[Njabs-talk] blind law school applicant & NFB sues LSAC

[EVELYN E. VALDEZ]

Thought you might find this of interest. 
Ronza 
  
Greetings: 

I am part of the legal team filing this   complaint today and thought the list 
would be interested in the below   release. 
***************** 

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 

LSAC   Discriminates Against Blind Law School Applicants 
National Federation of   the Blind Sues Law School Admissions Council for 
Inaccessible Web Site and   LSAT Preparation Materials 


Baltimore, Maryland (February 19, 2009):   The National Federation of the 
Blind, the nation's oldest and largest   organization of blind people; its 
California affiliate; and a blind law school   applicant, Deepa Goraya, are filing a 
lawsuit today against the Law School   Admissions Council (LSAC).   The complaint 
asserts that the LSAC, the body   that administers the Law School Admissions 
Test (which most aspiring law   students must take) and provides other services 
to law schools and law school   applicants, violates the California Disabled 
Persons Act and the Unruh Act   because its Web site (www.lsac.org) and LSAT 
preparation materials are   inaccessible to blind law school applicants.   The 
plaintiffs have   attempted to meet with the LSAC to resolve the matter, but the LSAC 
canceled a   planned meeting. 



Blind people access Web sites on computers   equipped with screen access 
software that converts what is on the screen into   synthesized speech or Braille.   
The keyboard is used instead of a mouse   to navigate the Web site and click on 
selected links or buttons. If a Web site   is improperly coded, however, blind 
computer users cannot access the   site.   Blind people can also use screen 
readers to access certain kinds   of electronic documents, including those in the 
popular Portable Document   Format (PDF).   However, if PDF files are not 
properly "tagged," they   cannot be used by the blind.   The LSAC Web site contains 
accessibility   barriers including improperly formatted online forms, tables and 
charts that   cannot be read by screen access software, and faulty keyboard 
navigation   support.   These access barriers make it difficult or impossible for 
blind   people to use the Web site to register to take the LSAT, among other   
things.   The Web site is also the only avenue for people to apply online   to any 
law school accredited by 



the American Bar   Association.   However, blind applicants cannot submit their 
applications   without sighted assistance because the application forms are 
improperly   formatted.   In addition, none of the LSAT practice materials, which   
include previously administered versions of the test that sighted people can   
obtain on the LSAC Web site, are available in accessible electronic   formats. 



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation   of the Blind, said: 
"The Internet is extremely useful to blind people, as well   as our sighted 
peers, when Web sites are properly formatted according to   well- established 
guidelines; there is no good reason for any Web site offering   goods and services to 
the public to be inaccessible to blind people.   For   too long, blind people 
have experienced barriers to entering the legal   profession, despite our long 
history of demonstrated success in that   field.   The National Federation of the 
Blind will not sit quietly while   the LSAC willfully refuses to provide the 
same services to blind people   seeking admission to law school that it does to 
the sighted.   The LSAC is   engaging in blatant discrimination against the blind 
and we will not stand for   it." 



Deepa Goraya, a law school applicant and named plaintiff   in the suit, said: 
"Trying to use the LSAC Web site made the experience of   applying to law 
school a nightmare when it should have been as easy for me as   for anyone else.   I 
had to select and rely upon a reader for over fifty   hours to complete my law 
school applications.   Also, none of the practice   tests available on the Web 
site were accessible.   I want the process of   gaining admission to law school 
to be easier for all blind people who are   interested in entering this noble 
profession, and I hope this action will   achieve that goal." 





### 





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.   

Scott C. LaBarre,   Esq. 

LaBarre Law Offices P.C. 
1660 South Albion Street, Ste.   918 
Denver, Colorado 80222 
303 504- 5979 (voice) 
303 757- 3640   (fax) 
slabarre at labarrelaw.com (e- mail) 
www.labarrelaw.com   (website) 

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