March 16, 2026 (Los Angeles, California): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) applauds a significant victory in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has ordered the reinstatement of jury awards to blind students, Roy Payan and Portia Mason, in their case against the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), in which the NFB and NFB of California are also plaintiffs.

In a published decision, the court confirmed that plaintiffs who bring claims under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act may receive substantial non-economic damages for lost educational opportunities. The ruling restores 218,500 dollars in damages awarded to Mr. Payan and 24,000 dollars to Ms. Mason. This decision sets a powerful precedent that denying blind students accessible education carries real consequences.

Beyond the education context, the decision also confirms that individuals with disabilities can seek compensation for opportunities lost because of discrimination.

"Today's decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirms what we've known all along: the Los Angeles Community College District must be held accountable for denying blind students equal access to education. The court upheld the substantial damages awarded to Roy and Portia and, in doing so, made clear that blind students deserve compensation when they are deprived an equal educational opportunity," said Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind.

"The National Federation of the Blind is proud to have fought alongside these students to obtain both monetary relief and an injunction that requires LACCD to provide equal library access to blind students, ensure its website is accessible, deliver accessible accommodations forms, verify third-party vendor accessibility statements, and distribute these mandates to all faculty and staff. This case proves that when we stand together and demand equal access, we can create lasting change and send a powerful message to institutions across the country that accessibility is not optional, and discrimination carries a steep cost."

In response to the reinstatement, Mr. Payan shared,

"I’ve learned that we can’t give up. Every fight is one battle, and we have to keep moving forward, one step at a time, through ongoing advocacy. It is possible to move forward. I envision a world, so many are too blind to see!—yet with this victory and the help of the NFB we are bringing that world one step closer to reality."

And Ms. Mason shared that she hoped

"that every college in the United States will see that there is no excuse. We have every right and there is no reason why we should not have the same opportunities as everyone else does. I will continue to be an advocate for not only myself, but for everyone who is dealing with the same challenges."

The National Federation of the Blind will continue to monitor LACCD's compliance with this injunction.