---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Danielsen, Chris via NFBNet-Members-List"
<nfbnet-members-list@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2019 19:25:41 +0000
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Blind Woman Files Employment
Discrimination Suit against Amazon.com
To: "Danielsen, Chris" <CDanielsen@xxxxxxx>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Blind Woman Files Employment Discrimination Suit against Amazon.com
Detroit (September 3, 2019): Maryann Murad, a blind Howell resident,
and the National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest and
largest organization of blind Americans, have filed suit in the
Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against
Amazon.com for employment discrimination. Amazon is the world's
largest Internet retailer and currently employs more than 647,000
people worldwide. In the first quarter of 2019 it earned approximately
$59.7 billion in revenue.
In 2017, Ms. Murad tried to apply for a virtual customer service
position with Amazon but could not complete the online assessment on
Amazon's proprietary customer service platform because the platform is
inaccessible. The platform designed by Amazon is incompatible with
Voiceover, the Apple text-to-speech screen-reading software that Murad
uses to complete tasks on her computer. When she brought the problem
to Amazon's attention, a representative of the company confirmed that
the site was inaccessible and said that Ms. Murad should apply for
another "appropriate" job. Subsequent efforts by the National
Federation of the Blind to work with Amazon to resolve the issue were
unsuccessful. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Michigan Persons with Disabilities
Civil Rights Act.
"At this time of year, we celebrate American workers, but too many
blind people who want to work face systemic discrimination," said Mark
Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind.
"Technology can enhance employment opportunities for the blind and
other Americans with disabilities when it is accessible to us. When it
is not, it exacerbates lack of opportunity and imperils our ability to
compete in the economy and society of the twenty-first century. Amazon
is fully capable of creating and deploying accessible technology and
could be a leader in employing the blind. Having tried to persuade
Amazon to do those things to no avail, we are now pursuing a remedy
for Ms. Murad and other blind workers in court."
###
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
www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org>.
CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen@xxxxxxx<mailto:cdanielsen@xxxxxxx>
This press release is also available at:
https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-woman-files-employment-discrimination-suit-against-amazoncom
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
[National Federation of the Blind]<https://nfb.org/>
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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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