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July 5, 2005

The Information Technology Technical Assistance & Training Center

ACCESS E and IT NEWS

***Promoting Accessible IT & Telecommunications***


July 5, 2005 (Vol. 5, Issue 9)

In This Issue:

UPCOMING EVENTS

  1. National Coalition for Technology in Education & Training (NCTET) Policy Forum, August 1, 2005.
  2. 8th Annual Accessing Higher Ground: Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference, November 8-11, 2005.

FCC TELECOMMUNICATIONS/REGULATIONS

  1. Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Reminds States and TRS Providers that Annual Summary of Consumer Complaints Concerning TRS is Due.
  2. FCC Seeks Comment on Panasonic Request for Waiver of Hearing Aid-Compatibility and Volume Control Requirements.
  3. Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Reminds Telecomm Equipment Manufacturers and Service Providers to Designate Agent for FCC Complaints.
  4. FCC Denies 17 Petitions for Waiver of Closed Captioning Requirements.

FOR YOUR ACTION/INFORMATION

  1. Blind Rider Terry Martin Goes the Distance in 40-Mile Charity Bike Ride.
  2. 'Accessible Technologies for All Students' Project.

ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS

  1. Invisible No More: Technology Transfers.

PAST EVENTS

  1. RESNA's 28th International Conference on Technology & Disability.
  2. Instructional Technology and Education of the Deaf International Symposium.

RESOURCES

  1. ITTATC Publishes Series of Accessibility Questions and Answers Called 'Ask the Experts.'
  2. Accessible Technology from TechSoup.


UPCOMING EVENTS


1. NATIONAL COALITION FOR TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION & TRAINING (NCTET) POLICY FORUM
August 1, 2005
Washington, D.C.

NCTET policy forums take place every 6 to 8 weeks and "provide education technology stakeholders with an opportunity to obtain and share information on key pending government policies, programs and initiatives with impact on technology's integration into teaching and learning." The next forum will be held at the Council of Chief State School Officers, One Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 700, in Washington, D.C., on Monday, August 1, from 3:00-5:00 PM.

For more information, see http://www.nctet.org/calendar.htm or contact Mark Schneiderman at marks@siia.net.





2. 8th ANNUAL ACCESSING HIGHER GROUND: ACCESSIBLE MEDIA, WEB AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
November 8-11, 2005
Boulder, CO.

This conference will include more than 45 sessions, including "hands-on labs and lectures...on the availability and benefits of accessible media and technology in the university, college and business setting."

Pre-conference events include: (i) Equal Access to Software & Information (EASI) sessions on library access; (ii) California State University, Northridge (CSUN) 'AT Applications Certificate Program' (ATACP) trainings; (iii) The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) presentations on the NIMUS e-text initiative; and (iv) WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind) hands-on workshops addressing 'The Next Generation of Web Accessibility: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust (POUR).'

For highlights and further information:
http://www.colorado.edu/sacs/ATconference/schedovrvw2005.html#highlights


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FCC TELECOMMUNICATIONS/REGULATIONS


1. CONSUMER & GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU REMINDS STATES AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICES (TRS) PROVIDERS THAT THE ANNUAL SUMMARY OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS CONCERNING TRS IS DUE FRIDAY, JULY 1ST 2005 (DA 05-1681)
June 16, 2005.

In order to monitor and ensure TRS service quality, the FCC requires "state TRS programs and interstate TRS providers to maintain a log of consumer complaints that allege violations of the federal TRS mandatory minimum standards." The logs act as "an early warning system" of potential problems, and assist the FCC "to determine whether a state or interstate TRS provider has appropriately addressed consumer complaints and to spot national trends that may lend themselves to coordinated solutions."





2. FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA'S REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF HEARING AID-COMPATIBILITY AND VOLUME CONTROL REQUIREMENTS FOR ITS PANASONIC 2.4 GHZ FHSS CORDLESS TELEPHONE WITH BONE CONDUCATION TYPE EAR-PIECE, JUNE 17, 2005 CC DOCKET NO. 87-124 (DA 05-1683).

In April 2005, Panasonic Corp. requested an FCC waiver of hearing aid compatibility and volume control requirements to best market the Panasonic 2.4 GHz FHSS Cordless Telephone with Bone Conduction Type Ear-Piece. "Panasonic asserts that the non-conforming ear-piece will benefit the special needs of 'transmission hearing impaired' persons [and]...that the product would be labeled as non-hearing aid compatible, contain a warning that the phone may not be used in a public location, and provide instructions on how to reduce feedback in a hearing aid caused by the telephone."

Comments are due before June 27, 2005, and reply comments are due before July 7, 2005. For information on making public comment, visit the links above.





3. CONSUMER & GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU REMINDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS OF OBLIGATION TO DESIGNMATE AGENT FOR COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE FCC, JUNE 14, 2005 (DA 05-1653).

This Public Notice reminds telecommunications equipment manufacturers and telecommunications service providers of the requirement.





4. FCC DENIES 17 PETITIONS FOR WAIVER OF CLOSED CAPTIONING REQUIREMENTS.

The FCC denied requested exemptions of closed captioning requirements to 17 organizations in June. Review the FCC's Memoranda Opinion & Orders for each organization below:

Gulf Meadows Church, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 22, 2005 (CSR6392) (DA No. 05-1705)

LifePoints Ministries, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 22, 2005 (CSR 6292) (DA No. 05-1707)

Maranatha Fellowship Church, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 22, 2005 (CSR 6308) (DA No. 05-1706)

Victory Videos Ministries, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 17, 2005 (CSR 6373) (DA No. 05-1689)

Avery Outdoor Enterprises, LLC, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 17, 2005 (CSR 5950) (DA No. 05-1690)

Brown Trail Church, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 15, 2005 (CSR 6289) (DA No. 05-1669)

Awakening Ministries, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 15, 2005 (CSR 6287) (DA No. 05-1668)

Sportsman's Showcase, Inc., Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 14, 2005 (CSR 5881) (DA No. 05-1658)

A-Way Hunting Products, Inc., Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 14, 2005 (CSR 6214) (DA No. 05-1657)

Coastal Sportsman, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 3, 2005 (CSR 6052) (DA No. 05-1577)

Crosstalk TV Ministry, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 3, 2005 (CSR 5917) (DA No. 05-1573)

Northeast Great Outdoors, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 3, 2005 (CSR 6107) (DA No. 05-1576)

Adventure Bound Outdoors, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 3, 2005 (CSR 5832) (DA No. 05-1578)

Complete Video Productions, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 3, 2005 (CSR 5979) (DA No. 05-1572)

Lincoln Wood Baptist Church, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 3, 2005 (CSR 6282) (DA No. 05-1575)

Survivors of Assault Recovery, Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 3, 2005 (CSR 6358) (DA No. 05-1579)

Jim Hanley's Northeast Outdoors, Inc., Memorandum Opinion & Order, June 3, 2005 (CSR 5861) (DA No. 05-1574)


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FOR YOUR ACTION/INFORMATION


1. TERRY MARTIN GOES THE DISTANCE IN 40-MILE CHARITY BIKE RIDE.

Press Release, Freedom Scientific News, Blind Rider Terry Martin Goes the Distance in 40-Mile Charity Bike Ride (June 12, 2005).
http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_news/PressRoom/en/2005/nr_StreetTalk-Ride_6-12-2005.asp

Terry A. Martin, who operates Voila Technology, Inc., a training and consulting service for persons with disabilities, became the first blind cyclist to complete the Tour de Cure 40-mile ride supporting diabetes research. Mr. Martin rode a quadracycle and was equipped with the Freedom Scientific StreetTalk(tm) GPS System to assist his orientation. The StreetTalk "can tell users, through the PAC Mate's speech synthesizer or Braille display, how fast they are going, can orient them to their surroundings, and can provide other important information to assist in guidance."

For more information on:
StreetTalk: http://www.emara.org/portal/news.php?id=1041
PAC Mate: http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/PAC_Mate_HQ.asp





2. 'ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGIES FOR ALL STUDENTS' PROJECT.

The "Accessible Technologies for All Students" Project is an initiative of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) with the primary goal of increasing student success and achievement "for all students through the unlimited and effective use of accessible technologies." The project builds new relationships between K-12 technology and special education leaders.

For more information: http://www.accessibletech4all.org/index.cfm.


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ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS


1. INVISIBLE NO MORE: TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS

Invisible No More: Technology Transfers, FCTD Newsletter (June 2005).
http://www.fctd.info/resources/newsletters/displayNewsletter.php?newsletterID=10022

This article from the June 2005 newsletter of the Family Center on Technology and Disability discusses the changing environment and legislative impetus for the development of state-of-the-art assistive and accessible technologies. Interviewing Dr. Stephen Bauer, Project Director for the Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Center on Technology Transfer (T2RERC) at the University of Buffalo, the article indicates that the cumulative effect of 3-4 decades of disability legislation "has created major market drivers" including demand from students with disabilities.

Read the full article and others at:
http://www.fctd.info/resources/newsletters/index.php.


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PAST EVENTS


1. RESNA's 28th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TECHNOLOGY & DISABILITY

The Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) held its annual conference in Atlanta on June 23-27, 2005. Among the many sessions, workshops, speakers and events, were a two-day course on 'Fundamentals in Assistive Technology' taught by expert rehabilitation engineers, and workshops on "Designing Baby Care Equipment for Parents with Disabilities" and web accessibility.

To review a schedule of the sessions, workshops, speakers and events, visit: http://www.resna.org/Conference/2005Conference/2005conf.php.





2. 'INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION OF THE DEAF INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM.

The National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology held an international symposium on June 27-29, 2005 in Rochester, New York. Workshops and concurrent and plenary sessions addressed dozens of topics on the education of deaf students, including: 'The Secrets Behind the SMART Board,' 'Multimedia Instructional Design Model for Planning & Delivering Professional Development for Teachers of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students in the Czech Republic,' and "Technology in the ASL/English Bilingual Classroom.'

To review a schedule of the sessions, workshops, speakers and events, visit: http://www.rit.edu/~techsym/schedule.html.


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RESOURCES


1. ITTATC PUBLISHES SERIES OF ACCESSIBILITY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CALLED 'ASK THE EXPERTS'

ITTATC researchers, in collaboration with leading accessibility experts, have developed a series of questions and answers that address some of the issues involving Section 508, Section 255, and the universal design of technology. The current collection, which can be found at http://www.ittatc.org/technical/experts/, includes answers to the following questions:

  • Does my university, city, county, or state website have to conform with Section 508?
  • When I link to a document on another federal agency's site, am I responsible for the accessibility of that document?
  • Does Section 508 apply to a federal intranet site intended to be used by a small group of people who do not have disabilities?
  • Does a supporting software package need to conform to Section 508, or only the office application that is intended to be used by the end users?
  • Under Section 508, does purchase of a system require purchase of matching peripherals?
  • What are the accessibility requirements of third party software that is part of another vendor's product?
  • How do I determine if my product qualifies as electronic and information technology (E&IT) under Section 508?
  • Can Section 508 obligations for an inaccessible web site be met by providing a phone number to call or another substitute means of interaction?
  • What are best practices associated with creating Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs)?
  • Who do I contact for additional help with Section 508 issues?

ITTATC will add new questions and answers to the series on a regular basis, so check our website often to see what's new from the accessibility experts. We also will highlight additions to the collection in this newsletter.





2. ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY FROM TECHSOUP

TechSoup.org, 'The Technology Place for Non-Profits,' provides articles, resources, and discussion boards on accessible technology issues, such as the digital divide, screen readers, and designing accessible websites.

Visit: http://www.techsoup.org/howto/access_tech.cfm?cg=nav&sg=accesstech.







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This is a publication of the Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center (ITTATC) which is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education under grant number H133A000405. The opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Education.
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Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center
Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access
Georgia Institute of Technology
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Telephone: 1-800-726-9119 (Voice/TTY) · Fax: 404-894-9320 · Email: ittatc@ittatc.org