[Nfbmt] National Federation Of The Blind disappointed in new DOT rules

[James Aldrich]

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Disappointed in New DOT Access Rules


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 Disappointed
 in New DOT Access Rules



Baltimore, Maryland (November 6, 2013):The National Federation of the 
Blind, the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind people, 
today expressed severe disappointment in the Department of 
Transportation (DOT) for its final rule purporting to extend Air 
Carrier Access Act requirements to airline Web sites and automated 
kiosks.  The long-awaited rule, released November 4 on DOT’s Web site, 
gives air carriers an overly generous two years to make select portions 
of their online services accessible to blind and otherwise disabled 
customers, allows three years for carriers to make their Web sites 
compliant, and grants carriers and airports a lavish ten years to make 
only a quarter of their fleet of kiosks accessible.  The rule intends 
to update the law and improve the travel experience of disabled 
passengers, but it is far too weak to achieve this goal.



Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: “The Department of Transportation’s final rule on airline Web 
sites and kiosks falls profoundly short of its objective.  Technology 
offers an opportunity for a mainstream, expedited experience for all 
travelers, but for far too long, blind people have been needlessly 
relegated to lengthy fare searches over the phone, higher rates for 
flights, and segregation in long check-in lines because airlines have 
failed to embrace readily available accessibility solutions for their 
Web sites and kiosks.  After years of anticipation, we expected the 
rule released November 4 to be significantly stronger.   Instead, the 
rule sets an appalling time frame of an entire decade for airlines to 
make only a portion of their kiosks accessible, allowing ten more years 
of discrimination and ten more years of missed opportunities for 
innovators.  Access delayed is access denied, so we strongly urge the 
Department of Transportation to amend the rule to be consistent with 
the department’s original commitment to ensure equal access for 
disabled travelers.”



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About the National Federation of the Blind

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.