Talk about ironic...I'm a recently retired nationally certified, state licensed signed language interpreter who recently moved here and was looking forward to taking spring courses. I've seen a lot happen throughout my career but never would have seen this one coming.

This looks more like the developers were no willing to go the extra mile for the Villagers in keeping the Lifelong Learning College going. They should have been trying to do more to deal with the complainers long before this became a Federal case.

This is not the end of the matter. We can build a better education center. We just have to get involved with our community the Villages. Contact your Community Development District Reps on what could be done to get the Villages' Lifelong Learning Center back. Do not take NO for a reasonable answer because it is not.

Get involved, please, with fixing this. One of the problems the Villages Developers seem to point out is the lack of these in our immediate area. And the cost of them. Both seem to be problems that are not that hard to overcome. This is discussed in the case linked in various places. It is very verbose as legal opinions often are. But bereft of wit as most are also. SCHWARZ v. THE VILLAGES CHARTER SCHOOL, INC. | Case No. 5:12-cv-177-Oc-34PRL. | Leagle.com.

If those "32" are so unhappy here, they should move to Top of the World.

It is easy to understand how the 18,000 people have lost. It is easy to see how the instructors, working more for love than money, have lost. It is easy to see how the administrators and everyone else involved at any level with the Lifelong Learning College have lost. What I fail to see is what the plaintiffs have gained.

While I'm just as upset at the closing, there is something in the transcript that I question. The plaintiffs felt the Dragon software was inadequate and the judge agreed. The LLC investigated hiring people to interpret and determined the cost was prohibitive. The plaintiffs felt the LLC essentially gave up too easily and did not not investigate other sources to cover the services. The transcript mentions donations, federal assistance, reducing other costs, and increasing fees, such as a registration fee. Someone above computed that $4 per student would cover that shortfall. I think most of those using the LLC would rather pay a little more than see it closed. So, why did the LLC apparently not pursue these options.

But, to me, the primary reason for closing at this point was the expectation that they would not prevail and would be faced with paying damages which undoubtedly included legal fees for the plaintiffs.

Ya know, it's very unfortunate, but when blind people go to the movies, they can't see what's being shown on the screen.
Maybe we should close all the movie theaters.

I'm happy to get involved if there's anything left to get involved in.

Hope so. It may take awhile to get something else to replace the Lifelong Learning Center. People should never give up on education in whatever form it takes. I never took one of these courses but had been planning to at some point. It should would help with my dabbling in languages to talk with other people who do the same.

This seemed like something that really added to the Villages. Too bad all this happened. I do think when you get egotistical people fighting about something often what is good for the community at large suffers a great deal. It becomes a ****ing contest with the community getting showered.

This is a total shame. One of shinning star programs of The Villages has been eliminated unnecessarily due to this lawsuit. Do any any of you think it might be possible to reinstitute the program outside the purview of the CDD and Charter School?

I do not see why not. But the CDD might be the best way to go. We would still have to accommodate the hearing impaired but maybe if people work together to solve this rather than suing one another we can get something back like the Lifelong Learning Center.

I believe her involvement in this matter ended when the judge denied their suit against the resident clubs.

The Charter School is in charge of the VLLC, not the developer, and not the VCDD.

And in order to be " fair " we should shut down all radio stations until a way is found for the deaf to enjoy them .

Looks to me that there are two problems:
1. The obvious money-grubbing lawsuit that the plaintiffs filed which caused the closing of the Lifelong Learning College. Does anyone really believe that The Villages didn't try several options to accommodate this group? To me it is apparent that money, rather than inclusion, was their motive.
2. When did The Villages make the decision to close the LLC? Were they still using the Lifelong Learning College as a drawing card to potential buyers even after this decision was made? If so, wouldn't this put TV in jeopardy of additional lawsuits for false advertising?

How about people being decent to the other people in the community? And how about The Villages brass keeping its citizens informed? Probably too much too ask.

On what date was the lawsuit filed?