<div><font size="6">Thought this would be useful information for those of you who have not yet filed your taxes.</font></div><p><br></p><div><font size="6">Cathy</font></div><div><font size="6"><br></font><br></div><div class="gmail_quote">
---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Freeh, Jessica</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:JFreeh@nfb.org">JFreeh@nfb.org</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Mar 25, 2014 at 10:00 AM<br>Subject: National Federation of the Blind and H&R Block Announce Agreement Assuring Accessibility<br>
To: "State President, Puerto Rico" <<a href="mailto:arguza@attglobal.net">arguza@attglobal.net</a>>, "State President, Nebraska" <<a href="mailto:amy.buresh74@gmail.com">amy.buresh74@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Connecticut" <<a href="mailto:erival@comcast.net">erival@comcast.net</a>>, "State President, Arizona" <<a href="mailto:krezguy@cox.net">krezguy@cox.net</a>>, "State President, New York" <<a href="mailto:office@nfbny.org">office@nfbny.org</a>>, "State President, Oregon" <<a href="mailto:president@nfb-oregon.org">president@nfb-oregon.org</a>>, "State President, Kentucky" <<a href="mailto:cathyj1949@gmail.com">cathyj1949@gmail.com</a>>, Charlene Smyth <<a href="mailto:cs.nfbwv@verizon.net">cs.nfbwv@verizon.net</a>>, "State President, Vermont" <<a href="mailto:deannaljones@comcast.net">deannaljones@comcast.net</a>>, "State President, North Dakota" <<a href="mailto:diverson@midco.net">diverson@midco.net</a>>, "State President, Idaho" <<a href="mailto:elsiedickerson@ymail.com">elsiedickerson@ymail.com</a>>, "State President, Ohio" <<a href="mailto:eduffy@pobox.com">eduffy@pobox.com</a>>, "Schroeder, Fred" <<a href="mailto:fschroeder@sks.com">fschroeder@sks.com</a>>, "State President, North Carolina" <<a href="mailto:ghraynfbofnc@charter.net">ghraynfbofnc@charter.net</a>>, "State President, Missouri" <<a href="mailto:gwunder@earthlink.net">gwunder@earthlink.net</a>>, "State President, Montana" <<a href="mailto:jkaldrich@samobile.net">jkaldrich@samobile.net</a>>, "State President, Pennsylvania" <<a href="mailto:president@nfbp.org">president@nfbp.org</a>>, "State President, Tennessee" <<a href="mailto:nfb.tennessee@gmail.com">nfb.tennessee@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Minnesota" <<a href="mailto:jennifer.dunnam1829@gmail.com">jennifer.dunnam1829@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Alaska" <<a href="mailto:jnhburton@gci.net">jnhburton@gci.net</a>>, Joe Ruffalo <<a href="mailto:nfbnj@yahoo.com">nfbnj@yahoo.com</a>>, "State President, Wisconsin" <<a href="mailto:johnfritz66@gmail.com">johnfritz66@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Wyoming" <<a href="mailto:kthornbury@bresnan.net">kthornbury@bresnan.net</a>>, "State President, South Dakota" <<a href="mailto:gatorbumps@rushmore.com">gatorbumps@rushmore.com</a>>, Kimberly Flores <<a href="mailto:kimberly.aguillard@gmail.com">kimberly.aguillard@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Massachusetts" <<a href="mailto:kshachmut@nfbma.org">kshachmut@nfbma.org</a>>, "State President, Maine" <<a href="mailto:leonproctorjr@yahoo.com">leonproctorjr@yahoo.com</a>>, "State President, Delaware" <<a href="mailto:lynne.majewski@gmail.com">lynne.majewski@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, California" <<a href="mailto:mwillows@sbcglobal.net">mwillows@sbcglobal.net</a>>, "State President, Maryland" <<a href="mailto:melissa@riccobono.us">melissa@riccobono.us</a>>, "State President, Iowa" <<a href="mailto:michael.nfbi@gmail.com">michael.nfbi@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Washington" <<a href="mailto:k7uij@panix.com">k7uij@panix.com</a>>, "State President, Hawaii" <<a href="mailto:nanifife@aol.com">nanifife@aol.com</a>>, "State President, Louisiana" <<a href="mailto:pallen@lcb-ruston.com">pallen@lcb-ruston.com</a>>, "State President, South Carolina" <<a href="mailto:parnell@sccoast.net">parnell@sccoast.net</a>>, "State President, Illinois" <<a href="mailto:pattischang@gmail.com">pattischang@gmail.com</a>>, "Brown, Ron" <<a href="mailto:RB15@iquest.net">RB15@iquest.net</a>>, "State President, Mississippi" <<a href="mailto:sgleese@city.jackson.ms.us">sgleese@city.jackson.ms.us</a>>, "State President, Colorado" <<a href="mailto:slabarre@labarrelaw.com">slabarre@labarrelaw.com</a>>, "State President, Alabama" <<a href="mailto:joy.harris@dwx.com">joy.harris@dwx.com</a>>, "State President, Arkansas" <<a href="mailto:tosheeler@cox.net">tosheeler@cox.net</a>>, "State President, District of Columbia" <<a href="mailto:callaway.shawn@gmail.com">callaway.shawn@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Florida" <<a href="mailto:danjhicks@yahoo.com">danjhicks@yahoo.com</a>>, "State President, Georgia" <<a href="mailto:gscott@nfbga.org">gscott@nfbga.org</a>>, "State President, Michigan" <<a href="mailto:president.nfb.mi@gmail.com">president.nfb.mi@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Nevada" <<a href="mailto:realhappygirl1@gmail.com">realhappygirl1@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, New Hampshire" <<a href="mailto:cemcnabb21@yahoo.com">cemcnabb21@yahoo.com</a>>, "State President, New Mexico" <<a href="mailto:avigil74@gmail.com">avigil74@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Oklahoma" <<a href="mailto:jmassay1@cox.net">jmassay1@cox.net</a>>, "State President, Rhode Island" <<a href="mailto:silvara@cox.net">silvara@cox.net</a>>, "State President, Utah" <<a href="mailto:baconev@yahoo.com">baconev@yahoo.com</a>>, "State President, Kansas" <<a href="mailto:topage@swbell.net">topage@swbell.net</a>><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:14pt">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">CONTACT:<br>
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">Chris Danielsen<b><br>
</b>Director of Public Relations<b><br>
</b>National Federation of the Blind<b><br>
</b><a href="tel:%28410%29%20659-9314%2C%20extension%202330" target="_blank" value="+14106599314">(410) 659-9314, extension 2330</a><b><br>
</b><a href="tel:%28410%29%20262-1281" target="_blank" value="+14102621281">(410) 262-1281</a> (Cell)<b><br>
</b><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org" target="_blank">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><b><u></u><u></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal">
<b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:14pt">National Federation of the Blind and H&R Block<br>
Announce Agreement Assuring Accessibility<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
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<b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">H&R Block Will Make Online Tax Prep and Mobile Apps Accessible<u></u><u></u></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">Boston, Massachusetts (March 25, 2014):</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">
</span><a href="http://www.nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">The National Federation of the Blind (NFB)</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">, the oldest and largest nationwide organization
of blind Americans, and H&R Block, which prepares approximately one in seven tax returns in America, announced today that they have reached an agreement to make H&R Block’s Web site, online tax preparation products, and mobile applications fully accessible
to blind taxpayers. Blind people access computers, Web sites, and mobile applications through screen access software that converts what is on the screen into spoken words or Braille, but improperly coded Web sites and applications can prevent this software
from working properly, denying the blind user equal access. The agreement is contained in a consent decree ending litigation involving NFB, two of H&R Block’s subsidiaries, two blind Massachusetts residents, and the United States Department of Justice. The
consent decree outlines steps that H&R Block will take to assure that its Web site, including the utility for preparing income tax returns, is accessible by January of 2015 and that its mobile applications are accessible by January of 2016. The agreement
also contains measures to ensure that accessibility is maintained and that blind users and others with disabilities can provide feedback and receive assistance with accessibility issues.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “We are pleased to have reached this agreement, which will make the online
services of one of America’s largest and most popular tax preparers available to blind taxpayers. Blind people will soon be able to file their tax returns privately and independently if they wish, rather than seeking assistance in doing so. We commend H&R
Block for its commitment to making its services accessible to all taxpayers, including those who are blind.”<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">Jason Houseworth,
<span style="background:white">President of Global Digital Tax Solutions and Product Management at</span> H&R Block, said: “H&R Block is pleased to have reached an agreement with the National Federation of the Blind that insures the accessibility
of our online resources for individuals who use assistive technologies and will work with the organization on further refinements to our online resources. We are committed to providing superior customer service to all Americans, including those with disabilities.
As part of that commitment we want to serve all clients how they prefer to be reached — in a retail office, online, using software or a combination of methods.”<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">The National Federation of the Blind and the individual plaintiffs are represented in this matter by Christine M. Netski of the Boston firm Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen,
P.C., and Daniel F. Goldstein and Gregory P. Care of the Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">About the National Federation of the Blind<br>
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br>
</span><span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:12pt">The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind people in the United States.
Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide the blind and those who are losing vision with the tools they need to become independent
and successful.</span></span><span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
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