May 3, 2005 (Vol. 5, Issue 7)

In This Issue:

UPCOMING EVENTS

1. NTC Conference, May 9-11, 2005
2. 2005 Accessibility University, May 13-14, 2005
3. RESNA's 29th International Conference on Technology & Disability, June 23-27, 2005
4. Instructional Technology & Education of the Deaf (International Symposium), June 27-30, 2005

FCC TELECOMMUNICATIONS/REGULATIONS

1. FCC Commissioner Copps Discussess Disability Issues
2. Consumer Advisory Committee Meeting Rescheduled for June 10, 2005
3. The Truth about Cell Phones and the National Do Not Call Registry
4. FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin Appointed Defense Commissioner
5. Federal Communications Commission Revises Consumer Complaint Form for Informal Complaints

FOR YOUR ACTION/INFORMATION

1. National Professions Announces the Addition of Broadcast Captioning Distance Learning Program
2. Canada Commission Says VoIP Must Have 911 Emergency Service
3. NAD Files Disability Discrimination Complaint for Refusing TRS Calls
4. New Computer Mouse Maneuverable with Nose, Tongue, and Even Eyes

ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS

1. Breaking Down Technological Barriers
2. Skilled Interpreters Lured Toward Well-Paying Jobs
3. Non-acoustic Sensors Detect Speech Without Sound
4. Visually Impaired Struggle with Smart Machines

PAST EVENTS

1. FOSE 2005 - Where Government Meets Technology

RESOURCES

1. Solaris 10 Released, with Accessibility Built-in
2. Handheld Individual Captioning, I-Caption(R) Makes Big River Performances at Ford's Theatre Accessible to the Deaf
3. FirstGov.gov - The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal

UPCOMING EVENTS

1. NTC CONFERENCE

May 9-11, 2005
Washington, D.C.

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Government 2005 National Training Conference will be held in Washington, D.C., May 9-11, 2005. The theme of this year's conference is "Think. Act. Lead."

The National Training Conference (NTC) will focus on the employment, advancement, retention, and culture of government employees who are deaf and hard of hearing as well as hearing employees. The conference seeks to foster communication among hearing and deaf individuals, regardless of communication modes. Featured conference tracks include sessions on information technology, and will include speakers from the U.S. Access Board, ITTATC, Sprint Federal Relay, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Department of Justice, among others.

The sponsoring organization, Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Government (DHHIG) is a national non-profit organization that serves as an employee support group for federal employees who are either deaf or hard of hearing and as a resource organization for the nationwide federal government.

DHHIG coordinates and collaborates with external forces such as OPM, EEOC, U.S. Congress, the White House, President's Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities, Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH), National Association of the Deaf, Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, and other entities.

To learn more about the conference, and to access the program, see: http://www.dhhig.org/ntc/2005/docs/workshops_listing_final.pdf

2. 2005 ACCESSIBILITY UNIVERSITY
May 13-14, 2005
Austin, TX

Knowbility is offering courses to equip web designers with the 'how and why' tools to create web sites that are compliant with federal, state, and industry mandates for accessibility.

For more information: http://www.knowbility.org/conference/ Or contact Sherry Scott, sherry@knowbility.org

3. RESNA'S 28TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TECHNOLOGY & DISABILITY
June 23-27, 2005
Atlanta, GA

The Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) is calling for participation for this conference. "RESNA will...offer a packed Exhibit Hall, Product Demonstrations and Training sessions, two days of Pre-Conference Instructional Courses, and 3 full days of Workshops, Interactive Poster Sessions, Themed Paper Sessions, and distinguished speakers."

For more information: http://www.resna.org

FCC TELECOMMUNICATIONS/REGULATIONS

1. FCC COMMISSIONER COPPS DISCUSSES DISABILITY ISSUES, TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITY HIGHLIGHTS (5.03)
Mar. 2005.
http://www.wirelessrerc.gatech.edu/news/highlights_05/highlights_mar05.html

Addressing the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association's (CTIA) March 14, 2005 Wireless Accessibility Workshop in New Orleans, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps discussed the crucial impact of wireless technologies in the lives of persons with disabilities. "According to Copps, wireless technologies provide a lifeline to public safety, access to the Internet, and communications opportunities for millions of Americans with disabilities...[and] enormous potential exists for advancements in this field."

Commissioner Copps announced the following four goals for the industry, the FCC, and the disability community:

(1) "'Advancement of hearing aid and cochlear implant compatibility work at the FCC and in the industry as a way to provide certainty for companies and usable devices for consumers'"
(2) Inclusion of individuals with disabilities "throughout the design process"
(3) "Establishment of a public-private partnership at the FCC to identify and promote wireless technologies that will enable more people with disabilities to find employment"
(4) Better explanation of disability / accessibility issues to the nation

Access the Commissioner's comments:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-257390A1.txt

2. CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 10,L 2005

FCC Public Notice, DA 05-1058, Apr. 14, 2005. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1058A1.doc The FCC recently announced the rescheduling of the next Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting for Friday, June 10, 2005, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the Commission's Headquarters Building, Room TW-C305, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20554.

3. THE TRUTH ABOUT CELL PHONES AND THE NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY

FCC Press Release, Apr. 15, 2005. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-258164A1.doc

This FCC press release assures cell phone users that they are not likely to receive telemarketing calls on their cell phones, despite the warnings of recent spam e-mails. The FCC notes that telemarketing to cell phones is "illegal in most cases," and provides this press release to enable consumers to make informed decisions in this regard.

For more information on the National Do Not Call Registry, see www.ftc.go or www.fcc.gov.

4. FCC COMMISSIONER KEVIN MARTIN APPOINTED DEFENSE COMMISSIONER

FCC Order, FCC 05-85, Apr. 15, 2005. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-85A1.doc

The FCC announced that Commissioner Kevin J. Martin has been appointed Defense Commissioner. His new duties, in part, will include: "developing emergency programs covering service provision by wireless...carriers, broadcast, cable, and satellite facilities, [and] radio frequency assignment, investigation, and enforcement."

5. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION REVISES CONSUMER COMPLAINT FORM FOR INFORMAL COMPLAINTS

FCC Public Notice, DA No. 05-1089, Apr. 19, 2005. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-1089A1.doc

The Office of Management and Budget has approved the revised FCC Form 475 (Consumer Complaint Form). The revised form significantly streamlines the process of making informal complaints.

Access the online Form 475 at http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm
or
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

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FOR YOUR ACTION/INFORMATION

1. NATIONAL PROFESSIONS ANNOUNCES THE ADDITION OF BROADCAST CAPTIONING DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM
Special Needs Tech News, 4(3), March 2005
http://ca.geocities.com/janethopkinsbc/mar05.html

To help fill the need for skilled personnel to provide close captioning, National Professions is offering a distance learning program for eligible high school graduates. National Professions is established in the field of training court reporters via distance learning.

For more information: http://nationalprofessions.com

2. CANADA COMMISSION SAYS VOIP MUST HAVE 911 EMERGENCY SERVICE
Government Technology Executive News, Apr. 12, 2005
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=93642

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced its recent decision requiring fixed VoIP service providers to ensure "the same level of 911 emergency service that is provided by the incumbent telephone companies to their existing customers" within 90 days of the decision. The CRTC is the independent public authority responsible for telecommunications regulation in Canada, akin to the U.S.'s Federal Communications Commission.

The CRTC will also require all VoIP service providers to notify consumers before and during service commencement and provision, "regarding any limitations associated with their emergency 9-1-1 service."

3. NAD FILES DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT FOR REFUSING TRS CALLS
No Time for You, Deaf Law Blog, Mar. 24, 2005
http://www.deaflawblog.com/trends-42-no-time-for-you.html

In March, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) filed a disability discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice alleging discrimination by WorldWide Direct/Buydig.com for refusing to accept the call of a deaf woman using the telecommunication relay service (TRS). NAD is concerned that there is a pattern of discrimination against individuals who use the TRS through the practice of hanging up rather than waiting for the service to relay the user's typed message.

A further concern arises for users of VRS (video relay service), when government agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, are alleged to not accept these calls, "unless it is processed through the Federal Relay Service (FRS)" to ensure the protection of confidential information.

4. NEW COMPUTER MOUSE MANEUVERABLE WITH NOSE, TONGUE, AND EVEN EYES Arirang News, Feb. 2, 2005. http://www.arirangtv.com/english/news/news_body.asp?news_no=56912&title=Infotech

Students at Hansei University in South Korea have developed a computer mouse that, when used in conjunction with a web camera, may have great utility for persons with disabilities. Facial movements, including tongue movement and eye blinking, are picked up by the web camera and used to move the mouse cursor around the monitor screen. The students intend to make the application available to the public for free after some fine-tuning.

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ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS

1. BREAKING DOWN TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIERS, INFORMATION BRIEF
Breaking Down Technological Barriers, Information Brief (Nat'l Collaborative on Workforce & Disability), March 2005
http://ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/information_Briefs/issue14.html

This brief from the National Collaborative on Workforce & Disability / Youth (NCWD/Y) "describes assistive technology and accessible information and gives policymakers information on federal and state accessibility legislation, laws and requirements." It further provides resources and contacts, and is available in Word and PDF formats.

PAST EVENTS

1. FOSE 2005 - WHERE GOVERNMENT MEETS TECHNOLOGY
April 5-7, 2005
Washington D.C.
Keynote speakers at FOSE 2005 included:

• Paul Otellini, President and COO, INTEL Corporation
• Kevin B. Rollins, Chief Executive Officer, Dell
• Martin I. Cole, Group Chief Executive - Government, Accenture
• Bill McDermott, Chief Executive Officer, SAP America
• William Nuti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Symbol Technologies

RESOURCES

1. SOLARIS 10 RELEASED, WITH ACCESSIBILITY BUILT-IN
Special Needs Tech
News, 4(3), March 2005
http://ca.geocities.com/janethopkinsbc/mar05.html

The Solaris 10 operating system offers new accessibility features and assistive technologies including:

• The GNOME graphical desktop with built-in accessibility support
• Complete mouseless desktop
• Large print and high contrast themes
• Keyboard accessibility features: "StickyKeys, MouseKeys, BounceKeys, SlowKeys, and ToggleKeys"
• Commercial quality, "full-featured screen reader and screen magnifier with Braille access"
• On-screen keyboard
• Configurations for Accessibility at Log In

2. HANDHELD INDIVIDUAL CAPTIONING, I-CAPTION(R) MAKES BIG RIVER PERFORMANCES AT FORD'S THEATRE ACCESSIBLE TO THE DEAF
Press Release, Sound Associates
Apr. 4, 2005
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050404/nymfns1.html?.v=1

Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. provides free use of the I-Caption for its patrons with hearing impairments. The I-Caption is a handheld wireless unit "that displays dialogue and lyrics in text, in real time from any seat in the house."