Ed’s Telecom Alert

All..

This is really exciting.  Dept of Justice wants to hear from you all on various accessibility issues from ADA.  

Accessibility of Web Info and Services

"The Department of Justice (Department) is considering revising the regulations implementing title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA or Act) in order to establish requirements for making the goods, services, facilities, privileges, accommodations, or advantages offered by public accommodations via the Internet, specifically at sites on the World Wide Web (Web), accessible to individuals with disabilities."

and this

"..considering revising the ADA’s title II regulation to establish requirements for making the services, programs, or activities offered by State and local governments to the public via the Web accessible."

I’ve said that many times before; hold your silence, gov’t decides what you need, but if you tell gov’t what you want, gov’t will follow your suggestions (at least if enough of you express, they usually do).  

Sooo  be brave and tell DOJ what you think and what should be done.    Link explains how to express to the DOJ.  

I will be one of them.   My major beef is non-captioned of the video clips of news media like CNN and others.    Be sure to instruct DOJ to create a rule not to use voice to text cuz it is not accurate yet, or use teleprompter cuz ad libs often are lost in that.   We want the captioning of the whole shebang news clips.  

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Link:

Access – http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#documentDetail?R=0900006480b20b1a

Folks..

My apologies to those who already got this, but I thought worth posting for those who may have not seen that one.   

ICED Resolution

Quote

"Therefore we:

• Reject all resolutions passed at the ICED Milan Congress in 1880 that denied the inclusion of sign languages in educational programs for Deaf students;
• Acknowledge and sincerely regret the detrimental effectsof the Milan conference; and
• Call upon all Nations of the world to remember history and ensure that educational programs accept and respect all languages and all forms of communication."

My reaction?   YAHOO and HUZZAH!    

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long Link:

ICED – http://www.iced2010.com/pdf/Statement%20of%20Principle%20and%20Accord%20for%20the%20Future%281%29.pdf

Folks..

Check this link out…

Access Bill

Quotable quote:

"Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) announced that a piece of legislation guaranteeing broadband Internet access for disabled Americans will hopefully become law in 2010."

Read the blog and then let your state Congress persons know that you want this bill to be passed.  Below is the link to where you can find out who your congress folks are and how to contact them. 

Contact Congress Folks

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Long LInk:

Access Bill:  http://www.speedmatters.org/blog/archive/kerry-legislation-ensuring-broadband-access-for-disabled-may-pass-in-2/
Contact: http://contactingthecongress.org/

All..