[NFBWV-Talk] Fwd: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] Blind Hoosiers File Lawsuit Against the Indiana Division of Family Resources

Wed Aug 7 01:58:02 UTC 2019

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Danielsen, Chris via State-Affiliate-Leadership-List <
state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: Tue, Aug 6, 2019 at 8:27 PM
Subject: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] Blind Hoosiers File Lawsuit
Against the Indiana Division of Family Resources
To: Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen at nfb.org>
CC: Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen at nfb.org>

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

*Blind Hoosiers File Lawsuit Against the Indiana Division of Family
Resources*

*National Federation of the Blind Also Joins Litigation*

*Indianapolis (August 6, 2019):* Reviewing and selecting insurance and
benefits are important processes that should be personal and private. For
Christopher and Sarah Meyer, siblings who are blind, the print-only
benefits communications they received from the Indiana Family and Social
Services Administration (FSSA), its Division of Family Resources (DFR), and
their contractors not only forced them to rely on other people to intercept
and read their private information, but caused them to lose their benefits.

In a lawsuit filed today in federal district court in Indianapolis,
Christopher and Sarah joined with the National Federation of the Blind to
challenge the agencies’ failure to communicate effectively with blind
Hoosiers. They have asked FSSA, DFR, and their contractors to send notices
and communications in Braille or electronically, rather than standard
print, so that they can use text-to-speech screen readers to access their
critical benefits information. Additionally, they notified state officials
that the Internet portal that beneficiaries use to select benefits and
update information is not accessible to the blind.

“State and federal agencies that administer government benefits and
programs have been required to communicate effectively and accessibly with
all current and potential beneficiaries for decades,” said Mark Riccobono,
President of the National Federation of the Blind. “Today, technology makes
effective communication easier than ever, but agencies throughout the
nation are still failing to meet this legal and moral obligation. The
National Federation of the Blind is committed to fighting for blind people
like Christopher and Sarah Meyer when state agencies flout the law.”

Plaintiffs are represented by Indiana Disability Rights (IDR), Brown,
Goldstein & Levy, LLP, and the Law Office of Jana Eisinger, PLLC.

According to Tom Crishon, Managing Attorney at IDR, “Indiana agencies are
required to offer communications with blind people that are as effective as
communications with others. The plaintiffs are simply asking DFR to provide
correspondence regarding their benefits in a format that is accessible and
necessary to afford them an equal opportunity to participate in the
program. Despite repeated attempts to work with DFR to achieve a workable
solution, the agency continually fails to effectively communicate with
blind Hoosiers.”

*###*

*About the National Federation of the Blind *

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is
the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded
in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the
fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of
blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families
with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We
believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to
transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and
initiatives at www.nfb.org.

*About Indiana Disability Rights*

Indiana Disability Rights (IDR) is the designated Protection and Advocacy
(P&A) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP) for the State of Indiana.
The mission of Indiana Disability Rights is to protect and promote the
rights of individuals with disabilities through empowerment and advocacy.
For more information, visit www.IndianaDisabilityRights.org.

Media Contacts:

National Federation of the Blind - Chris Danielsen, 410-262-1281,
cdanielsen at nfb.org

Indiana Disability Rights - Jessica Trimble, 317-719-3944,
jtrimble at indianadisabilityrights.org

Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.

Director of Public Relations

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g>

(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | cdanielsen at nfb.org

Twitter: @rlawyer

[image: National Federation of the Blind] <https://nfb.org/>

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<https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we
work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

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-- 
Sheri Koch, President
National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
304-993-5103