Ed’s Telecom Alert

Folks..

By now, one would think that issue should not be a problem for deaf/hoh, but, it still is. 

Hosp Denied Request

Quotable quotes:

"The Florida Human Relations Commission must determine whether a Hialeah hospital meets the legal definition of a public establishment so it can be determined whether it should have provided a sign-language interpreter to a deaf patient, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday."

My reaction was "What?  Seriously?"   It is a no brainer that hospital should provide interpreting service.  

"The plaintiff, Maura Mena, brought a discrimination complaint, alleging that her request for a sign-language interpreter was denied."

"The commission has made a ruling on this issue before, saying that hospitals aren’t primarily engaged in selling food, even if they have a cafeteria, and therefore don’t qualify."

Geez – looking for loopholes, huh?

"But a three-judge panel of the 1st DCA on Tuesday said whether the particular hospital is qualified depends on whether it “holds itself out as serving patrons” of the cafeteria. And that question of fact must be answered before the court can rule, the panel said, sending the case back to the Human Relations Commission to determine the answer."

It is really sad that this still happens in this enlightened age.

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Link:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/29/1991985/deaf-patient-files-complaint.html

Folks..

I’ve listed several posts to the accessibility bill, but want to share Obama signing the bill. 

Obama Signed

Quotable quotes:

"Within one year of passage of the Act that the FCC will define regulations to make Advanced Communications Services accessible to and usable by people with disabilities (Section 716)."

That quote is important and has a far-reaching impact on how world of telecommunications should be done for disabled and deaf/hoh persons. Essentially should disabled/deaf/hoh be a segregated group or be part of the mainstreamed group?

Another important quote: "Within 6 months, the FCC will set a schedule for requiring closed captions on video displayed online, for video that was delivered with captions on broadcast television. (Section 202)."

This bill is not addressing VRS per se, but broad accessible issues for the disability groups.  

Let’s see how industry have responded?  

List of Posts from FCC

Click to this and you will find all commentators listed in this.  Several you will recognize and should click.  

Here are a few.  

Convo Comment

"Convo intends to be a pioneer in encouraging the use of the “off-the-shelf” equipment (i.e. CPE) or programs to make VRS calls. Convo believes that is the ideal path the FCC is seeking ways. The use of off-the-shelf products or programs will minimize the cost to the over-all-cost of equipment for both providers and consumers."

NAD Comment

This is a consumer organization group that replied to comments already made from various commentators; VRS providers, industry, etc.   I suggest you read this in its entirely as it is difficult to pinpoint one statement that represents the overall comments of this consumer organizations.   

SorensonVRS Comment

"Section 716 was intended to cover mass market services and equipment (such as personal computers and smart phones) that have not been designed for use by persons with disabilities, not services and equipment (such as VRS and point-to-point) that have been designed specifically to be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. 5    It would be counterproductive to force providers of specialized accessibility services to alter those services and equipment that are already specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities."

Basically this is saying that deaf/hoh needs to be segregated from mainstreamed video industry.

Purple Comment

"We also believe that this process should include the utilization of the North American Numbering Plan (“NANP”) in those video conferencing systems. In this sense, we echo other commenters seeking integration of mainstream video conferencing equipment and software with VRS."

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Link:

Obama Signed:
blogs.adobe.com/accessibility/2010/10/president-obama-signs-accessibility-act.html

List of Posts from FCC:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment_search/%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20/ecfs/comment_search/paginate?pageSize=50

NAD Comment
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020922461

Sorenson VRS
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020921227

Purple Comment
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020922525