NAD Applauds FCC Selection of Hlibok as DRO Chief
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Submitted by admin on Wed, 11/17/2010 – 19:35
Greg Hlibok was tapped by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski to lead the FCC Disability Rights Office (DRO) which is responsible for telecommunications relay services (TRS), access to telecommunications equipment and services by persons with disabilities, access to emergency information, closed captioning and more. The DRO also provides expert advice and assistance to other FCC Bureaus and Offices, federal agencies, consumers, and industry, in order to support the Commission’s goal of increasing the accessibility of telecommunications services and technologies for persons with disabilities. Further, the DRO has a significant role in carrying out the mandates of the new Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 8, 2010, an effort spearheaded by the NAD and other organizations that are members of the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT).
“As the new Chief of the Disability Rights Office, Greg, who is deaf, is the first person in this important role who directly experiences the same policies that he will develop and implement. The NAD congratulates FCC Chairman Genachowski for selecting a highly qualified person with a disability who will lead the DRO through significant advances in telecommunications and technology for people with disabilities and Greg for this incredible honor,” said NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins. “This is a significant milestone during the 20th anniversary year of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Our community has a litany of challenges that this FCC administration has worked hard to address, including the National Broadband Plan to connect the country to the Internet, achieving functionally equivalent telecommunications relay services, and emerging closed captioning issues. We look forward to Greg’s leadership on these issues.”
For more information about Greg Hlibok’s selection as the next DRO Chief, please see:
http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2010/db1116/DOC-302803A1.pdf

NAD Presses DOJ to Tackle Deaf and Hard of Hearing Legal Issues
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Submitted by admin on Thu, 11/18/2010 – 21:32
On Wednesday, November 10, 2010, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), along with other disability rights advocates met with Tom Perez, the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ described significant advances that they have made in defending the rights of people with disabilities through various litigation and settlement agreements. We shared that we are pleased that the DOJ is investing more in enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and reaching out to the cross-disability community; however, more work needed to be done to preserve the rights of deaf and hard of hearing community. The NAD requested that the DOJ to respond to financial institutions that refuse telecommunications relay calls, insufficient captioning in movie theaters, and lack of captioning and other effective communication auxiliary aids in sports stadiums. We look forward to working closely with the DOJ on the concerns we discussed, in addition to several other crucial issues affecting the deaf and hard of hearing community

Kentucky to Provide Court Interpreters for Deaf Attorneys
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Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/23/2010 – 16:31
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the law firm Freking & Betz settled a complaint in federal court against the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Administrative Office of the Courts alleging their failure to provide qualified sign language interpreters for Teri Mosier, a deaf attorney admitted to practice in Kentucky. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court in Lexington, Kentucky in 2008. As a result of this case and the settlement agreement, the state of Kentucky will now provide interpreters to communicate effectively with deaf attorneys, including Mosier.
   
The defendants’ former policy stated that they “must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing qualified interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing.” However, the defendants’ policy further stated that they will “not provide interpreting services for attorneys.” The complaint alleged that the Defendants’ refusal to provide qualified sign language interpreter services when Ms. Mosier represented clients in court proceedings violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The failure of the court to provide qualified interpreter services, to ensure effective communication with, equal opportunity, and equal access to Ms. Mosier, effectively limited Ms. Mosier’s ability to practice law.
“State and local courts are required to provide qualified sign language interpreters or other accommodations to ensure effective communication,” said Bobbie Beth Scoggins, President of the NAD. “The NAD is committed to ensuring that deaf and hard of hearing attorneys have the same rights in the courtroom as their hearing counterparts. Equal justice for all requires effective communication.”

NAD Advocates for Access in Cultural Venues

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Submitted by admin on Wed, 11/24/2010 – 16:38
Earlier this week, the NAD participated in a new working group hosted by the Kennedy Center and Smithsonian about making cultural venues, such as live performance theaters and museums, accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people. The NAD commends the Kennedy Center and Smithsonian for their efforts to ensure accessibility.
This meeting focused primarily on accessibility in large performance theaters. Participants at the meeting shared their experiences with captions, sign language interpreters, and assistive listening devices in live performance theaters. The discussion focused on standards for captioning, using sign language interpreters to convey artistic content in live performances, and the technicalities of assistive listening devices. There was also some discussion about what modalities work best for various types of audiences. For example, children under the age of five will have different needs at a performance than late-deafened adults.
Participants also stressed the importance of on-site inspections, trainings, maintenance, technical issues, and constant inventory to make individual experiences truly accessible. Feedback provided by theater and museum patrons is also needed. One participant shared her experience visiting a museum where she found that the caption display equipment was available but difficult to use, no neck loop assistive listening devices were available, and some of the equipment was not functioning. In addition, while the museum staff was courteous and wanted to help, they were not aware of all to accommodations available to make the visit accessible.
The group plans to meet again in January to continue discussing accessibility in cultural settings. The NAD is pleased to work with the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian to ensure full accessibility and equal enjoyment in cultural settings by members of our community.
Please tell us about your experiences with live performance theaters, museums, and other cultural settings. How can these places and events be made more accessible to you?

NAD Submits Comments to FCC on Advanced Communications
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Submitted by admin on Wed, 11/24/2010 – 16:52
On November 22, 2010, the NAD, along with other consumer organizations, submitted comments in response to a Public Notice issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking questions about “advanced communications.” The Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (Accessibility Act), recently passed by Congress, requires accessible advanced communications. This is a summary of the NAD comments.
The new law defines advanced communications as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), electronic messaging, and interoperable video conferencing services.  “Interoperable video conferencing service” is further defined to mean real-time video communications, including audio, to enable users to share information of the user’s choosing.
Video Conferencing
Deaf and hard of hearing people must be able to access a video conferencing service directly and through a video relay service (VRS).  The video conferencing service must enable the individual to see and be seen by all video conference call participants. In addition, the individual must be able to connect to and use VRS (to see and be seen by the VRS communications assistant, and for the VRS communications assistant to hear and be heard by the video conference call participants) to participate equally in the video conference call.  Split screen or multi-user video conferencing technology should be used so the individual can see both the participant(s) and the VRS communications assistant at the same time.
Video conferencing capability is not only beneficial to individuals who rely on VRS, but for millions of deaf and hard of hearing people who benefit from visual communication cues such as speech reading, facial expressions, body language, and gestures.
The North American Numbering Plan (“NANP”) 10-digit telephone number system must be adopted and/or adapted by other video conferencing equipment and service providers to make their systems interoperable with other systems and users, including VRS users. 
In addition, video conferencing equipment and services:must include market devices and software, as well as specialized devices (videophones) and software used by deaf or hard of hearing people; must enable the delivery of two-way voice communications;
must enable the delivery of voice communications in an accessible format, through the display of real-time captioning; and
captions, when provided, must be compatible with other technologies that convert text to Braille for access by deaf-blind people.
Hearing Aid Compatibility Equipment with handsets (speakers typically held to the ear) that are used to access VoIP or video conferencing services must be compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implants.  This “hearing aid compatibility” must be built-in to the equipment.
Performance Objectives
Performance objectives related to accessibility, usability, and compatibility of advanced communications should be general enough to permit flexibility and innovation, but specific enough to achieve the desired outcomes.
Click here to read the full comments submitted by the NAD.
Tell the FCC – Make Advanced Communications Accessible to Everyone
Deadline for comments is Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Click here to submit your comments to the FCC.  Type 10-213 in the box marked “Proceeding Number.”  Type your name, contact information, and comments in the other boxes provided.  When complete, click on “Continue” to send your comment to the FCC.

We did it! Together, we had a wildly successful year with advocacy accomplishments too numerous to list here. Our 50th Biennial NAD Conference in Philadelphia, PA exceeded expectations and plans are underway for 2012 in Louisville, KY. Thanks to your support, we now have stable operations at headquarters and we’re working towards a better, brighter future for the benefit of all!
Key 2010 accomplishments:
NAD advocated for passage of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, also through Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) efforts. This new federal law will make it possible for us participate in the Internet age through captioned television programs on the Internet. The result of three years of advocacy by NAD and other groups, this new law also provides for closed caption buttons on television remote controls, hearing aid-compatible Internet telephones, communications equipment for individuals who are deaf-blind, and more.
NAD called for swift action by International Congress on the Education of the Deaf (ICED) to formally reject resolutions passed at its 2nd Congress (also known as the 1880 Milan Congress). Last summer, ICED at its 21st Congress in Vancouver made a formal announcement to this effect, with its New Era Accord which expressed deep regret for the detrimental effects of the Milan resolutions, and promoted the acceptance of and respect for all languages and forms of communication in educational programs.
NAD pushed for U.S.A ratification of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD), an important human rights treaty which states that sign language is a human right and that education includes full acquisition of language, academic, practical and social knowledge. NAD will also represent U.S.A. at the XVI World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in South Africa next summer. The WFD is a global human rights organization with 130 country affiliates.
NAD celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with U.S. President Obama at the White House, with national disability advocacy organizations, and at several federal agency events held throughout the greater Washington, DC area. NAD had a pivotal role in passage of this landmark civil rights law, including the ADA Amendments Act that was reauthorized last year.
NAD vigorously defended the rights of deaf and hard of hearing professionals and consumers in several court cases, such as: pharmacists can now conduct work-related relay calls in Alabama (patient orders by phone), spectators can now access information during university sporting events in Ohio (captioned public address systems), and attorneys can now access the Kentucky court system (interpreting services and other forms of effective communication).
We’re proud of what we’ve been able to do and we could not have done it without you. Your support – both as a member and as a donor – helps NAD continue as your watchdog, keeping an ever-vigilant eye on upcoming laws, regulations, litigation, and policy work – to preserve, protect and advance the lives of the American deaf and hard of hearing community.
This is the time of the year when people celebrate Thanksgiving. Our hope is that you will continue to support NAD through your tax-deductible gift at http://www.nad.org/donatenow so that we can keep on making the world a better place for deaf and hard of hearing people.
On behalf of the board and staff, my warmest wishes to you for the holiday season,
Bobbie Beth Scoggins
President

Score for Accessibility: OSU to Provide In-Stadium Captions
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Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/23/2010 – 13:49
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) successfully advocated for equal access to sports stadiums through a settlement agreement on behalf of Vincent Sabino with Ohio State University. Ohio State’s athletic department agreed to undertake several steps to make its athletic events accessible to deaf and hard of hearing fans. The original complaint, filed in 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, alleged that Ohio State’s athletic department discriminated against him and other deaf or hard of hearing individuals by failing to provide auxiliary aids and services, such as captioning, at Ohio Stadium and Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Without captions, Sabino did not have full and equal enjoyment of and access to Ohio State’s programs and services required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal disability rights law.
The settlement agreement requires Ohio State’s athletic department to undertake several steps to make its athletic events accessible to deaf and hard of hearing individuals. For example, Ohio State agreed to provide captioning for its football and basketball games. Ohio State is part of the Big Ten Conference of universities. Unfortunately, not all Big Ten universities provide the same level of accommodations as Ohio State now provides. To remedy this, the NAD sent a letter to all other Big Ten universities outlining the settlement agreement with Ohio State and requesting that these universities adopt similar policies and practices to ensure their stadiums provide equal access to deaf and hard of hearing fans.
“The NAD expects that this settlement agreement will serve as a model for other university and professional sports stadiums,” said NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins. “Deaf and hard of hearing spectators are legally entitled to all of the benefits of sporting events, including understanding announcements, play by play commentaries, referee calls, and the highly spirited school songs so integrated in the ultimate sport fan experience.”

NAD to Provide Three Presentations at the 2011 EHDI Conference

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Submitted by admin on Thu, 11/04/2010 – 12:27

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was selected to provide three educational sessions for the EHDI Conference in Atlanta, Georgia from February 21-22, 2011. For ten years, the Early Hearing and Detection Intervention Conference (EHDI) has brought local and federal EHDI professionals, deaf educators, advocates, audiologists, and parents together to share experiences and strategies to jump-start deaf and hard of hearing babies? language acquisition.

One presentation will cover the importance of deaf and hard of hearing mentors in EHDI programs. New parents of deaf or hard of hearing children are often overwhelmed with information regarding various educational, technological, and communication strategies.  In this session, the NAD will explain how including deaf mentors in EHDI programs provides parents with the answers that professionals cannot answer and allow parents to make more educated decisions for their children.

In another discussion, the NAD will accentuate how American Sign Language (ASL) enhances the acquisition of English rather than impairs it in its third presentation. Incorporating early acquisition and learning both, ASL and English, maximizes the potential for language proficiency in deaf and hard of hearing infants through the implementation of a dual language approach.

Finally, the NAD will emphasize how deaf or hard of hearing children?s linguistic success depends on both the parents being proactive and involved in their child’s early education program, and on the program establishing and maintaining strong relationships with parents.

The NAD is excited to bring its advocacy efforts to the upcoming EHDI Conference.  This is a rare opportunity for the NAD to have a direct dialogue with the key players in the EHDI field. See the EHDI Conference website. For more information, visit http://ehdiconference.org/.