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 Affiliate RESNA Receives National Assistive Technology Grant

Other Access Issues

On August 5, 2010, COAT learned that national affiliate RESNA was awarded the new five-year national technical assistance grant to provide assistance to assistive technology (AT) entities nationwide. The award is from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) at the U.S. Department of Education.

RESNA's work will involve working with the Assistive Technology Act programs (such as the statewide Assistive Technology (AT) projects, Alternative Financing Programs (AFPs) and Protection & Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAATs) projects and a wider community of partners including Neighborhood Legal Services.

RESNA's assistive technology mission is to work to provide assistive technology devices and services to people with disabilities to improve their participation in education, work and an accessible community.

RESNA is expected to hire people to execute the grant. For further information please contact M. Nell Bailey via Email.

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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.

Congressman Ed Markey in photo of Congressional hearing room dais. Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA), center, introduced the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009 (H.R. 3101) on June 26, 2009.

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President Obama signs the Accessibility Act

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