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From: Anthony Stephens via announce [mailto:announce@xxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2016 3:56 PM
To: announce@xxxxxxxxxxxx; leadership@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Anthony Stephens
Subject: [announce] ACB Response to 60 Minutes Segment on ADA
ACB Responds to 60 Minutes ADA Segment – Calls for Viewer Comments
The American Council of the Blind (ACB), the nation’s leading grassroots
consumer advocacy organization representing Americans who are blind and
visually impaired, remains deeply disappointed and troubled by the 60 Minutes
segment that aired on December 4, 2016, which cast a negative light on the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The segment, featuring the well-known
anchor Anderson Cooper, mischaracterized the ADA as an instrument of
opportunism for drive-by lawsuits, rather than focusing on the role our courts
have played in protecting the fundamental human and civil rights of more than
55 million Americans with disabilities.
ACB has no tolerance for any practicing attorney who would seek financial gain
off the shoulders of Americans with disabilities. However, we firmly believe
that such instances exist more in the margins. CBS failed in its responsibility
of providing fair and accurate journalistic integrity when it refused to air
any of the positive gains that has been pioneered through the judicial branch
of our government.
Such unbalanced coverage has the potential for serious negative implications,
reframing the way Americans view the ADA at a time when fundamental civil
rights are at risk of being attacked. Just within the blindness community, we
have made significant strides through legal action that would have no standing
if not for the ADA. The courts have played a major role in removing mountains
that have stood in the way of fair and equal opportunity. Such things as
accessible banking machines, kiosks at airports, access to commercial
e-commerce, and access to public accommodations with guide dogs, such as in
taxis and hotels, would not be present if not for the ADA. However, such
successes as these remain silent before any viewer of last Sunday’s segment.
Instead, audiences were exposed to a few bad apples, leading them to believe
this is the norm.
60 Minutes routinely reads viewer mail at the end of each program. It is
imperative that they hear from those who have been positively impacted by the
ADA. You can contact 60 Minutes by emailing them at <mailto:60M@xxxxxxxxxxx>
60M@xxxxxxxxxxx. You can also call (212) 975-3247, or visit the below link for
online feedback:
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/audienceservices.cbs.com?p=eyJzIjoib0ZqUXF4VE5UblA1bzg5YTZoZUljZUlfcGFRIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvYXVkaWVuY2VzZXJ2aWNlcy5jYnMuY29tXFxcL2ZlZWRiYWNrXFxcL2ZlZWRiYWNrLmh0bVwiLFwiaWRcIjpcIjEyZThiNzY0OTYwYTQwZmZiZDE4ZWI5NjA4NGM4NjUzXCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiZmQ3MmM4OWRjZjFmNmY3Nzc5NGFmMmY4NzM0ZTI3NTVjMjRlZjBjYVwiXX0ifQ>
http://audienceservices.cbs.com/feedback/feedback.htm ;
When contacting CBS, tell them you want equal coverage that tells the real
story about the ADA. The ADA remains the greatest civil rights legislation
since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and its protections should not be
compromised by poor and weak journalism.
If you have not yet viewed the segment, visit:
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.cbsnews.com?p=eyJzIjoibkl6NXpoT19tM3hrMHVCcUFyNGg5Uzl5V1BnIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmNic25ld3MuY29tXFxcL25ld3NcXFwvNjAtbWludXRlcy1hbWVyaWNhbnMtd2l0aC1kaXNhYmlsaXRpZXMtYWN0LWxhd3N1aXRzLWFuZGVyc29uLWNvb3BlclxcXC9cIixcImlkXCI6XCIxMmU4Yjc2NDk2MGE0MGZmYmQxOGViOTYwODRjODY1M1wiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcImI0N2Y4OTVmNjJmOGJlMjVhYTQ1MDUyMWNkZWY5YmNkMjk3N2ZjYmRcIl19In0>
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-americans-with-disabilities-act-lawsuits-anderson-cooper/
Regards,
Anthony Stephens
Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
1703 N. Beauregard Street, STE 420
Alexandria, VA 22311
(T) 202.467.5081
(F) 703.465.5085
€ astephens@xxxxxxx
Learn more at www.acb.org
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.acb.org?p=eyJzIjoiX3VJeTY5LTFCMUdTOEY0Si1SMjJmVHlJRWhRIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmFjYi5vcmdcIixcImlkXCI6XCIxMmU4Yjc2NDk2MGE0MGZmYmQxOGViOTYwODRjODY1M1wiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcImVlYTEyNmFlY2NiMjE0YjQ2Yzg0N2YwN2MyM2E0YTYzZDhlOGRhNGRcIl19In0>
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