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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=4><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=5><b> <br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><b>CONTACT:<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">Chris Danielsen<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">Director of Public Relations<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">National Federation of the Blind<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">
cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br>
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<div align="center"><font size=4><b><a name="_GoBack"></a>National
Federation of the Blind and </b><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><a name="_GoBack"></a><b>Penn State <br>
Resolve Accessibility Complaint<br>
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<br>
<b>Baltimore, Maryland (October 11, 2011):</b> The
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">National Federation of the Blind</a> (NFB)
and <a href="http://www.equity.psu.edu/ods/">The Pennsylvania State
University (Penn State)</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
Rights. There was no admission of any wrongdoing.<br><br>
<br><br>
Penn State 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 Penn State 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.<br><br>
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</b><br>
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
Penn State, 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 Penn State
is taking will set an example for colleges and universities throughout
the nation.”<br><br>
<br><br>
"For more than twenty years Penn State 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.”<br><br>
<br><br>
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.<br><br>
<br><br>
"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."<br><br>
<br><br>
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.”<br><br>
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<b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br>
</b><br>
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 United States. 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 United States
for the blind led by the blind. <br><br>
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