Legislation Would Make New Information and Communications Technologies
\nAccessible<\/p>\n
Paul Schroeder <\/p>\n
On May 1, 2008, the United States Congress heard testimony on draft
\nlegislation, the “Twenty-first Century Communications and Video
\nAccessibility Act.” The legislation was requested by a coalition of
\norganizations from the disability community to ensure that new
\ninformation and communications technologies are accessible. The
\nhearing took place before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and
\nthe Internet. <\/p>\n
The legislation that is now under consideration would put in place
\nnew requirements in several areas. First, it would build on the
\nexisting law known as Section 255 which requires telephones to be
\ndesigned so that they are accessible to people with disabilities. That
\nlaw passed in 1996, and this new legislation would address
\ncommunications technologies that use the Internet to send and receive
\ninformation. The legislation would also require video description of
\nTV programs, starting with a modest requirement, but clearly directing
\nthat video description be increased over time. Video description means
\nthe insertion of audio descriptions of a television program’s key
\nvisual elements during natural pauses in the program’s dialogue. Some
\nmay remember that a previous law had required minimal video
\ndescription, but that law was struck down in the courts. For those of
\nus frustrated by the ever-increasing inaccessibility of our TV sets,
\nthe draft legislation requires that controls like on-screen menus and
\nelectronic program guides be made to be usable by those of us who
\ncan’t see the screen. And, for individuals who are deaf-blind, the
\nlegislation would enable funds now used to help pay for phone service
\nfor low-income or hard-to-serve individuals to be used to help pay for
\nbraille displays and other technology needed to use text
\ntelecommunications devices and call relay systems. Finally, the
\nlegislation also includes several improvements for people who are deaf
\nor hard of hearing. <\/p>\n
The hearing featured a wonderful exchange about the accessibility of
\nnew technologies like the BlackBerry. Sergeant Major Jesse Acosta, one
\nof our nation’s military heroes who lost his sight during combat in
\nIraq, described in blunt terms his frustration with communications
\ntechnologies that he cannot use. In response, a Congressman
\ndemonstrated how to use the BlackBerry’s voice call feature, but Mr.
\nAcosta pointed out that without being able to see the screen, he
\ncouldn’t set up the feature. And, in a priceless exchange, Congressman
\nEdward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts who chairs the
\nSubcommittee, also pointed out that a blind person would need
\nassistance from someone who could see to enter names and numbers in
\nthe contact list. Chairman Markey has been a long-time friend <\/p>\n
of the disability community, and as the force behind this new
\nlegislation, he clearly “gets it.” <\/p>\n
More information is on the blog on AFB’s web site at
\nhttp:\/\/www.afb.org\/blog\/
\n. You can get more information about the draft legislation by going
\nto the web site of the disability coalition that is supporting it–The
\nCoalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) at
\nhttp:\/\/www.coataccess.org
\n. <\/p>\n
You can also keep up with developments by signing up for
\n“DirectConnect,” a periodic advocacy information email from AFB’s
\nPublic Policy Center in Washington, DC. Send an e-mail to Barbara
\nLeMoine at blemoine@afb.net
\n to add your name to the list.<\/p>\n
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Legislation Would Make New Information and Communications Technologies Accessible Paul Schroeder On May 1, 2008, the United States Congress heard testimony on draft legislation, the “Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act.” The legislation was requested by a coalition of…<\/p>\n