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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A Baltimore woman has sued the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, claiming that because she is blind she was denied a job for which sight is not necessary.
In the lawsuit filed Wednesday in 3rd District Court, Mary Jo Thorpe seeks reimbursement for monetary loses including lost wages, and damages for suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and other losses.
The lawsuit alleges that the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind has failed to hire any blind applicants for the early intervention specialist position.
It also contends school officials have said they will continue to refuse to hire any blind people for the position.
Bruce Buland, USDB human resource director, declined to comment, saying he had not seen the lawsuit.
In 2004, Thorpe applied for the job of early intervention specialist who works with blind children from birth to 3 years old.
During an informal interview, a USDB employee appeared impressed with Thorpe's qualifications, said her prospects for getting the job were very good and assured her the instituion could accommodate her blindness by providing a driver and reader, the lawsuit said.
The employee said she would be an excellent role model for the blind students, the lawsuit said.
Thorpe also had a formal interview, but never heard back.
When she contacted USDB in January 2005, two employees informed her that her application was rejected because she was blind, the lawsuit said.
The National Federation of the Blind, which is a nonprofit organization of blind persons, is also named as a plaintiff, suing on behalf of its members who would have standing to sue in their own right.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
