[Nfbofnc] Fw: Nfb-announce Digest, Vol 92, Issue 2

[Keith Wiglesworth]

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Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2012 1:00 PM
Subject: Nfb-announce Digest, Vol 92, Issue 2


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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Fwd: Florida State University Resolves Litigation with
>      Students (David Andrews)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:32:06 -0600
> From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Nfb-announce] Fwd: Florida State University Resolves
> Litigation with Students
> Message-ID: <auto-000050992672 at mailfront4.g2host.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed
>
>
>>
>>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
>>
>>
>>
>>Jeffery Seay
>>
>>University Communications
>>
>>Florida State University
>>
>>(850) 644-0277
>>
>>jseay at admin.fsu.edu
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Florida State University Resolves Litigation with Students
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>National Federation of the Blind Praises Comprehensive Settlement 
>>Agreement
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Tallahassee, Florida (March 6, 2012): Florida
>>State University and two students who are
>>blind?Christopher Shane Toth and Jamie Ann
>>Principato?have resolved a
>><http://stage.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=819>lawsuit
>>brought by the two students with the assistance
>>of the <http://www.nfb.org/>National Federation of the Blind last summer.
>>
>>
>>
>>The students claimed that they experienced
>>discrimination in violation of state and federal
>>disability laws, including failure to reasonably
>>accommodate their disability and lack of
>>accessible technology.  As a result, they
>>claimed, they were unable to complete courses
>>related to their academic majors.
>>
>>
>>
>>Without admitting liability or wrongdoing, the
>>university has agreed to pay each of the
>>students $75,000 in settlement of their claims
>>and to continue its efforts to make courses
>>accessible to all students.  Specifically, the
>>university will examine technology-based
>>instructional materials currently in use for
>>accessibility compliance, and ensure
>>accessibility in future software and hardware procurements.
>>
>>
>>
>>?We are extremely pleased with this settlement
>>agreement, which will benefit all current and
>>future blind students at Florida State,? said
>>Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National
>>Federation of the Blind.  ?We commend the
>>university for showing leadership and commitment
>>to treating students with disabilities equally
>>and hope that other institutions of higher
>>learning will follow the example set by Florida State.?
>>
>>
>>
>>?I am greatly relieved and pleased that this
>>litigation has been resolved and look forward to
>>continuing my academic career at Florida State
>>on an equal basis with my sighted peers,? Principato said.
>>
>>
>>
>>?We are committed to the success of all of our
>>students, including those with disabilities,?
>>said Garnett S. Stokes, provost and executive
>>vice president for academic affairs at Florida
>>State.  ?We will continue our efforts to make
>>our institution a welcoming and rewarding
>>environment for students with disabilities.?
>>
>>The plaintiffs are represented in this matter by
>>Daniel F. Goldstein, Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum, and
>>Brooke E. Lierman of the Baltimore firm Brown,
>>Goldstein, and Levy; and Matthew Dietz of the
>>Miami firm Law Offices of Matthew W. Dietz, P.L.
>>
>>###
>>
>>
>>
>>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.
>
>
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> End of Nfb-announce Digest, Vol 92, Issue 2
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