[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind and Maricopa Community College District Resolve Litigation

[Danielsen, Chris]

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 and Maricopa Community College 
District Resolve Litigation
MCCD Will Take Steps to Make Technology Accessible

Phoenix, Arizona (October 23, 2014): <http://www.nfb.org>The National 
Federation of the Blind today announced an agreement with the 
Maricopa Community College District (MCCD) and Mesa Community College 
resolving litigation brought by the Federation in 2012. Under the 
agreement, MCCD will take a series of steps that will result in the 
procurement and deployment of electronic and information technology 
that is accessible to all students, including those who are blind. 
The technologies covered by the agreement include the college's 
public website, library website, learning management system, personal 
response systems (or clickers) used in the classroom, campus ATM's, 
and more. The blind use computers, smartphones, and tablets equipped 
with special software that allows the contents of websites, 
applications, and documents to be read aloud or displayed in Braille 
on a connected Braille device. When websites or documents are not 
properly coded, however, they cannot be accessed with the technology 
used by the blind. ATM's can also be equipped with headphone jacks 
and text-to-speech software that guides blind users through 
transactions via audio prompts.

Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "The technology procured and deployed by America's institutions 
of higher education must be accessible if blind students are to 
acquire the full benefit of their education and participate fully in 
campus life. We are pleased that the Maricopa Community College 
District and Mesa Community College are committed to equal access for 
all students, including the blind."

The plaintiffs were 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 knows that blindness is not the 
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise 
the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create 
obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life 
you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

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