and view the
\nmultimedia<\/p>\nrelease at .<\/p>\n
Here’s my blog about it, and comments are welcome at
\nhttp:\/\/www.afb.org\/blog:<\/p>\n
Access on Hold: New AFB Video Highlights Accessibility Problems with<\/p>\n
Cell Phones Posted by Paul Schroeder on 4\/2\/2009 5:02:25 PM Paul<\/p>\n
Schroeder<\/p>\n
We’ve talked a lot about cell phone accessibility in the past and
\nwhile<\/p>\n
some improvements to the accessibility of phones have been made<\/p>\n
recently, the majority of cell phones still do not offer such obvious<\/p>\n
access features as talking menus and magnification options, and those<\/p>\n
that do are usually the more costly phones. AFB has released a new
\nvideo<\/p>\n
illustrating the challenges people with vision loss face when trying
\nto<\/p>\n
purchase a usable and affordable cell phone. Our hope is that both
\nthe<\/p>\n
leaders in the wireless industry and the Obama administration and the<\/p>\n
new leadership at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will
\ntake<\/p>\n
immediate action to ensure that cell phones and phone services are
\nmade<\/p>\n
accessible for people with disabilities, as required by Section 255
\nof<\/p>\n
the Communications Act. This video features our own expert Darren
\nBurton<\/p>\n
at AFB TECH in Huntington WV and his colleague Tara Annis. You can
\nview<\/p>\n
the embedded version of the video below or visit the cell phone
\nsection<\/p>\n
of our web site for an accessible version.<\/p>\n
And, here’s the Press Release<\/p>\n
New AFB Video Portrays Difficulties Faced by Cell Phone Users with<\/p>\n
Vision Loss AFB Urges Action by Wireless Industry to Ensure People
\nwith<\/p>\n
Vision Loss Have Access to Cell Phones<\/p>\n
New York, NY (April 2, 2009)<\/p>\n
-Ever wonder what it would be like to use a cell phone without being<\/p>\n
able to see the display screen or keypad? Would you be able to dial<\/p>\n
calls, send a text message, or even get help in an emergency
\nsituation?<\/p>\n
This is often the reality for people with vision loss because the<\/p>\n
majority of cell phones do not offer talking menus and magnification<\/p>\n
options, and those that do cost much more. To improve the
\naccessibility<\/p>\n
of cell phones for the more than 20 million Americans with vision
\nloss,<\/p>\n
the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is urging cell phone<\/p>\n
manufacturers and providers to focus on cell phone accessibility as
\nthey<\/p>\n
gather at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA)<\/p>\n
conference in Las Vegas this week.<\/p>\n
As part of its cell phone accessibility efforts, AFB has launched a
\nnew<\/p>\n
video illustrating the challenges people with vision loss face when<\/p>\n
trying to purchase a usable and affordable cell phone. The video,
\nwhich<\/p>\n
is available on YouTube and AFB’s web site, is audio described and<\/p>\n
captioned to make it accessible to all people with disabilities. AFB
\nis<\/p>\n
also urging the Obama administration and the new leadership at the<\/p>\n
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take immediate action to<\/p>\n
ensure that cell phones and phone services are made accessible for<\/p>\n
people with disabilities, as required by Section 255 of the<\/p>\n
Communications Act . <\/p>\n
“While we applaud the leadership shown by AT&T and Verizon, who are<\/p>\n
providing software at a discount to make some of their phones
\naccessible<\/p>\n
for consumers with vision loss, the reality is that the majority of
\ncell<\/p>\n
phones still do not incorporate key features like speech output and<\/p>\n
magnification of information displayed on the screen,” said Paul<\/p>\n
Schroeder, Vice President, Programs and Policy Group at AFB. “Cell<\/p>\n
phones are an essential part of modern life, and it’s time
\nmanufacturers<\/p>\n
and carriers start providing phones that work for everyone, including<\/p>\n
the millions of us who do not have perfect eyesight.”<\/p>\n
For more information on cell phone accessibility, visit
\nhttp:\/\/www.afb.org\/cellphones.<\/p>\n
### <\/p>\n
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit
\nthat<\/p>\n
expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB’s priorities<\/p>\n
include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of<\/p>\n
information and tools for the professionals who serve people with
\nvision<\/p>\n
loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with<\/p>\n
vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and<\/p>\n
timely resources. AFB is also proud to house the Helen Keller
\nArchives<\/p>\n
and honor the more than forty years that Helen Keller worked
\ntirelessly<\/p>\n
with AFB. For more information visit us online at www.afb.org . <\/p>\n
For more information, contact:
\nCaitlin McFeely
\n212-502-7674
\ncmcfeely@afb.net
\nPaul W. Schroeder
\nVice President, Programs and Policy
\nAmerican Foundation for the Blind
\n1660 L Street, N.W., Suite 513
\nWashington, DC 20036
\nPhone: 202-822-0832
\nE-mail: pws@afb.net
\nWeb: http:\/\/www.afb.org
\nExpanding possibilities for people with vision loss ™<\/http><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cell Phone Video on Access Problems for People with Vision Loss Friends: Today, the American Foundation for the Blind released a long-awaited video on cell phone access problems confronting people with vision loss. You can view the video at or…<\/p>\n
Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-1A6","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5615,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2009\/03\/01\/please-support-coat-petition\/","url_meta":{"origin":6082,"position":0},"title":"Please Support C.O.A.T. Petition","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"March 1, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"COAT legislation petition now signed in 44 states! We would like to encourage each of you to support some very important legislation that will make a tremendous difference in the lives of deaf and hard of hearing citizens. The 21st Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act is going to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1606,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2007\/05\/08\/free-cell-phones-for-people-with-hearing-loss-houston\/","url_meta":{"origin":6082,"position":1},"title":"Free cell phones for people with hearing loss – Houston","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"May 8, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"You are invited to attend a press conference on Thursday, May 10th at 1 p.m. to hear Mayor White kick off the HELP project! HELP stands for \"Hearing Effectiveness Leadership Program,\" and this is an exciting new partnership between the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities and Connectivity Source. Connectivity\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30124,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2015\/02\/20\/online-survey-by-gallaudet-university-about-voice-telecommunications-use\/","url_meta":{"origin":6082,"position":2},"title":"Online Survey By Gallaudet University About Voice Telecommunications Use","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"February 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Online Survey By Gallaudet University About Voice Telecommunications Use Deadline: February 21, 2015 The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Telecommunications Access at Gallaudet University is conducting an online survey to learn about the experiences of adults who are hard of hearing, deaf or have hearing loss in their use of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":22670,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/04\/17\/wireless-phones-fee-advances\/","url_meta":{"origin":6082,"position":3},"title":"Wireless phones fee advances","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"April 17, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Wireless phones fee advances BY MICHELLE MILLHOLLON Capitol news bureau from Louisiana April 16, 2013 Many cell phone users would pay a few cents more a month under legislation that cleared a House committee Wednesday. House Bill 238 by state Rep. Patrick Williams would add long distance, pager and wireless\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/DN_logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18189,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2012\/04\/02\/new-lighton-cell-phone-signaler\/","url_meta":{"origin":6082,"position":4},"title":"NEW! LightOn Cell Phone Signaler","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"April 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"NEW! LightOn Cell Phone Signaler Harris Communications is pleased to introduce an innovative new cell phone signaler designed specifically for deaf and hard of hearing people. Simply place your cell phone on the LightOn. When a new call or message comes in, a bright LED light is triggered and continues\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Calendar Event"","block_context":{"text":"Calendar Event","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/event-calendar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":26301,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2014\/02\/14\/introducing-serene-innovations-rf-200-cell-phone-signaler\/","url_meta":{"origin":6082,"position":5},"title":"Introducing Serene Innovations RF-200 Cell Phone Signaler","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"February 14, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Introducing Serene Innovations RF-200 Cell Phone Signaler \u00a0 The new Serene Innovations RF-200 Cell Phone Signaler\/Flasher is a desktop signaling device for landline and mobile phones, notifying you when you have incoming calls by phone, Skype, FaceTime and text messages. \u00a0 For cell phone calls, simply place the cell phone\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6082"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6085,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6082\/revisions\/6085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}