COAT advocates for accessibility and usability of technology for people with disabilities. Enacting the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (21st CVAA) was a huge step forward and we are working to implement this new law. COAT’s overall aim is to ensure accessibility, usability, and affordability of all broadband, wireless, and Internet technologies for people with disabilities.
COAT Regrets Death of Blind Leader, Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl, Audio Description Pioneer
The COAT coalition regrets learning of the death of Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl, who died September 28, 2009, at age 76, after a lung illness. Dr. Pfanstiehl founded the Metropolitan Washington Ear reading service for blind people in 1974, an agency that provides free services for blind, visually impaired and physically disabled people who cannot effectively read print. The reading service covers everything from magazines to newspapers and grocery store ads. It provides audio descriptions of area theater and opera performances, movies and museum exhibitions.
Pfanstiehl, who was blind, was nationally recognized for her work, receiving AFB's Cody Access Award in 2001 and, more recently in 2009, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Award for Excellence in Accessibility Leadership. She was a founding member of the International Association of Audio Information Services and instrumental in securing legislation in 1998 that permitted some limited video description on television for eight months in 2002, before industry had the rules tossed out. COAT's current agenda includes re-instatement of this TV video description requirement. COAT thanks her for setting the foundation and salutes her life-time achievements for people with disabilities. Articles on Dr. Pfanstiehl's passing:
Closed Caption button on remote.