[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Files Discrimination Complaint with Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination

[Danielsen, Chris]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


National Federation of the Blind Files Discrimination Complaint with MCAD

Alleges Discrimination by Epic Systems Corporation

Boston (July 18, 2018): The National Federation of the Blind, the 
nation's oldest and largest organization of blind Americans, has 
filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against 
Discrimination (MCAD) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 
(EEOC) against Epic Systems Corporation. Epic creates and distributes 
software solutions used widely throughout the US healthcare industry. 
The complaint alleges that blind people are barred from employment at 
hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts that use Epic's software because Epic has not made that 
software compatible with screen readers used by the blind.

Screen readers are technologies that render information on a computer 
screen as synthesized speech or Braille and allow blind users to use 
keyboard commands instead of a mouse. When technology is compatible 
with screen readers and meets certain other criteria, it is said to 
be accessible.

"Blind people are employed successfully throughout the healthcare 
industry at all levels, but Epic's discriminatory behavior threatens 
their ability to maintain or obtain such employment," said Mark 
Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "Epic's 
failure to make its systems accessible is inexcusable, especially 
since the company has taken steps to make its patient-facing software 
accessible. Apparently, Epic thinks blind people are only fit to be 
patients, not healthcare workers. This is wrong, and the blind of 
America will not tolerate it."

The National Federation of the Blind is represented by Christine M. 
Netski and Grace L. McGuire of the Boston firm Sugarman, Rogers, 
Barshak & Cohen, P.C., and by Joseph B. Espo and Kevin D. Docherty of 
the Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP.

###

About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in 
Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind 
Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, 
and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. 
The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides 
information and support to families with blind children, older 
Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes 
and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into 
reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at 
<http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.

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









---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com