A News Release from the National Association of the Deaf <\/p>\n
Release Date: January 4, 2008 <\/p>\n
Contact: <\/p>\n
Anita B. Farb <\/p>\n
Director, Communications and Operations <\/p>\n
National Association of the Deaf <\/p>\n
Email: http:\/\/www.nad.org\/contactus<\/p>\n
NAD Supports Draft Legislation to Ensure Access to Technology <\/p>\n
SILVER SPRING, MD – The National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
\nannounced its support of a recently released U.S. House of
\nRepresentatives discussion draft, titled \u001c21st Century Communications
\nand Video Accessibility Act\u001d. This draft, if passed, would upgrade
\ntelecommunications laws to mandate access to current and future
\ncutting edge technologies. <\/p>\n
Through its leadership in the Coalition of Organizations for
\nAccessible Technology (COAT) (http:\/\/www.coataccess.org
\n), the NAD has been working with Congress on this draft for many
\nmonths and is pleased with its release. <\/p>\n
Since the early 1990s, federal law has required accessibility
\nfeatures and services such as telecommunications relay services,
\ncaptioning decoder circuitry in televisions, and closed captioning
\nfor television programming. While these requirements have served the
\ndeaf and hard of hearing community well, they have not kept pace
\nwith, nor have been updated to apply to, newer technologies such as
\nmobile devices or the Internet. As a result, deaf and hard of hearing
\nindividuals now are experiencing decreased access to
\ntelecommunications devices and services. This draft U.S. House of
\nRepresentatives bill would amend the Communications Act to remedy
\nthis lack of access. Among other things, it would: <\/p>\n
Expand the scope of devices that must display closed captions.
\nToday, television sets with screens that are 13 inches or larger must
\nbe capable of displaying captions, but other devices do not have to
\nmeet this requirement. Under this draft, captioning requirements
\nwould apply to all devices (regardless of screen size) that display
\nvideo programming transmitted simultaneously with sound, including
\nthose that display programming carried over the Internet.
\n Clarify that video programming includes what is provided by or
\ncomparable to that provided by a television broadcast station, even
\nif the programming is distributed over the Internet. Current
\ncaptioning requirements apply only to broadcast, cable, or satellite
\nprogramming. This new provision would have the effect of extending
\ncaptioning requirements to comparable programming shown over the
\nInternet.
\n Require manufacturers of devices used to display video programming,
\nincluding those that are Internet based, to ensure that these devices
\nare accessible by people with disabilities. Manufacturers also would
\nbe required to provide a conspicuous means of accessing closed
\ncaptioning, including a button on remote controls and first level
\naccess to this feature when available through on-screen menus. <\/p>\n
\u001cDeaf and hard of hearing consumers are tired of being denied access
\nto today’s technologies because these have not been created with
\naccessibility in mind,\u001d remarked NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins.
\n\u001cIf passed, this draft bill will remedy many of the problems we have
\nhad with telecommunications access. It simply is not acceptable to
\nleave out 30-plus million deaf and hard of hearing people from access
\nto cutting-edge telecommunications devices and services. The NAD urges
\nU.S. Congressional members to take decisive action to close the
\ndigital divide in an expeditious manner.\u001d <\/p>\n
Read a summary of the draft bill here. click here<\/p>\n
(doc format)<\/p>\n
Read the full draft please visit at
\nhttp:\/\/coataccess.civicspaceondemand.org\/node\/56<\/p>\n
About the NAD <\/p>\n
Established in 1880, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
\nsafeguards the civil, human, and language rights of deaf and hard of
\nhearing Americans, including recognition and usage of American Sign
\nLanguage. As a federation of national, state, and local affiliates,
\nand individual members, the work of the NAD encompasses a broad range
\nof advocacy issues including, but not limited to early intervention,
\neducation, emergency access, employment, health care, mental health,
\ntechnology, telecommunications, and transportation – toward creation
\nof a barrier-free, respectful, and welcoming environment that is
\nmutually benefits all involved. For more information about the NAD,
\nvisit http:\/\/www.nad.org
\n.<\/p>\n
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A News Release from the National Association of the Deaf Release Date: January 4, 2008 Contact: Anita B. Farb Director, Communications and Operations National Association of the Deaf Email: http:\/\/www.nad.org\/contactus NAD Supports Draft Legislation to Ensure Access to Technology SILVER…<\/p>\n