[Tektalkdiscussion] Fw: Judge Certifies Over 3 Million Blind as a Class in ACB's Social Security Lawsuit

[Bob Acosta]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ardis Bazyn" <abazyn at bazyncommunications.com>
To: <Kevin.Berkery at ci.irs.gov>
Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2008 4:00 PM
Subject: Judge Certifies Over 3 Million Blind as a Class in ACB's Social 
Security Lawsuit


> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> September 12, 2008
>
> For more information, contact:
>
> Melanie Brunson, Executive Director, American Council of the Blind
> Voice (202) 467-5081, fax (202)467-5085,
> mbrunson at acb.org
>
> Julia Epstein, DREDF Director of Communications,
> (510) 644-2555 (x. 241),
> jepstein at dredf.org
>
> Wondie Russell, Heller Ehrman LLP,
> (415) 772-6294,
> wondie.russell at hellerehrman.com
>
> JUDGE CERTIFIES CLASS OF THREE MILLION VISUALLY IMPAIRED BENEFICIARIES IN
> SOCIAL
> SECURITY ADMINISTRATION LAWSUIT
>
> SAN FRANCISCO (Sept. 12, 2008) –
>
> On Thursday, September 11, 2008, Judge William Alsup of the US District
> Court
> for the Northern District of California granted class certification in a
> disability rights action in which plaintiffs argue that the Social 
> Security
> Administration (SSA) fails to provide its communications in alternative
> formats
> that would enable people with visual impairments to have equal access to 
> SSA
> programs as required by federal disability civil rights laws and the US
> Constitution.
>
> The order came in a suit filed against SSA in federal court in 2005 by the
> American Council of the Blind and ten individuals who are blind or have
> visual
> impairments alleging that the agency fails to provide communications in
> alternative formats such as Braille, audio, large font or electronic text.
> to
> its blind and visually impaired applicants and beneficiaries, instead
> communicating vital information in standard 12-point font print that they
> cannot
> read. This failure has resulted in the loss of critical subsistence
> benefits,
> privacy, and dignity.
>
> “In the 21st century, more than 30 years after federal civil rights law 
> made
> the
> obligation clear and technological advances make the alternatives
> commonplace,
> there is no reasonable explanation or excuse for the SSA to continue to
> ignore
> the needs and rights of blind and visually impaired individuals, and we 
> are
> committed to bringing about the necessary changes to secure basic civil
> rights
> protections,” explained a lead counsel for plaintiffs, Arlene Mayerson, 
> from
> the
> Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.
>
> “The idea that SSA would send these critical notices in a format that 
> these
> recipients of benefits cannot read is unfathomable,” says Wondie Russell
> from
> Heller Ehrman, another lead counsel for plaintiffs.
>
> “the Plaintiffs in the lawsuit have gone without benefits as a result of 
> SSA’s
> failure to give them effective notice of its actions. “Blind people across
> the
> country have been trying for years to get SSA to send notices in a format 
> we
> can
> read, and we have been resoundingly ignored,” commented American Council 
> of
> the
> Blind Executive Director Melanie Brunson.
>
> The case is scheduled for trial in April 2009.
> Attorneys for the plaintiffs include the Disability Rights Education and
> Defense
> Fund; Heller Ehrman LLP; the National Senior Citizens Law Center; and
> Disability
> Rights Oregon (formerly the Oregon Advocacy Center).
>
> The American Council of the Blind is the nation’s leading consumer based
> advocacy organization working on behalf of blind and visually impaired
> Americans
> and has more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates throughout the
> United
> States. The national office of the organization is located in Washington,
> D.C.
> For more information about the ACB, visit the website at
> www.acb.org.
>
> Founded in 1979, by people with disabilities and parents of children with
> disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) is 
> a
> national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the
> civil
> rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation,
> advocacy,
> technical assistance, and education and training of attorneys, advocates,
> persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities. For
> more
> information, go to
> www.dredf.org.
>
> Heller Ehrman LLP is an international law firm that has approximately 600
> attorneys and professionals in 14 offices worldwide. Heller Ehrman has 
> been
> ranked consistently among top law firms in the nation for its commitment 
> to
> providing pro bono legal services. The firm’s core values are Excellence,
> People, Teamwork, Innovation, Community and One Firm. For more 
> information,
> visit
> www.hellerehrman.com.
>
> The National Senior Citizens Law Center advocates nationwide to promote 
> the
> independence and well-being of low-income elderly individuals and persons
> with
> disabilities. NSCLC provides technical assistance and training to 
> attorneys
> and
> other advocates and is active in litigation and policy advocacy with a
> strong
> focus on income security and health care. For more information, go to the
> organization’s website at
> www.nsclc.org.
>
> Disability Rights Oregon (DRO) (formerly the Oregon Advocacy Center) is an
> independent nonprofit
> organization that provides legal advocacy services for people with
> disabilities
> anywhere in Oregon. DRO is designated under federal law as the protection
> and
> advocacy system for Oregon, but it is not a part of the state or federal
> government. DRO has attorneys and advocates who assist people with
> disabilities.
> For more information, go to
> www.disabilityrightsoregon.org.
>
> Ardis Bazyn
> For inspirational speaking, business coaching, or writing:
> www.bazyncommunications.com
> For Avon products: www.youravon.com/abazyn
> 
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