State and Federal Court
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Are you a person with a disability (including cognitive, hearing, vision, or physical) who receives benefits from the Social Security Administration? Benefits can mean SSI, SSDI, or retirement. If so, UCSF would like to talk with you!!
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March 2012 Update from DREDF: SSA has issued nearly 250,000 alternate formats since ACB v. Astrue Judgment
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American Council of the Blind v. Michael Astrue, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, et al.
Please complete our online survey to provide feedback regarding your experience requesting alternate formats for notices and communications from SSA at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/68JKVW5
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American Council of the Blind v. Michael Astrue, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, et al.
SSA Notice Informing Blind and Visually Impaired Beneficiaries, Recipients, Applicants and Representative Payees About Their Right to Alternative Formats and How to Request Alternative Formats.
Notice pdf (December 2009)
Notice txt (December 2009)
Notice doc (December 2009)
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American Council of the Blind v. Michael Astrue, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, et al.
On October 20, 2009, Judge William Alsup of the US District Court, Northern District of California in San Francisco, granted final judgment in favor of the Plaintiff classes under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). The Court ruled that by April 15, 2010, the Social Security Administration (SSA) must provide blind and visually impaired SSI recipients, retirement benefits recipients and representative payees a choice of receiving notices and other communications in the alternative formats of Braille, navigable Microsoft Word CDs, or a telephone call from an SSA representative. The agency is also required to take steps to notify class members of these alternative format options, as well as class members right under Section 504 to request any other alternative format in accordance with procedures set forth under regulations enacted under Section 504.
This ruling signals a major victory for the disability rights movement, and it sets precedent for the obligations of other federal and state agencies to provide alternative formats and effective communication to people who are blind or have visual impairments, and to notify such individuals of their rights under federal law.
Judgment pdf (October 20, 2009)
Judgment txt (October 20, 2009)
Findings of Fact and Conclusions pdf (October 20, 2009)
Findings of Fact and Conclusions txt (October 20, 2009)
Press Release pdf (October 20, 2009)
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American Council of the Blind v. Michael Astrue, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, et al.
On September 11, 2008, Judge William Alsup of the US District Court for the Northern District of California granted class certification in a disability rights action in which plaintiffs argue that the Social Security Administration (SSA) fails to provide its communications in alternative formats that would enable people with visual impairments to have equal access to SSA programs as required by federal disability civil rights laws and the US Constitution.
Judge Alsup's Order Granting Class Certification (September 2008)
Press Release in American Council of the Blind v. Astrue, et al. (September 2008)
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American Council of the Blind, et al. vs. Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, in her official capacity, and Social Security Administration.
On behalf of the American Council of the Blind and a group of individuals who are blind or have vision impairments, DREDF filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, California Northern District against the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), alleging that the agency fails to provide the most basic accommodations to its blind applicants and beneficiaries. (November 16, 2005)
UPDATE 4.24.08 Ruling in American Council of the Blind, et al. vs. Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration states that Plaintiffs have the right under Section 504 to argue that the SSA must accommodate blind beneficiaries
