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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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Communications Union Wants Disability Access in National Broadband Plan

COAT applauds the Communications Workers of America (CWA) for mentioning the access needs of people with disabilities when they filed comments January 27, 2010, at the FCC for the National Broadband Plan. The plan should go to the U.S. Congress March 16, 2010.

CWA's Comments noted the adoption gap, or lack of access or use of broadband, by people with disabiities and recommended that the FCC address disability access requirements alongside service quality, public safety, consumer protection and other requirements.

CWA also recommended the current use of Universal Service Funds for low-income people (e.g., the Lifeline Link Up program) be extended to broadband subscribers.  A similar provision is proposed in Section 105 of H.R. 3101, for low income people with disabilities.

CWA has over 700,000 members nationwide and has worked with COAT affiliate AAPD's Technology Policy Initiative to develop a Fact Sheet about high speed Internet and people with disabilities.  To test your computer internet speed go to CWA's Speed Matters website. Is your connection as fast as you thought?

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CWA echoed this story on

Submitted by Jenifer Simpson on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 16:24.

CWA echoed this story on their website.

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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.