[msb-alumni] FW: [Nfbnet-members-list] Blind Americans Encountering Discrimination by Restaurants and Other Services During COVID-19 Crisis
- From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel@xxxxxxx>
- To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk@xxxxxxxxxx>, <msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2020 02:11:29 -0400
From: NFBNet-Members-List [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Danielsen, Chris via NFBNet-Members-List
Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 3:31 PM
To: NCB Staff <NCBStaff@xxxxxxx>; nfbnet-members-list@xxxxxxxxxx; State
Affiliate Leadership List <state-affiliate-leadership-list@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Blind Americans Encountering Discrimination by
Restaurants and Other Services During COVID-19 Crisis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Blind Americans Encountering Discrimination by Restaurants and Other Services
During COVID-19 Crisis
Restaurants, Banks, and Others Denying Service to Blind Pedestrians
Baltimore, Maryland (April 3, 2020): The National Federation of the Blind,
America’s civil rights organization of the blind, today demanded that
restaurants, banks, and other businesses, as well as drive-through COVID-19
testing facilities, provide equal service to blind customers, as required by
the Americans with Disabilities Act, whether the blind customer is on foot or
in a vehicle. Many businesses are offering drive-through service only during
the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Federation of the Blind has received
numerous reports of discrimination against blind people who have tried to
access drive-through windows on foot, and at least
<https://www.news8000.com/people-with-disabilities-face-new-challenges-under-coronavirus-orders/>
one local television station has reported on the problem.
“We reject the argument that accessing a drive-through window on foot is unsafe
for blind people, since we regularly cross busy intersections and interact with
vehicles,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the
Blind. “But even if a restaurant, bank, or testing center is unable or
unwilling to offer pedestrian access to its drive-through window, the law
clearly requires that it offer reasonable modifications to allow the blind and
others with disabilities to take advantage of its public services. The bottom
line is that, especially at a time when access to vehicle transportation for
non-drivers is limited, there is no legal or moral excuse for denying service
to blind people simply because we are not in a car. To do so is unlawful and
discriminatory, and we will not tolerate it.”
###
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@xxxxxxx> cdanielsen@xxxxxxx
this news brief is also available at:
https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-americans-encountering-discrimination-restaurants-and-other-services
Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.
Director of Public Relations
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | cdanielsen@xxxxxxx
Twitter: @rlawyer
<https://nfb.org/>
<http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>
<https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice> <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who
believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.
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