[rehab] FW: National Federation of the Blind Assists Federal Employee Experiencing Discrimination

[David Andrews]

>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>CONTACT:
>Chris Danielsen
>Director of Public Relations
>National Federation of the Blind
>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
><mailto:Cdanielsen at nfb.org>Cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
>
>National Federation of the Blind Assists Federal Employee 
>Experiencing Discrimination
>
>Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2013): With the assistance of 
><https://nfb.org/>the National Federation of the Blind, Michael 
>Leiterman, an attorney with the Department of Homeland Security's 
>Customs and Border Protection division (CBP), has filed a 
>lawsuit  in the United States District Court for the District of 
>Columbia (Case 1:13-cv-00394) alleging unlawful discrimination 
>against him and other blind employees in violation of federal 
>anti-discrimination laws that require the federal government to 
>provide equal opportunity to people with disabilities.  Mr. 
>Leiterman is blind and uses screen-access software, which converts 
>what is on a computer screen into synthesized speech, to access the 
>computer information required to perform his job. The basis of his 
>discrimination claim is that CBP has continued to procure and deploy 
>inaccessible software and technology, adversely affecting Mr. 
>Leiterman's ability to perform his job severely enough to result in 
>the denial of a routine promotion. Among the problems Mr. Leiterman 
>has experienced are inability to access Web pages and documents on 
>the Intranet used by CBP, inability to access his office e-mail and 
>the CBP computer network when telecommuting, inability to complete 
>training required by CBP and more.
>
>Dr. Marc Maurer, president of <https://nfb.org/>the National 
>Federation of the Blind, said: "If blind people are to succeed in 
>the modern workplace, and therefore make meaningful contributions to 
>society, then we must have equal access to workplace technology, and 
>employers are required by law to provide that access or make 
>appropriate accommodations. <https://nfb.org/>The National 
>Federation of the Blind will continue to fight for the rights of Mr. 
>Leiterman and other blind federal employees to fully participate in 
>their workplaces and in society."
>
>Mr. Leiterman said: "I have spent entirely too much time over the 
>past six years trying to solve problems created by my employer's 
>unlawful use of inaccessible technology rather than performing the 
>legal work for which I am qualified by my advanced law degree and 
>which I was hired to do. Despite the fact that my work has been 
>satisfactory, I was denied a routine promotion because I could not 
>do my job effectively due to inaccessible technology. I hope that 
>this litigation results in my agency complying with its legal 
>obligations and allowing me and other federal employees who are 
>blind to serve the American people."
>
>Mr. Leiterman is represented in this matter by Joseph B. Espo of the 
>Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP.
>
>###
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>
>About the National Federation of the Blind
>
>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, 
>and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind 
>people in the United States.  Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for 
>the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops 
>innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide 
>the blind and those who are losing vision with the tools they need 
>to become independent and successful.  We need your support.  To 
>make a donation, please go to <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.
>
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