<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)">
<STYLE><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY lang=EN-US dir=ltr link=#0563c1 bgColor=white vLink=#954f72>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>This
is something that benefits all blind Americans.</DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'><B><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">For Immediate Release:</SPAN></U></B></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">November 20, 2017</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Media
Contacts:</SPAN></U></B></SPAN></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Rebecca Williford, Disability
Rights Advocates, Senior Staff Attorney: (510) 665-8644</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Stan Eichner, Disability Law
Center, Litigation Director: (617) 723-8455</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Nationwide Class Action
Challenges Hulu’s Discrimination against Blind and Visually Impaired
Individuals</SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Boston,
Massachusetts</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">—A coalition of blind and
visually impaired individuals and advocacy groups filed a nationwide class
action today against Hulu to end the video streaming company’s ongoing exclusion
of blind and visually impaired Americans. The lawsuit—filed in the U.S.
District Court for the District of Massachusetts—challenges Hulu’s violation of
the Americans with Disabilities Act.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Hulu, one of the largest
online-streaming services in the country, offers thousands of shows and movies,
including award-winning original content, to most customers at the click of a
mouse. However, the company fails to provide audio description—a separate
audio track that blind and visually impaired people need in order to access the
exclusively visual content of a show or movie—for <I>any</I> streaming
videos. </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Because Hulu fails to include
audio description tracks on <I>any</I> of its streaming content, blind and
visually impaired individuals cannot independently enjoy Hulu’s video streaming
services. Audio description is a separate audio track that, when
activated, provides a verbal description of visual elements on screen,
especially in scenes with no dialogue. The audio description track plays
between pauses in dialogue. Hulu boasts an extensive library of live TV
and on-demand movies and series—including its Emmy-award winning original
series, “The Handmaid’s Tale”—but currently excludes customers who are blind and
visually impaired.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">In addition, Hulu’s website and
applications are not accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals who
use screen readers to navigate the internet. A screen reader is software
that converts the visually displayed content on the screen into audible,
synthesized speech or outputs that information on a digital braille
display.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The American Council of the
Blind, Bay State Council of the Blind, and blind individuals brought this action
to end Hulu’s discriminatory business practices. Disability Rights
Advocates (DRA), a national nonprofit legal center, and the Disability Law
Center (DLC), Massachusetts’s Protection and Advocacy system, represent these
individuals and organizations.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Kim Charlson, President of the
American Council of the Blind, said, “Movies and television are pillars of
American culture. As delivery of such media transitions to video streaming
services, it is critical that these platforms be accessible in order to ensure
the inclusion of blind and visually impaired individuals in contemporary
society.”</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Rebecca Williford, Senior Staff
Attorney at DRA, said, “Hulu is owned by a collection of some of the most
powerful companies in the entertainment business and is itself one of the
nation’s most popular online streaming services. Its utter failure to
provide access to individuals who are blind and visually impaired is
astonishing.”</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“BSCB members have been
expressing their concerns about Hulu’s lack of audio description for years now,”
said Brian Charlson, President of Bay State Council of the Blind, “and it is
time that Hulu join with other industry streaming services out there and meet
its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.”</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“As forms of entertainment
evolve, equal access must transition to meet industry innovation. Equal access
means the ability to fully use and enjoy all aspects of entertainment, just like
everyone else,” said Christine Griffin, Executive Director of DLC.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Plaintiffs do not seek monetary
damages, but seek only to achieve equal access to Hulu’s services.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">A copy of this press release
and the Complaint can be found at <A
href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/dralegal.org?p=eyJzIjoidWFHVVhjdGhkSnFXSnJUanNCMGNIaGY3Qm1rIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvZHJhbGVnYWwub3JnXFxcL3ByZXNzXFxcL25hdGlvbndpZGUtY2xhc3MtYWN0aW9uLWNoYWxsZW5nZXMtaHVsdXMtZGlzY3JpbWluYXRpb24tYmxpbmQtdmlzdWFsbHktaW1wYWlyZWQtaW5kaXZpZHVhbHNcXFwvXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiNjNkZjVkMDY2M2EwNDRjYzgzYjFhMjVjM2FkNjFlMGFcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCIxYmFjNDViYzIwZTZlZjUzNTljOWU2MGQ4NDU4MDk3NGQ0NDEwNDE4XCJdfSJ9">http://dralegal.org/press/
nationwide-class-action-challenges-hulus-discrimination-blind-visually-impaired-individuals/</A>
</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">About Disability Rights
Advocates (DRA) </SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Founded in 1993, DRA is a
leading national nonprofit disability rights legal center. Its mission is to
advance equal rights and opportunity for people with all types of disabilities
nationwide. DRA represents people with the full spectrum of disabilities in
complex, system-changing, class action cases. DRA’s prior cases advocating for
accessible entertainment include <I>Blanks v. AMC Theaters</I> (2017) (reaching
a settlement to improve audio description in AMC theaters nationwide), and
negotiations with Netflix in 2016 that resulted in a settlement to provide audio
description for Netflix’s streaming and disc rental libraries, including
“Netflix Originals.” For more information, visit <A
href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.dralegal.org?p=eyJzIjoiOTdhTFZnR29GNUFTamhvSnUwY1B0NkpBcGlvIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmRyYWxlZ2FsLm9yZ1xcXC9cIixcImlkXCI6XCI2M2RmNWQwNjYzYTA0NGNjODNiMWEyNWMzYWQ2MWUwYVwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcIjUxNTRlNmQ0ZDQ3OTcyZDdkZWUyODIwNDc2MDA1YzllNjdmOWQxNDBcIl19In0">www.dralegal.org</A>.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">About Disability Law
Center (DLC)</SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The DLC is the Protection and
Advocacy system for Massachusetts and is authorized under federal law to protect
and advocate for the legal rights of individuals with disabilities in
Massachusetts. DLC worked with Bay State Council of the Blind in a series of
negotiations with Fleet Bank, Sovereign Bank, and Citizens Bank to ensure that
their ATMs, websites, and other banking services were fully accessible to
individuals who are blind or visually impaired. For more information, visit <A
href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.dlc-ma.org?p=eyJzIjoiRExha3R0TzV2M0hhN29GV2R6MnlHdWxxWHJnIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmRsYy1tYS5vcmdcXFwvXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiNjNkZjVkMDY2M2EwNDRjYzgzYjFhMjVjM2FkNjFlMGFcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCI2NWJmYmRkNjA1ZWZkMDU0MGFlMzFjMTdmYjE0ZTU1OGU5MzMwYmM2XCJdfSJ9">www.dlc-ma.org</A>.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">About American Council of
the Blind (ACB)<I></I></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">ACB works to increase the
independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life, for all
people who are blind or visually impaired. ACB advocates for policies that
provide services, opportunities, infrastructure, and equipment that are
necessary for an inclusive society, in federal, state, and local governments,
and among service providers and industry. For more information, visit <B><U><A
href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.acb.org?p=eyJzIjoiRFVFbGFkelMyNzhTR2lBYUZCZkRTTGtWQXZBIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmFjYi5vcmdcXFwvXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiNjNkZjVkMDY2M2EwNDRjYzgzYjFhMjVjM2FkNjFlMGFcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCJlZWExMjZhZWNjYjIxNGI0NmM4NDdmMDdjMjNhNGE2M2Q4ZThkYTRkXCJdfSJ9"><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">www.acb.org</SPAN></A></U></B>.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">About Bay State Council
of the Blind (BSCB)</SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">BSCB is a membership
organization of blind, visually impaired, and sighted individuals committed to
an enhanced quality of life for Massachusetts’ residents who are blind or
visually impaired. BSCB convenes meetings and conferences, organizes recreation
activities, provides publications, radio programs, and information, and
advocates for services and legislation that improve access for people who are
blind. For more information, visit <A
href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.acbofma.org?p=eyJzIjoiY3FuOTJ0aW4xYWJoUmhYX1NJNjVpTm55Ql9ZIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmFjYm9mbWEub3JnXFxcL1wiLFwiaWRcIjpcIjYzZGY1ZDA2NjNhMDQ0Y2M4M2IxYTI1YzNhZDYxZTBhXCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiMmU0N2VkOGY2YjA3ZTViOGE4MWQ0ZGY3ZTdmYzhhYmVhYmNkNmQ3YlwiXX0ifQ">www.acbofma.org</A>.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Press release link: <A
href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/acb.org?p=eyJzIjoiSk9tbTVuZmNIemxycHhmTlJUeGF2RmkzRXZNIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvYWNiLm9yZ1xcXC9odWx1LWxhd3N1aXRcIixcImlkXCI6XCI2M2RmNWQwNjYzYTA0NGNjODNiMWEyNWMzYWQ2MWUwYVwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcImMwZDY2OTM4NzM4YWI0YzM1MDVjMzExM2IwZTc0N2ZmNzA4MzYwNmZcIl19In0">http://acb.org/hulu-lawsuit</A>
</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN> </P></DIV><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/msv5/images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://mandrillapp.com/track/open.php?u=30489975&id=f60e53ba21e94b28963e0fa212fedcaf" /> </DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>