[Nfbsatx] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Against the Blind

[Jose Martinez]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Freeh, Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org>
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:17:18 -0500
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Adoption of Google Apps Program
Discriminates Against the Blind
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org



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




Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Against the Blind


National Federation of the Blind Asks
Department of Justice to Investigate Schools Across the Country

Baltimore, Maryland (March 15, 2011): The
<http://www.nfb.org/>National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the
oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind people in the
United States, today requested that the United States Department of
Justice, Civil Rights Division, investigate civil rights violations
committed by New York University (NYU) and Northwestern University
against blind faculty and students.  The NFB made the request because
the schools have adopted technology that is not accessible to the
blind.  Both universities have recently adopted Google Apps for
Education as a means of providing e-mail and collaboration tools to
students and faculty.  Google Apps for Education is a free suite of
hosted communication and collaboration applications that includes
Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, Google Docs, and Google
Sites.  Each of these applications contains significant accessibility
barriers for blind people utilizing screen access technology, which
converts what is on the computer screen into synthesized speech or
Braille.  A similar request for investigation has been filed against
four Oregon public school districts that are using Google Apps.  The
complaints allege violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  For further illustration
of this matter, please
<http://www.nfb.org/nfb/googleaccessibilityvideos.asp>view a
demonstration of screen access technology used by the blind and the
accessibility barriers that a blind person experiences using Google Apps.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: "Given the many accessible options available, there is no good
reason that these universities should choose a suite of applications,
including critical e-mail services, that is inaccessible to blind
students.  Worse yet, according to recent data more than half of the
American higher education institutions that are outsourcing e-mail to
third-party vendors plan to deploy this suite, even though they know
that it cannot be used by blind students.  Nor can these universities
claim ignorance of their legal obligations, since the United States
Department of Justice and the United States Department of Education
have specifically
<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html>warned
all university presidents against the adoption of inaccessible
technology.  The National Federation of the Blind will not tolerate
this unconscionable discrimination against blind students and faculty
and callous indifference to the right of blind students to receive an
equal education.  We urge these higher education institutions to
suspend their adoption of Google Apps for Education until it is
accessible to all students and faculty, not just the sighted, or to
reject Google Apps entirely."



The National Federation of the Blind is represented in this matter by
Daniel F. Goldstein of the Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein, and Levy.





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About the National Federation of the Blind

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.