National Federation of the Blind Commends Department of Education for New Accessible Technology Guidelines‏

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@nfb.org




National Federation of the Blind Commends
Department of Education for New Accessible Technology Guidelines




Urges Schools to Deploy Technology That Blind Students Can Use



Baltimore, Maryland (May 26, 2011): The National Federation
of the Blind urged all elementary, secondary,
and postsecondary schools to follow guidelines
issued today by the Department of Education's
Office of Civil Rights and to deploy new or
emerging technologiesonly if they are accessible to blind students.
The guidelines, in the form of Frequently Asked Questions, were issued to
supplement the department's
Dear Colleague letter of June 29, 2010.
That letter informed all college and university presidents
that their institutions must be sure that
emerging technologies that they plan to deploy to students are
accessible to the blind and other students with disabilities.
A second Dear Colleague letter issued today made clear that the
same legal obligations apply to elementary and secondary schools.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation
of the Blind, said: "The National Federation of the Blind
is pleased that the Department of Education has issued
this guidance to the entire education community.
If blind students are to succeed in the twenty-first century,
they must have access to the same technologies
as their sighted peers.  These comprehensive answers
to commonly asked questions about the legal obligation
to purchase and deploy accessible technology
should be immensely helpful to school administrators.
We urge educators to review them carefully and apply
them whenever they are considering the purchase or
deployment of new educational technologies.
We will continue our efforts to hold
accountable those institutions that ignore
their legal obligations to their blind students."





###







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 blindpeople 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.