[Nfbnet-members-list] Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Against the Blind

[Freeh, Jessica]

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




Adoption of Google Apps Program Discriminates Against the Blind


National Federation of the Blind Asks
Department of Justice to Investigate Schools Across the Country

Baltimore, Maryland (March 15, 2011): The 
<http://www.nfb.org/>National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the 
oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind people in the 
United States, today requested that the United States Department of 
Justice, Civil Rights Division, investigate civil rights violations 
committed by New York University (NYU) and Northwestern University 
against blind faculty and students.  The NFB made the request because 
the schools have adopted technology that is not accessible to the 
blind.  Both universities have recently adopted Google Apps for 
Education as a means of providing e-mail and collaboration tools to 
students and faculty.  Google Apps for Education is a free suite of 
hosted communication and collaboration applications that includes 
Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, Google Docs, and Google 
Sites.  Each of these applications contains significant accessibility 
barriers for blind people utilizing screen access technology, which 
converts what is on the computer screen into synthesized speech or 
Braille.  A similar request for investigation has been filed against 
four Oregon public school districts that are using Google Apps.  The 
complaints allege violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
(ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  For further illustration 
of this matter, please 
<http://www.nfb.org/nfb/googleaccessibilityvideos.asp>view a 
demonstration of screen access technology used by the blind and the 
accessibility barriers that a blind person experiences using Google Apps.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "Given the many accessible options available, there is no good 
reason that these universities should choose a suite of applications, 
including critical e-mail services, that is inaccessible to blind 
students.  Worse yet, according to recent data more than half of the 
American higher education institutions that are outsourcing e-mail to 
third-party vendors plan to deploy this suite, even though they know 
that it cannot be used by blind students.  Nor can these universities 
claim ignorance of their legal obligations, since the United States 
Department of Justice and the United States Department of Education 
have specifically 
<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20100629.html>warned 
all university presidents against the adoption of inaccessible 
technology.  The National Federation of the Blind will not tolerate 
this unconscionable discrimination against blind students and faculty 
and callous indifference to the right of blind students to receive an 
equal education.  We urge these higher education institutions to 
suspend their adoption of Google Apps for Education until it is 
accessible to all students and faculty, not just the sighted, or to 
reject Google Apps entirely."



The National Federation of the Blind is represented in this matter by 
Daniel F. Goldstein of the Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein, and Levy.





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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.



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