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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.

Consumer Advocacy Training by COAT Affiliate TDI Denver March 27 & 28

On March 4, 2010, leading COAT affiliate TDI announced they will hold a two day consumer advocacy training seminar in Denver, Colorado on March 27 & 28. The training seminars are about Access to Telecommunications, Media, and Information Technology and will be held at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colorado.

Graduates of the two-day seminar will take home the skills and knowledge needed to mount effective advocacy campaigns such as mobilizing friends in their communities, getting local TV newscasters to implement or increase real-time captioning, and about using electronic social media.

Limited to 30 participants from AK, CO, IA, KS, LA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NM, ND, OK, SD, TX, WY, deadline for Applications is Monday, March 15, 2010. See Application.  Completed applications should be sent to TDI Consumer Advocacy Training Seminar, 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 604, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3803 or Fax 301-589-3797. Financial support for the event is provided by Sorenson Communications

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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.