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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>
<div align="center"><h1><b>National Federation of the Blind Sends Message
to America’s Teachers<br><br>
<br>
</b></h1><h2><b>NOOKs in the Classroom Discriminate Against Blind
Students</i></b></h2></div>
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<b>Baltimore, Maryland (October 10, 2012):</b>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org">The National Federation of the Blind</a>,
the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind people and the
leading advocate for equal access to education and technology, commented
today on Barnes & Noble’s recently announced “Fall Educator
Appreciation Week” promotion, which is designed to promote the use of the
company’s NOOK e-readers in the classroom.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/marc-maurer-bio">Dr. Marc Maurer</a>,
President of the <a href="http://www.twitter.com/NFB_voice">National
Federation of the Blind</a>, said: “We have a critically important
message for America’s teachers and school administrators. We know
that you are deeply committed to the full and equal education of all of
your students, including those who are blind, as evidenced by your
support of educational concepts like Universal Design for Learning.
For this reason, we ask that you heavily consider the accessibility of
technology when making decisions about whether to incorporate it into the
classroom. Technologies that are fully accessible to the blind will
also benefit other students who cannot read print or have difficulty
doing so, including students with certain learning disabilities and those
whose native language is not English.
<a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html">
Federal law requires</a>, and blind students and their parents demand,
that the technology that is used in the classroom provide the same
content and the same benefits to blind students as to all other
students. The Barnes & Noble NOOK e-readers available to date
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CNQCrowbUI&feature=plcp">do
not currently meet this standard</a>, nor do we have evidence as to
whether the newest product line, which begins shipping this fall, will do
so. Please stand up for your students and join us in demanding that
Barnes & Noble make the necessary changes to its e-reading devices so
that they can be used by all students. Until it does so, please
tell Barnes & Noble that these devices are not appropriate
educational tools.”<br>
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<b> <br>
About the National Federation of the Blind<br>
<br>
</b>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>
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