Keeping up with technology is similar to building a sand castle at low tide. There is always a wave of new information that will have you starting over again. I embrace this fact and I am challenged by it striving to keep current on technological developments. This is the reason I have recently found at least a dozen tools, apps and social media platforms I did not even know existed. Or, if I had heard of them thought they had a different purpose. I am amazed and in awe of the plethora of technologies to support business, health care and education. Technology has made it possible for me to work from home and attend university remotely. I am engaging with top-notch instructors and curriculum without setting foot on campus.
As I was thinking about the rich media presentations I am often given in my courses and I was reminded of a recent Human Rights Watch video about the need for teachers fluent in sign language to teach deaf children. I began to think about the challenges people that are deaf, blind or visually impaired may have participating in our virtually expanding world, let alone just connecting to the Internet. I was inspired to understand more about accessibility issues and was pleased to learn the FCC is aiming to improve access to what is deemed “Advanced Communication Services,” like those provided on a cell phone, tablet or laptop to people who are blind or visually impaired.
Schools and universities have specific laws under the Americans With Disabilities Act defining reasonable accommodations for students with hearing or vision impairments. To the contrary the FCC has made several mandates to implement the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 without much guidance for companies on how to become compliant. The bill addresses accessibility on mobile devices for all persons with disabilities but emphasizes Internet browsers and Internet browsers on mobile phones for blind and visually impaired people. The law was effective as of October 8, 2013 however the FCC will need to make language modifications to ensure accessibility interfaces are mandated in cell phones. The law is a leap forward in communications access and will improve independence in the daily, work and educational life of those with vision or hearing disabilities.
Reproduced from: http://www.telecomlawmonitor.com/2013/05/articles/fcc/fcc-requires-mobile-phone-manufacturers-and-service-providers-to-make-internet-browsers-accessible-to-the-blind-and-visually-impaired-by-october-2013/
Human Rights Watch Video: Offer Deaf Children Education in Sign Language
Access here:
http://mm.hrw.org/content/offer-deaf-children-education-sign-language
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