[Njabs-talk] National Federation of the Blind Defends Rights of Blind Students

[EVELYN E. VALDEZ]

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
 
National Federation of the Blind 

Defends Rights of Blind Students
Calls for Equal Access to 

Information and Technology in America’s 

Universities
 
Baltimore, 

Maryland (August 9, 2010): The National 

Federation of the Blind (NFB) responded today to recent attacks on the right of 

blind students to have equal access to technologies used by America’s 

universities and to the textbooks and course materials offered by institutions 

of higher learning.  The NFB and the 

United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, have come under 

attack in recent days for reaching settlements with universities requiring that 

the universities refrain from purchasing any e-book technology that is not fully 

accessible to the blind.
 
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the 

National Federation of the Blind, said: “Blind students must have access to the 

same textbooks and course materials and the same technology to read them as all 

other students.  This is not only a 

matter of fairness to blind students but a requirement of federal law.  For this reason, we applaud the United 

States Department of Justice, acting at our request and pursuant to its mandate 

to enforce this nation’s disability rights laws, for reaching landmark 

settlements with colleges and universities ensuring that e-book technologies 

deployed by these institutions will be accessible to all their students.  With the announcement of a new accessible 

Amazon Kindle, the recent introduction of the Apple iPad, and the promise of 

future accessible e-book products—many of which would not have been made 

accessible without our advocacy efforts—colleges and universities will find it 

increasingly easy to procure e-book technology that benefits everyone.  These settlements benefit not only blind 

students, who will now have access to the same books at the same time and at the 

same price as their sighted peers, but also institutions of higher learning, 

which will no longer incur the administrative burden of producing or procuring 

accessible books through separate and inferior methods.  To the extent that inaccessible e-book 

technology remains a barrier to the equal education of the blind, however, the 

National Federation of the Blind will continue to fight for the educational and 

legal rights of blind students, and we will not hesitate to call upon the 

Department of Justice and other government authorities to assist us in doing so 

when necessary.”
 
 
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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.