[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Sends Message to America’s Teachers

[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 Sends Message to America's Teachers




NOOKs in the Classroom Discriminate Against Blind Students


Baltimore, Maryland (October 10, 2012): <http://www.nfb.org>The 
National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and largest nationwide 
organization of blind people and the leading advocate for equal 
access to education and technology, commented today on Barnes & 
Noble's recently announced "Fall Educator Appreciation Week" 
promotion, which is designed to promote the use of the company's NOOK 
e-readers in the classroom.

<http://www.nfb.org/marc-maurer-bio>Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the 
<http://www.twitter.com/NFB_voice>National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "We have a critically important message for America's teachers 
and school administrators.  We know that you are deeply committed to 
the full and equal education of all of your students, including those 
who are blind, as evidenced by your support of educational concepts 
like Universal Design for Learning.  For this reason, we ask that you 
heavily consider the accessibility of technology when making 
decisions about whether to incorporate it into the 
classroom.  Technologies that are fully accessible to the blind will 
also benefit other students who cannot read print or have difficulty 
doing so, including students with certain learning disabilities and 
those whose native language is not 
English. 
<http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.html>Federal 
law requires, and blind students and their parents demand, that the 
technology that is used in the classroom provide the same content and 
the same benefits to blind students as to all other students.  The 
Barnes & Noble NOOK e-readers available to date 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CNQCrowbUI&feature=plcp>do not 
currently meet this standard, nor do we have evidence as to whether 
the newest product line, which begins shipping this fall, will do 
so.  Please stand up for your students and join us in demanding that 
Barnes & Noble make the necessary changes to its e-reading devices so 
that they can be used by all students.  Until it does so, please tell 
Barnes & Noble that these devices are not appropriate educational tools."


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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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