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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.

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COAT Leader Tells International Telecom Union about HR 3101 & Modernizing Relay Service

COAT leader, Karen Peltz Strauss of the RERC on Telecommunications at Gallaudet, spoke November 3, 2009 on "Relay Services in the Modernized Environment," at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland. The workshop event,"The Impact of of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities ("UNCRPD") on the work of the ITU-T," focused on the various UNCRPD provisions that involve inclusive communications technologies (ICTs). See photo at event on COAT Facebook group website.

Karen mentioned COAT and our agenda for HR 3101 and its aims. She specifically focused on the need for video communications for people who sign and for transparency in relay services. She was pleased that communications issues for people with disabilities are now being addressed at the global level but concerned about how far behind many countries continue to be. For more information on ITU efforts on accessibility contact Email Alexandra Gaspari.

 

 

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COAT leaders at the FCC

Andrew Phillips, National Association of the Deaf; Eric Bridges, American Council of the Blind; Mark Richert, American Foundation for the Blind; and Jenifer Simpson, American Association of People with Disabilities, outside the FCC building, Washington DC, after meetings on pending rules under 21st CVAA.

Celebration of the bill's final passage

Rep. Ed Markey and Legislative Director Mark Bayer celebrate the bill’s final passage on September 28, 2010, in front of the Helen Keller statue, with the leaders from the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology: Karen Peltz Strauss, formerly with Communication Service for the Deaf; Jenifer Simpson, American Association of People with Disabilities; Rosaline Crawford, National Association of the Deaf. Their hands symbolize clapping in sign language.

21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

President Obama signs the Accessibility Act

President Obama signed the 21st
Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act into law on October 8, 2010, with many key advocates and lawmakers in attendance.

Senator Mark Pryor (AR)

Senator Mark Pryor (AR) received AAPD’s Justice For All Award July 26, 2011 for his leadership with Senate passage of the 21st CVAA.

Key FCC Staff working on 21st CVAA

Key FCC staff working on 21st CVAA: Karen Peltz Strauss, Rosaline Crawford, Eliot Greenwald

Sesame Street video with captioning and description. Sesame Street video with captioning and description.

Closed Caption button on remote. Closed Caption button on remote.