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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
<br>
CONTACT:<br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br>
Director of Public Relations<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
<a href="mailto:Cdanielsen@nfb.org">Cdanielsen@nfb.org</a> <br>
<br>
<br>
<div align="center"><b>National Federation of the Blind Assists Federal
Employee Experiencing Discrimination<br>
</b></div>
<br>
<b>Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2013):</b> With the assistance of
<a href="https://nfb.org/">the National Federation of the Blind</a>,
Michael Leiterman, an attorney with the Department of Homeland Security’s
Customs and Border Protection division (CBP), has filed a lawsuit
in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Case
1:13-cv-00394) alleging unlawful discrimination against him and other
blind employees in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws that
require the federal government to provide equal opportunity to people
with disabilities. Mr. Leiterman is blind and uses screen-access
software, which converts what is on a computer screen into synthesized
speech, to access the computer information required to perform his job.
The basis of his discrimination claim is that CBP has continued to
procure and deploy inaccessible software and technology, adversely
affecting Mr. Leiterman’s ability to perform his job severely enough to
result in the denial of a routine promotion. Among the problems Mr.
Leiterman has experienced are inability to access Web pages and documents
on the Intranet used by CBP, inability to access his office e-mail and
the CBP computer network when telecommuting, inability to complete
training required by CBP and more. <br>
<br>
Dr. Marc Maurer, president of <a href="https://nfb.org/">the National
Federation of the Blind</a>, said: “If blind people are to succeed in the
modern workplace, and therefore make meaningful contributions to society,
then we must have equal access to workplace technology, and employers are
required by law to provide that access or make appropriate
accommodations. <a href="https://nfb.org/">The National Federation of the
Blind</a> will continue to fight for the rights of Mr. Leiterman and
other blind federal employees to fully participate in their workplaces
and in society.”<br>
<br>
Mr. Leiterman said: “I have spent entirely too much time over the past
six years trying to solve problems created by my employer’s unlawful use
of inaccessible technology rather than performing the legal work for
which I am qualified by my advanced law degree and which I was hired to
do. Despite the fact that my work has been satisfactory, I was denied a
routine promotion because I could not do my job effectively due to
inaccessible technology. I hope that this litigation results in my agency
complying with its legal obligations and allowing me and other federal
employees who are blind to serve the American people.”<br>
<br>
Mr. Leiterman is represented in this matter by Joseph B. Espo of the
Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP.<br>
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</b></div>
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<br>
<b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br>
</b><br>
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. We need your support. To make a
donation, please go to
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a>.<br>
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