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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">San Francisco, CA – April 28,
2017 – AMC Theaters (AMC) has reached an agreement with several blind
individuals, the California Council of the Blind (CCB), and the LightHouse for
the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco (LightHouse) to ensure blind
customers have reliable access to audio description services at AMC movie
theaters nationwide.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Audio description is a verbal
description of the visual events on screen, which plays between pauses in
dialogue. Many movies come with audio description tracks, and customers who are
blind or visually impaired can listen to audio description through special
headsets that are available at the theatres. With audio description, people who
are blind and visually-impaired can fully enjoy the important and beloved
American pastime of going to the movies.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Under the agreement, AMC will
require the managers and staff who are responsible for programming and handing
out audio description equipment to be trained on the equipment. AMC and the
plaintiffs in the case have developed staff and customer information guides to
facilitate better service. AMC also will require managers to check the equipment
regularly. Additionally, AMC will now offer audio description immediately before
the feature movie begins, so customers can test the equipment before the feature
movie begins to help ensure customers don’t miss any of the movie
troubleshooting problems. In the rare event that a theater’s audio description
equipment is out of service, AMC will now update theater websites to remove the
audio description designation from showtimes. AMC has agreed to implement these
changes in theaters nationwide.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">This agreement resolves a
lawsuit brought by CCB, the LightHouse, and several individuals, represented by
Disability Rights Advocates and Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP, in 2016,
alleging that audio description equipment at AMC theaters frequently
malfunctioned and that AMC staff did not properly check, program, or distribute
the equipment to customers. AMC has provided audio description equipment to
customers for years, but some blind individuals have had difficulty accessing
the service because of equipment and customer service
issues.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">AMC Theatres and the Plaintiffs
look forward to improved access to audio description services for blind and
visually-impaired persons across the country.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Plaintiff Scott Blanks
commented, “This settlement marks an important step toward improving access to
the movies for people who are blind or have a vision impairment. I’m looking
forward to going to AMC theaters and enjoying the movies with my family when AMC
makes the changes to improve reliability of audio description in its
theaters.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Cynthia Pierce, AMC Senior Vice
President for Facilities, Sight and Sound for AMC commented, “AMC is pleased to
have worked with these organizations and individuals to develop solutions that
will help bring the joy of movies to the blind community.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">California Council of the Blind
President Judy Wilkinson stated, “The California Council of the Blind applauds
AMC for working with us to enhance access to the movie-going experience for
people who are blind. Movies are a central pillar of modern society, and
ensuring that the blind community receives access to this content is critical to
ensure that people who are blind are fully integrated into
society.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Bryan Bashin, Executive
Director/CEO of the LightHouse states, “Access to reliable audio description is
essential to ensure that blind movie-goers are able to enjoy movies in the same
way that their sighted friends and family members do. Dependable audio
description levels the playing field for the blind community. The LightHouse is
pleased with AMC’s commitment to providing this service to blind movie-goers. We
look forward to working with AMC to ensure that all blind movie-goers have a
seamless experience when utilizing audio description.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Plaintiffs’ counsel Rebecca
Williford of Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) explains, “We are pleased that
AMC is committed to improving audio description services in its theaters. Audio
description should be as reliable as any other service or technology at an AMC
theater, such as a sound system or popcorn machine.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Ernest Galvan of Rosen Bien
Galvan & Grunfeld, counsel for Plaintiffs, said “when effectively
implemented, technology like audio description has the power to further
integrate people with disabilities into their communities. By improving
access to audio description services, this agreement harnesses that
potential.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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