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
organizations from the disability community to ensure that new information
and communications technologies are accessible. The hearing took place
before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
The legislation that is now under consideration would put in place new
requirements in several areas. First, it would build on the existing law
known as Section 255 which requires telephones to be designed so that they
are accessible to people with disabilities. That law passed in 1996, and
this new legislation would address communications technologies that use the
Internet to send and receive information. The legislation would also require
video description of TV programs, starting with a modest requirement, but
clearly directing that video description be increased over time. Video
description means the insertion of audio descriptions of a television
programÂ’s key visual elements during natural pauses in the programÂ’s
dialogue. Some may remember that a previous law had required minimal video
description, but that law was struck down in the courts. For those of us
frustrated by the ever-increasing inaccessibility of our TV sets, the draft
legislation requires that controls like on-screen menus and electronic
program guides be made to be usable by those of us who can't see the screen.
And, for individuals who are deaf-blind, the legislation would enable funds
now used to help pay for phone service for low-income or hard-to-serve
individuals to be used to help pay for braille displays and other technology
needed to use text telecommunications devices and call relay systems.
Finally, the legislation also includes several improvements for people who
are deaf or hard of hearing.
The hearing featured a wonderful exchange about the accessibility of new
technologies like the BlackBerry. Sergeant Major Jesse Acosta, one of our
nation's military heroes who lost his sight during combat in Iraq, described
in blunt terms his frustration with communications technologies that he
cannot use. In response, a Congressman demonstrated how to use the
BlackBerry's voice call feature, but Mr. Acosta pointed out that without
being able to see the screen, he couldn't set up the feature. And, in a
priceless exchange, Congressman Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts
who chairs the Subcommittee, also pointed out that a blind person would need
assistance from someone who could see to enter names and numbers in the
contact list. Chairman Markey has been a long-time friend of the disability
community, and as the force behind this new legislation, he clearly "gets
it."
More information is on the blog on AFBÂ’s web site at www.afb.org/blog/. You
can get more information about the draft legislation by going to the web
site of the disability coalition that is supporting it--The Coalition of
Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) at www.coataccess.org. You
can also keep up with developments by signing up for "DirectConnect," a
periodic advocacy information email from AFB's Public Policy Center in
Washington, DC. Send an e-mail to Barbara LeMoine at [log in to unmask]
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