[NFBNJ] NFBNJ: Two Important Press Releases

Sat Jul 30 16:35:08 UTC 2016

>From the desk of NFBNJ President Joe Ruffalo.

Received from Chris Danielsen, Director of Public Relations, NFB.

Greetings to all,

Please read the following TWO important press releases.

1. NFB: Party Platforms Call for End to Subminimum Wage: National Federation
of the Blind Urges Passage of TIME Act

2. NFB: LinkNYC Discriminates Against Blind New Yorkers and Visitors

The press releases follow.

1. NFB: Party Platforms Call for End to Subminimum Wage: National Federation
of the Blind Urges Passage of TIME Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: 
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org> 

Party Platforms Call for End to Subminimum Wage

National Federation of the Blind Urges Passage of TIME Act

Baltimore, Maryland (July 26, 2016): The National Federation of the Blind
today applauded language in the platforms of both major political parties
that calls for the end of the payment of subminimum wages to workers with
disabilities.

Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"The National Federation of the Blind has advocated for the elimination of
the subminimum wage since our founding, and the recognition of this issue by
leaders of both political parties further confirms that the time has long
passed to eliminate the unfair and separate wage system for people with
disabilities. We applaud the statements of both Democratic and Republican
delegates, and urge members of Congress to follow those statements with the
actions required to pass the Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful
Employment Act as soon as possible when Congress resumes its session."

The Democratic Party platform states in pertinent part: "We . support .
ending the sub-minimum wage for . people with disabilities." The Republican
Party platform states in pertinent part: "Our TIME Act (Transition[ing] to
Integrated and Meaningful Employment) will modernize the Fair Labor
Standards Act to encourage competitive employment for persons with
disabilities. . We endorse efforts like Employment First that replace
dependency with jobs in the mainstream of the American workforce."

###

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

For more information about the National Federation of the Blind, please
visit: www.nfb.org
<http://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5587&qid=1336868>
. 

National Federation of the Blind

200 East Wells Street
at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
United States

(410) 659-9314

***

2. NFB: LinkNYC Discriminates Against Blind New Yorkers and Visitors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: 
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org> 

LinkNYC Discriminates Against Blind New Yorkers and Visitors

National Federation of the Blind Sues City over New Service

New York City (July 28, 2016): The National Federation of the Blind has
filed suit today against the city of New York because its new LinkNYC
program, which provides various free services to citizens via public "links"
that are being deployed with the goal of replacing public payphones, is not
accessible to the blind. The links that are part of the program, already
installed along Third and Eighth Avenues in Manhattan, are supposed to
provide free internet surfing, local and long distance phone calls, and
access to emergency services with a dedicated 911 button. Although the links
are equipped with audio jacks, there is no audio guidance for blind users to
access these services, even though the technology for such guidance is
readily available and already in use at ATM's, public transit ticketing
machines, and similar services throughout the nation. Mindy Jacobsen, first
vice president of the National Federation of the Blind of New York, who has
unsuccessfully attempted to use the links, is also a named plaintiff in the
lawsuit.

Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"By treating accessibility as an afterthought, New York City is
discriminating against its blind citizens and relegating them to
second-class status. The blind cannot even use this new technology in an
emergency. This is shameful conduct on the part of the most populous and
high-profile city in the United States, and the National Federation of the
Blind will not tolerate this artificial limit on our participation."

###

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

National Federation of the Blind

200 East Wells Street
at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
United States

(410) 659-9314

Forwarded by:

Brian A. Mackey

Brian A. Mackey

Owner, Mackey Enterprises, LLC

Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey

609-953-6988

 <mailto:Bmackey88 at gmail.com> Bmackey88 at gmail.com

 <http://www.mackeyenterprisesllc.com/> www.mackeyenterprisesllc.com

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make
those dreams come true"

      -Vince Papale

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