Baltimore, Maryland (October 18, 2017): A blind man's litigation against a California school district on whose governing board he serves has been resolved by agreement of the parties.

Timothy R. Nonn, who was elected to the board of the Cotati Rohnert Park Unified School District last year, sued the district and its superintendent with the assistance of the National Federation of the Blind because three sitting members of the school board had voted against his request to use an aid that he personally hired and trained to read documents to him at school board meetings. The agreement specifies that Mr. Nonn can hire and train his own aids to assist him at board meetings and in most situations where he is acting in his official capacity.

“We assisted Mr. Nonn in this litigation because it is critically important that political opponents of elected representatives who are blind be prevented from discriminating against them by denying accommodations and access to information,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We are therefore pleased that this litigation has been amicably resolved and that Mr. Nonn will have the accommodations he needs going forward.”

“I am profoundly grateful for the support of the National Federation of the Blind,” said Mr. Nonn. “Without its help, I would not have been provided with proper accommodations for my blindness. This experience has taught me the importance not only of blind people standing up for our rights, but standing together. This victory also enables me to effectively advocate for the rights of students with special needs who are being denied accommodations.”

The United States District Court, Northern District of California, approved the agreement and dismissed the litigation (Case No. 3:17-cv-00761-JCS) on September 13. Neither Mr. Nonn nor the school district admit any wrongdoing.