb21 at yahoo.com>, "State President, Kentucky" <
cathyj1949 at gmail.com>, Charlene Smyth <cs.nfbwv at verizon.net>, "State
President, Florida" <danjhicks at yahoo.com>, "State President, Delaware" <
president88 at nfbdelaware.org>, "State President, Vermont" <
deannaljones at comcast.net>, Duane Iverson <diverson at midco.net>, "State
President, Idaho" <elsiedickerson at ymail.com>, "State President, Ohio" <
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RB15 at iquest.net>, "State President, Wyoming" <rreed at wyoassist.com>, "State
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Weddington.sharon at gmail.com>, "State President, District of Columbia" <
callaway.shawn at gmail.com>, "State President, Arkansas" <tosheeler at cox.net>,
"State President, Kansas" <topage at swbell.net>


 *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 Reaches Agreement with U.S. Department of
Education*



*Agreement Will Make Student Loan Information Accessible*



*Baltimore, Maryland (October 8, 2014):* The National Federation of the
Blind <http://www.nfb.org/>, the nation’s leading advocate for equal access
by the blind to information and technology, and three individuals have
reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education that will make
student loan information accessible to blind Americans. The agreement
commits the Department of Education and the student loan servicers with
which it contracts to make websites, forms, and documents related to the
department’s Direct Loan program equally accessible to blind applicants and
borrowers. The requirements include providing documents in alternative
formats such as Braille and large print and allowing blind people to fill
out and electronically sign and submit accessible versions of student loan
applications and forms. The blind use computers, smartphones, and tablets
equipped with special software that allows the contents of websites and
documents to be read aloud or displayed in Braille on a connected Braille
device. When websites 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:
“It goes without saying that the inability of blind people to acquire
timely information about their student loans and interact with their loan
servicers can result in serious financial consequences. Timely and
independent access to student loan websites, forms, and documents is
therefore imperative, not a matter of mere convenience. We are delighted
that the Department of Education has agreed to work with us to achieve
equal access to its student loan program.”



The complainants were represented in this matter by Arlene B. Mayerson and
Larisa Cummings of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc.
and Daniel F. Goldstein and Jessica P. Weber 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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