The Silver Spring-based National Association of the Deaf (NAD), and Joseph B. Espo, an attorney with Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP in Baltimore, have filed a lawsuit against the University of Maryland College Park Tuesday.

They are suing the University for frequently failing to provide written announcements and commentaries during the school sports events at Byrd Stadium and at the Comcast Center.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two individuals, Sean Markel and fellow Terrapin fan Dr. Joseph Innes, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. It claims that the university is violating Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Markel and Innes, who are deaf, regularly attend football and basket ball games. Most of the spectators get to hear the details announced on the public address system, but hearing-impaired fans like Markel don't.

"Often, I'm left out -- I don't know what's being announced," Markel said.

Through the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are urging the court to order the university to display captioning on the scoreboards and jumbotrons for all announcements made over the public address system, including plays and penalties called, and safety and emergency information among others.

"Athletic events are tremendously popular for the general public to attend, and this is true also for deaf and hard of hearing fans," said Howard A. Rosenblum, Chief Executive Officer of the NAD. "All professional and collegiate sports teams need to recognize that many fans, not just those who are deaf or hard of hearing, need captioning in sports stadiums and arenas to understand what is being announced. Every sports team should implement quality captioning systems visible to everyone not only to comply with the law but also to meet the needs of everyone."

"The failure to provide and display captioning for the announcements made over the public address system discriminates against deaf and hard of hearing University of Maryland sports fans. The University and its employees have known about this for years and did nothing. Deaf and hard of hearing fans are tired of being left out of the game," Espo said.

Dismissing the allegations, the university officials said that they do not show prejudice against disabled people. "We offer accommodations that we believe are in compliance with the law," the university said. They also said that they do offer closed captioning on a special website.

However, Markel is not happy with this facility.

"I use my hands to use American sign language," Market said. "I might go get something to eat, I'm having fun, and I don't want to be having to hold a handheld device the whole time."