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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold'>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>Chris Danielsen<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><font face=Helvetica><span
style='font-family:Helvetica'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:21.0pt;text-align:center'><a
name="_GoBack"></a><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>National Federation of the Blind and</span></font></b><b><font
size=4 face="MS Mincho"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"MS Mincho";
font-weight:bold'> </span></font></b><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><b><font
size=4 face=Arial><u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:PlaceName u2:st="on"><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Penn</span></u1:PlaceName></font></b></st1:PlaceName><b><font
size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
bold'> <u1:PlaceType u2:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</u1:PlaceType></st1:PlaceType></span></u1:place></font></b></st1:place><b><font
size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
bold'> <br>
Resolve Accessibility Complaint</span></font></b><b><font size=4><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Baltimore, Maryland (October 11, 2011):</span></font></b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'> The <a
href="http://www.nfb.org/"><font color="#0030f6"><span style='color:#0030F6;
text-decoration:none'>National Federation of the Blind</span></font></a> (NFB)
and <a href="http://www.equity.psu.edu/ods/"><font color="#0030f6"><span
style='color:#0030F6;text-decoration:none'>The Pennsylvania State University
(Penn State)</span></font></a> announced today that they have reached an
agreement that will resolve a complaint filed against Penn State by the NFB
with the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Ri<font
color="#0b0b0b"><span style='color:#0B0B0B'>ghts. There was no admission
of any wrongdoing.</span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B'> </span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:PlaceName u2:st="on"><font size=3
color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#0B0B0B'>Penn</u1:PlaceName> <u1:PlaceType u2:st="on">State</u1:PlaceType></u1:place>
has agreed to continue implementing a strategy to make all electronic and
information technology systems used on its campuses fully accessible to blind
students, faculty, and staff. The information technology systems covered
include course management systems, Web sites, classroom technology, library
resources, banking services, and more. University Spokesman Lisa Powers
said that <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:PlaceName u2:st="on">Penn</u1:PlaceName> <u1:PlaceType u2:st="on">State</u1:PlaceType></u1:place>
strives to maintain strong academic leadership and has a long record of
providing equal access to educational information and services for all
students, faculty, and staff.</span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B;font-weight:bold'> </span></font></b><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B'>Dr. Marc Maurer,
President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Universities
must commit to making sure all of the technology that they use is accessible to
blind students, or else the blind will be left behind in education and denied
opportunity. We are pleased that <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:PlaceName u2:st="on">Penn</u1:PlaceName>
<u1:PlaceType u2:st="on">State</u1:PlaceType></u1:place>, one of the largest
and most recognized public universities in the country, has agreed to take
additional steps to create an environment of equality in which blind students
can pursue their educational and career aspirations without unnecessary
barriers. The National Federation of the Blind hopes and believes that
the steps that <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:PlaceName u2:st="on">Penn</u1:PlaceName>
<u1:PlaceType u2:st="on">State</u1:PlaceType></u1:place> is taking will set an
example for colleges and universities throughout the nation.”</span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B'>"For more than
twenty years <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:PlaceName u2:st="on">Penn</u1:PlaceName> <u1:PlaceType u2:st="on">State</u1:PlaceType></u1:place>
has provided assistive technologies to students, faculty, and staff,"
Powers said. "We will work with the National Federation of the Blind
and the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, to put in place the
additional technologies, procedures, and ongoing policies that will help us
continue meeting our strong commitment to access.”</span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B'>The university has had
a number of policies and programs in place to help individuals with
disabilities, such as a classroom note-taking service, textbooks and course
materials in electronic format, technology assistance, and adjustments in
testing procedures, to name just a few. The university has a longstanding
policy of providing reasonable accommodations to anyone requesting assistance.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B'>"We can always do
more," Powers said. "In addition to any continued adjustments
to our policies, we also are working with our outside vendors to see if their
products and procedures can be adjusted to meet the needs of our
students."</span></font><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B'> </span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#0b0b0b" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#0B0B0B'>Russlynn Ali,
assistant secretary for civil rights, with the U.S. Department of Education,
said: “Colleges and universities have specific legal obligations to
provide students, faculty, and staff with disabilities the same benefits,
programs, and services. This office is committed to working with
complainants and institutions to ensure that the important nondiscrimination
provisions of this nation’s laws are enforced and implemented.”</span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:
bold'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
bold'>About the National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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 <u1:country-region u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on">United States</u1:place></u1: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 <u1:country-region u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on">United
States</u1:place></u1:country-region> for the blind led by the blind. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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