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<DIV dir=ltr class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Freeh, Jessica
[mailto:JFreeh@nfb.org]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, March 30, 2011 10:12
AM<BR><B>To:</B> Alpidio Rolon; Amy Buresh; Art Schreiber; Beth Rival; Bill
Packee; Bob Kresmer; Carl Jacobsen; Cassandra McNabb; Cathy Jackson; Charlene
Smyth; Christine G. Hall; Dan Hicks; Daniel Burke; Don Galloway; Donna Wood;
Elsie Dickerson; Frank Lee; Franklin Shiner; Fred Schroeder; Garrick Scott; Gary
Ray; Gary Wunder; Grace Pires; J.W. Smith; James Antonacci; Jennelle Bichler;
Jennifer Dunnam; Joe Ruffalo; John Batron; John Fritz; Joy Harris; Joyce
Scanlan; Ken Rollman; Kim Williams; Kimberly Flores; Larry Posont; Lynn
Majewski; Mary Willows; Melissa Riccobono; Michael Barber; Michael Freeman; Mika
Pyyhkala; Nani Fife; Pam Allen; Parnell Diggs; Patti Chang; Rena Smith; Ron
Brown; Gardner, Ron; Sam Gleese; Scott LaBarre; Selena Sundling-Crawford; Terry
Sheeler<BR><B>Subject:</B> McCarran International Airport Discriminates Against
Blind Passengers<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT
face=Helvetica><FONT size=4>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></DIV>
<DIV align=left>
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style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT
face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Helvetica>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Helvetica><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Chris
Danielsen</SPAN></st1:PersonName><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>Director of Public Relations<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>National Federation of the
Blind<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><FONT
face=Helvetica>cdanielsen@nfb.org</FONT></A><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT
face=Helvetica>
</FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></P>
<H1 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt" align=center><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=4><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">McCarran</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">International</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Airport</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> Discriminates Against Blind
Passengers<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></H1>
<H2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><EM><FONT face=Arial>National Federation of the Blind
Files Suit Over Inaccessible Kiosks<o:p></o:p></FONT></EM></SPAN></H2>
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face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Helvetica><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Las Vegas,
Nevada (March 30, 2011):</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> The National
Federation of the Blind and four blind individuals—Alan and Billie Ruth Schlank,
Joyce Pratt, and Mark Adreon—who frequently fly or plan to fly to and from Las
Vegas through McCarran International Airport, <SPAN
class=067350714-30032011>have </SPAN>filed a class-action lawsuit in the United
States </SPAN></FONT><SPAN class=apple-style-span><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #021324; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">District Court for
the District of Nevada </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Helvetica>against Clark County, Nevada; the Clark County Board of
Commissioners; and the Clark County Department of Aviation, which administers
McCarran International Airport. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>McCarran uses common-use self-service
(CUSS) ticketing kiosks that employ a visual touchscreen interface without any
auxiliary aids, such as a voice guidance program, and therefore cannot be used
by blind passengers. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Passengers who
are able to use the kiosks can access information about flights, check in for
flights, print tickets and boarding passes, select seats, upgrade to business or
first-class cabins, check baggage, and perform other transactions relevant to
their air travel plans.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">CUSS
kiosks are unique because they are owned or controlled by the airport instead of
by individual airlines and allow passengers to access most of the airlines
operating at McCarran from any machine.<SPAN class=067350714-30032011>
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>The suit
alleges that the defendants are violating the Americans with Disabilities Act
and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 because the benefits provided to travelers
through these kiosks are not available to blind visitors to the airport. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>McCarran could easily add an audio
interface, a tactile keypad, or interactive screen reader technology that works
with touchscreens to its kiosks, or purchase kiosks with these features, but has
neglected to do so.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>McCarran has
also refused to respond to the plaintiffs’ offer to work collaboratively on
implementing available technological solutions.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Helvetica></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT face=Helvetica>Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the
National Federation of the Blind, said: “Blind passengers have always
experienced discrimination in air travel, but the fact that airports like
McCarran are now deploying inaccessible technology to perform routine travel
functions is the greatest threat to the privacy and independence of blind air
travelers that we have seen. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Airports and airlines are engaging in
this blatant discrimination even though the technology to make kiosks accessible
is readily available, has been deployed by others, and involves little
cost.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Instead of enjoying the
features and convenience of these kiosks, including a quicker and more
convenient check-in process, blind passengers must either wait in long lines at
the ticket counter or share personal information with strangers in order to use
the kiosks. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We will not tolerate a
separate and unequal experience for blind travelers and demand that the
defendants cease their discrimination against us as soon as
practicable.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Plaintiffs are represented in this matter by Daniel
F. Goldstein, Gregory P. Care, and Timothy P. Elder of the <st1:City
w:st="on">Baltimore</st1:City> firm Brown, Goldstein, and Levy; Laurence W.
Paradis, Karla Gilbride, and Kevin Knestrick of the <st1:City
w:st="on">Berkeley</st1:City> firm Disability Rights Advocates; and Eric Taylor
of the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:place></st1:City>
firm Alverson, Taylor, Mortenson & Sanders.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><FONT face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></P>
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align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">###<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
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class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">About the National Federation of the
Blind<BR><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">With more than
50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most
influential membership organization of blind people in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The NFB improves blind people’s
lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in
the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January
2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the
first research and training center in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
for the blind led by the blind. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
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