[Wavy Chips]

For what it's worth:

Americans with Disabilities Act Information

Not sure if this has been posted or not.

[kstew43]

The VCDD will in compliance with the law, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in VCDD programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.

Straight from the policys manual...

So why didn't this apply for the hearing impaired at the Learning College? who dropped the ball? and why did the 32 people have to bring about a 2nd lawsuit...

My opinion...the deaf won the 1st lawsuit for Villages TV station sub-titles ....the Villages was afraid to loose the LLC lawsuit as well...so answer shut LLC down...

Bad choice...

[Taltarzac725]

The Orlando Sentinel article by our frequent naysayer Lauren Ritchie - Orlando Sentinel has me confused. Is this an appeal in Atlanta or a trial in Ocala?

[zenwaltz]

I so identify with your trying to refrain from saying something that you shouldn't.

[golfing eagles]

Here's an interesting question for someone familiar with the ADA (attorney, not plaintiff):

Many, but far from all TV shows are closed captioned. Yet the FCC licenses these stations, part of the requirement being that they operate "in the public interest" So why aren't they ALL required to be closed captioned, including 50 year old re-runs? Isn't this the same as the plaintiffs wanting interpreters in ALL classes? Also, if you look carefully, there is usually a statement that says "closed captioning provided by______" , usually a sponsor. So why isn't the TV STATION required TO PAY FOR closed captioning, like the LLLC would be? Seems like the ability of the deaf to enjoy TV programming is restricted to shows with CC, so why aren't they suing for "equality"? Perhaps ASL interpreters could be provided in the most popular classes, and perhaps outside funding could be arranged for other classes as well.

[NotFromAroundHere]

Originally Posted by dirtbanker

How about the many that own a home in the villages, that do not live full time in the villages (more than the numbet of plantiffs) that pay the same amenities fees and get less?

Being a part-time resident is a personal choice. Being disabled usually is not.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by NotFromAroundHere

Being a part-time resident is a personal choice. Being disabled usually is not.

Thank you for stating the obvious.

[Bonnevie]

but interesting that closed captioning was ok back then, but speech to text is not ok now. the technology has to have improved a great deal since 2012.

[Carla B]

Originally Posted by kstew43

The VCDD will in compliance with the law, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in VCDD programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.

Straight from the policys manual...

So why didn't this apply for the hearing impaired at the Learning College? who dropped the ball? and why did the 32 people have to bring about a 2nd lawsuit...

My opinion...the deaf won the 1st lawsuit for Villages TV station sub-titles ....the Villages was afraid to loose the LLC lawsuit as well...so answer shut LLC down...

Bad choice...

The "Districts" are not "The Charter School School Corporation" which runs(ran) the Lifelong Learning College. They are separate entities. This is all explained in the Amended Court order linked earlier in this thread.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Mleeja

Wow! What a hit piece on The Villages. The writer looks like she has some type of bias against The Villages.

Yes, a hit piece. Written by Lauren Ritchie, no surprise there.

Originally Posted by NotFromAroundHere

Being a part-time resident is a personal choice.

Actually, not always a personal choice. Many Canadians and Brits own houses in The Villages.
The USA Government allows us to stay in the USA for only 182 days in a calendar year.
There is no such thing as a "Retiree Visa" which would allow us to stay longer.
We are happy to have discovered The Villages and blessed to own a home here. No plans to sue for lower amenity fees!

[golfing eagles]

Here's another thought:

One of the complaints about speech to text is that it has errors. I've seen CC on TV and the same is true.
However, I've attended thousands of classes, lectures and meeting with perfect hearing and certainly don't catch every word. I couldn't find a good study of what percentage of a lecture people with normal hearing actually hear, but most studies show that only 10% of the info is retained, so the comprehension after a week or so is low, FOR EVERBODY. Wouldn't it be a kick in the pants if it turned out that speech to text, errors and all, conveyed a higher percentage of info than the normal person hears????

[Carla B]

That's an interesting thought, golfing eagles. And, when taking notes at a lecture, one isn't able to note everything the speaker says, just some of the highlights.

[Matzy]

I am very disappointed, too. I hope they can fix the problem and I'll be one of the first to come back for classes after re-open the LLC.Merry Christmas.

[Wavy Chips]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Actually, not always a personal choice. Many Canadians and Brits own houses in The Villages.
The USA Government allows us to stay in the USA for only 182 days in a calendar year.
There is no such thing as a "Retiree Visa" which would allow us to stay longer.
We are happy to have discovered The Villages and blessed to own a home here. No plans to sue for lower amenity fees!

Not to split hairs, but if you know in advance that you can only be here for 182 days per year, then you are making a personal choice based on those rules, correct?

[dave from deland]

Originally Posted by Codysmom

So very disappointed to read in today's paper about the Learning Center shutting its door because of a lawsuit. Big loss for many of us.

I hope the people responsible for this suit are satisfied with the disappointment of the thousands who enjoyed the program. Shame on them.