[Nfbf-l] > Blind Sue Airport Over Ticket Kiosks

[Patricia A. Lipovsky]

> Please note that a title ii entity is being sued here.  I think this is 
> the correct route to take.
>
> Blind Sue Airport Over Ticket Kiosks
> By NICK DIVITO
> ShareThis
>
> LAS VEGAS (CN) - McCarran International Airport's self-service ticketing 
> kiosks violate the civil rights of blind passengers, the National 
> Federation of
> the Blind claims in a federal class action on behalf of its 50,000 
> members.
>     The airport, which is owned by Clark County, uses 180 kiosks "in its 
> terminals and concourses as the primary means for airline passengers to 
> gather
> information from and engage in transactions with air carriers at 
> McCarran," the complaints states. The kiosks provide flight information, 
> print tickets,
> allow passengers select seats, check bags and upgrade tickets.
>     "By deploying automated 'common use self-service' ticketing kiosks at 
> McCarran International Airport that are inaccessible to blind customers," 
> the
> airport and Clark County are "denying blind persons the use of the ... 
> kiosks" offered to "non-disabled airline passengers," the complaint 
> states.
>     Because the kiosks "make it possible for travelers to obtain 
> information and process transactions without assistance from others," they 
> provide "sighted
> air travelers numerous, unique benefits, including convenience, privacy 
> and independence."
>     But the kiosks are "inaccessible to blind individuals because the 
> machines use exclusively visual computer screen prompts and flat panel 
> touch-screen
> navigation to guide a customer through a transaction without translating 
> the prompts into a medium accessible to the blind, such as audio output or 
> tactile
> raised buttons," according to the complaint.
> There are companies that use such technologies to make the flat panel 
> touch-screen kiosks accessible to the blind, but the federation says Clark 
> County
> "has refused" to purchase them.
>     Plaintiffs Alan and Billie Ruth Schlank, a blind couple from 
> Arlington, Va., travel to Las Vegas regularly to use their time-share, but 
> "have been
> unable to use the ... kiosks independently because [they] require sight to 
> operate," according to the complaint. "Mr. and Mrs. Schlank are faced with 
> the
> dilemma of having to wait for an airline employee to assist them with the 
> check-in process, or having to provide sensitive, private information to a 
> sighted
> stranger who can access the ... kiosks for them."
>     Other named plaintiffs with similar complaints include Joyce Pratt of 
> Gillette, N.J., who is blind and who flies regularly into McCarran Airport 
> to
> visit her family; and Mark Ardeon, of Seattle, who is blind and "desires 
> to fly into and out of McCarran while vacationing in Las Vegas."
>     The organization seeks corrective action and unspecified damages for 
> the named plaintiffs, for violations of the Americans with Disabilities 
> Act and
> the Rehabilitation Act.
>     Plaintiffs are represented by Eric Taylor with Alverson, Taylor, 
> Mortensen & Sanders.
> 
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/03/30/35353.htm
>
> Paul Edwards, Director
> North Campus Access Services
> Room 6113
> 11380 Northwest 27 Avenue
> Miami, FL 33167
> Work Phone: (305) 237-1146
> Work Fax (305) 237-1831
> Home Phone: (305) 692-9206
> Cell Phone: (305) 984-0909
> Work Email: 
paul.edwards at mdc.edu
> Home Email: 
edwpaul at bellsouth.net
>
> ABILITY COUNTS
>
> "Please Note:
> Due to Florida's very broad public records law, most written 
> communications to or from College employees regarding College business are 
> public records, available to the public and media upon request. Therefore, 
> this e-mail communication may be subject to public disclosure."
>
>
>
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