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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 Affiliates Speak at "Apps 4 Access" on Capitol Hill

As part of the events celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Disability Power & Pride sponsored an event called "Apps 4 Access," on July 23, 2010 that focused on accessible wireless technology.  Jenifer Simpson of AAPD, Paul Schroeder of AFB, and Claude Stout of TDI, well-known COAT leaders, were panelists at this event that also included speakers from CTIA, NENA / Mobile Future, Research In Motion (RIM), Vlingo, Grembe Apps, the Alzheimer's Association, and AT&T Labs.  The event was moderated by Susan Mazrui of AT&T and Karen Peltz Strauss of the FCC.

Advocates Simpson, Schroeder, Stout and Julie Sipchen of Alzheimer's Association emphasized the needs for accessibility and usability of wireless applications, especially in regard to supporting the independence of people with disabilities across the spectrum of disability, age and medical condition. App developers talked of their projects to develop specific applications for custom needs for people with disabilities in addition to research directions, such as apps for TV set-top boxes.

Panelists -- lead by Dane Snowden of CTIA -- endorsed the challenge posed by AT&T to expand AccessWireless, a website portal hosted by CTIA to aggregate information on accessible devices and services for people with disabilities. Apps 4 Access was held in a Congressional Meeting Room on Capitol Hill and indicates the importance of the disability community, wireless companies and trade associations in working together collaboratively as mobile connectivity expands further.

 

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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.