FCC ACTS TO ENSURE THAT DEAF-BLIND INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO 21 st CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES

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On April 4, 2011, the Commission established a National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution

Program (NDBEDP) to enable low-income individuals who are deaf-blind to access 21

st Century communications services. The pilot program will help ensure that qualified individuals have access to the Internet, and advanced communications, including interexchange services and advanced telecommunications and information services.

This action implements a provision of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). The CVAA allocated $10 million annually from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund for this nationwide equipment distribution effort. The Commission concluded that the best approach would be to establish a two-year pilot program, with the option of extending this for a third year, so that the Commission can assess the most efficient and effective method of administering the NDBEDP on a permanent basis. Under the NDBEDP pilot program, the Commission will certify and provide funding to one entity in each state to distribute equipment to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind.

The Commission will make the full amount of the authorized funding, $10 million, available for each year of the pilot program. Of this amount, the Commission will set aside up to $500,000 per year for national outreach efforts. Each state will initially receive a minimum initial funding allocation of $50,000, with the balance of the available funds allocated in proportion to each state’s population. Certified programs will have to submit documentation to support claims for reimbursement for NDBEDP equipment and related services, up to each state’s funding allocation. Certified programs must submit reports on their activities and expenses every six months, disclose potential conflicts of interest, and conduct annual independent audits

The Commission adopted the following rules and policies for the NDBEDP pilot program:

· Certified Programs: Entities must apply for certification to receive funding support under the NDBEDP pilot program within 60 days of the effective date of the rules. The Commission will certify only one entity for each state.

· Consumer Eligibility: “Individuals who are deaf-blind,” as defined in the Helen Keller National Center Act, are eligible to apply for equipment. Because of the unusually high medical and disability-related costs incurred by these individuals, the Order sets a low-income eligibility threshold of 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.· Equipment: The Order permits distribution of specialized and off-the-shelf equipment, separately or in combination, as long as it meets the needs of the deaf-blind individual and makes communications services covered under the CVAA accessible. The reasonable costs of the equipment distributed, warranties, maintenance, repairs, and refurbishing will be covered.

· Related Services: The reasonable costs of state and local outreach efforts, individual assessments of a deaf-blind person’s communications equipment needs, equipment installation, and individualized training of consumers on how to use the equipment will also be covered under the NDBEDP.

Action by the Commission, April 4, 2011, by Report and Order (FCC 11-56). Chairman Genachowski, and Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker. Separate Statement issued by Commissioner Copps.

National Federation of the Blind Initiatives to Promote Braille Literacy - Disability.gov

By Guest Blogger Treva Olivero, Education Program Specialist, National Federation of the Blind

January is designated as National Braille Literacy Awareness Month in honor of the father of the Braille code, Louis Braille. Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809. However, members of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) celebrate Braille literacy all year long through our programs to promote Braille. Nearly 90 percent of children in America who are blind are not learning to read and write, because they are not being taught Braille or given access to it. Through the initiatives of NFB, we strive to address this serious issue by promoting Braille literacy for people of all ages who are blind.

The following are some of the key programs we facilitate to help foster Braille literacy:
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Recognizing the 15th Anniversary of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center (BSC) Program - Disability.gov

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By Guest Blogger Kevin A. Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Industries for the Blind in disability.gov

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and a prime opportunity to recognize the impressive abilities of people who are blind or have other severe disabilities. It is a chance for employers to appreciate how individuals with disabilities contribute to our workplaces in so many ways and discover their true capabilities.

This month, National Industries for the Blind is also marking the 15^th anniversary of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center (BSC) Program.

Both NDEAM and the 15th anniversary of the BSC program are important opportunities for us to think about employing people who are blind.

For 15 years, AbilityOne Base Supply Centers have supported federal customers with a full-service, flexible, on-site operation. The BSCs provide 24/7 year-round one-stop shopping to armed forces and federal government employees at 140 locations across the country.

Because creating employment opportunities for people who are blind is NIB’s mission, I want to share some important numbers with you that demonstrate the success of this program.

The AbilityOne Base Supply Center Program is directly responsible for the employment of more than 300 Americans who are blind or have severe disabilities. These dedicated team members provide customer service, shelf stocking, purchasing, inventory and retail store management in support of each participating military base’s mission.

Additionally, sales of SKILCRAFT® and other AbilityOne products and services to military personnel provide jobs and career advancement opportunities for nearly 40,000 people with disabilities, who make SKILCRAFT products or provide services through the AbilityOne Program. Since nearly 70 percent of individuals who are blind are unemployed, the job opportunities provided by National Industries for the Blind help our employees gain economic independence and the pride and confidence associated with working.
Today, we are celebrating the anniversary of the original AbilityOne Base Supply Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which is supported by the local Durham, North Carolina, agency LC Industries.

In today’s economy, I believe more than ever before, Americans have a deeper understanding of the important value and benefits of a good job. LC Industries’ BSC employees work every day to enhance their personal freedom, their economic freedom and America’s freedom as they support Fort Bragg’s mission.
Our celebration at Fort Bragg today is an affirmation of America’s willingness to knock down barriers to freedom at home and abroad. It is a celebration of how the American dream is created in business opportunities, followed by hard work, innovation and quality service. This is a celebration of the success that is being achieved in North Carolina and throughout the United States.

National Industries for the Blind and our 90 community-based associated nonprofit agencies provide jobs for people who are blind. Our organizations offer resources, training and adaptive technologies to help promote economic opportunities. Our mission is creating and sustaining jobs. People who are blind operate stores, run distribution centers and produce goods and services that directly benefit our federal government and armed forces.

In October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month and applaud the contribution people who are blind make to support our military and the federal government through the AbilityOne Program.

Kevin A. Lynch is the President and CEO of National Industries for the Blind. His career at NIB, and at some of its associated agencies, spans nearly 30 years. NIB’s associated agencies are the largest providers of employment and rehabilitative services to Americans who are blind, presenting them with opportunities to master new job skills based on their interests and abilities.

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Obama signs technology access bill for disabled

Image via CrunchBaseBy DARLENE SUPERVILLE -The Associated Press

Blind and deaf people will be able to more easily use smart phones, the Internet and other technologies that are staples of life and work under a bill signed into law on Friday.

Such a step has been a priority of advocates for the millions of people who cannot see or hear.
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Countdown to the 20th Anniversary of the ADA: Day 29 - Celebrating Helen Keller on Her 130th Birthday-from Disability.gov

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 from Disability.gov by Diana Z.

 

By Guest Blogger Carl Augusto, President and CEO, American Foundation for the Blind
"I, for one, love strength, daring, fortitude.  I do not want people to kill the fight in them; I want them to fight for right things."
- Helen Keller

Today marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of Helen Keller (www.afb.org/helenkeller), a woman who showed the world that with the right tools and attitude, anything is possible. We at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), where Helen worked for the last 44 years of her life, still see her as our guiding light. Helen believed in many of the same things we work toward today. She was outspoken about the potential of technology (www.afb.org/technology) to connect people with disabilities to the wider world, the need for high quality education for children with visual impairments (www.familyconnect.org), equal access to employment opportunities (www.afb.org/careerconnect) and so much more. In today's world, where the vision loss numbers are steadily growing among seniors, I know she would have been particularly outspoken on the need to provide resources to those with age-related vision loss. 

To help seniors and their family members cope with age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma, AFB created Senior Site (www.afb.org/seniorsite), a web community that offers visitors information on how to remain independent and make everyday tasks like cooking, paying bills and reading easier. Senior Site also features comprehensive information on various eye and health conditions, including a Diabetes Guide (www.afb.org/seniorsite/diabetes). The site includes message boards and inspiring video testimonials from people who refuse to allow their vision loss to slow them down. Senior Site is the online component of our Dallas-based AFB Center on Vision Loss (www.afb.org/centeronvisionloss), which also serves as a working lab for vision loss products and adaptations, making it a valuable resource for families and professionals in the vision loss field. The centerpiece of the AFB Center on Vision Loss is Esther's Place, a fully furnished, 1,800-square-foot model home, complete with living room, dining area, kitchen, bedroom, closet and a bathroom; all fitted with simple adaptations and products designed to make daily life more manageable for individuals with vision loss.

The world has progressed tremendously since Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880, and she was a huge factor in that progress. During her lifetime, she was a world-renowned author, activist, lecturer and peacemaker who advocated for the poor and people with disabilities and fought for women’s suffrage. Her biggest desire was to leave the world a better place than she found it. And that is exactly what she did. On her birthday, let's honor her legacy and join together to continue to expand opportunities for those of us with disabilities. Helen Keller will forever be a true American hero.

For More Information
To learn more, visit the AFB website at www.afb.org.

Making Broadway Accessible for the Disabled - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com

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By ERIK PIEPENBURG

The next time you complain about not being able to see the stage from the nosebleed sections of a Broadway theater, think about not being able to see the stage at all.

“No one wants to feel left out of a performance,” said Lisa Carling, the director of the Theater Development Fund’s accessibility program, which offers assistance to theatergoers with physical disabilities. “If you miss a punchline or a dramatic statement, everyone else is included but you are not.”

The Theater Development Fund, which also runs the city’s TKTS discount ticket booths, helps coordinate services for the blind or those with low vision, the deaf or hard of hearing and patrons who can’t climb stairs or need wheelchair seating.

“When we started 13 years ago, advocates for the disabled came to us and said, ‘Please, I haven’t been able to go to the theater for years because my hearing has deteriorated,’” said Ms. Carling. “People were staying away from the theater.”

Ms. Carling recently spoke to The Times about what kinds of services the TDF Accessibility Program, or TAP, offers to the disabled. Following are excerpts from her conversation. Continue Reading

What Is A Braille Display And How It Is Used

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by Tom Babinszki

Reading your electronic documents using your hands instead of your eyes may sound almost impossible. However, this is actually what many blind persons do. This is done through a device known as a Braille display.

Braille displays are hardware that enable users to read in Braille the text displayed on the computer screen. Using this device, blind people can navigate through the computer’s desktop, create and edit documents, and browse the Internet.

A Braille display can also be called a Braille terminal.

How Does a Braille Display Work?
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How Blind People Identify Paper Money

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by Tom Babinszki

Before you pay for a movie ticket or for a new pair of shoes, you would always make sure you’re handing the seller the right amount. This is really simple, you just have to give a quick look at your money, take out the right amount, and that's it.

But for people who cannot see, this becomes a difficult task. Here, we will talk about the problem faced by blind people, and discuss the possible solutions for this issue.

The Problem with Paper Money

In countries such as the U.S., all denominations of money have similar sizes. This makes it very difficult for blind people to distinguish one denomination from another.

Solutions Done By Governments

Governments have devised a way to help the blind tell apart different money denominations. In countries such as Australia and Malaysia, each denomination of money has a distinct width and length. Along with this, blind people can use a small card device to quickly measure and distinguish money.

Meanwhile, a more specific approach has been done by the Canadian government. In Canada, money is being produced such that there are Braille dots in the bills that represent a specific denomination. Blind people can in turn find the corner containing the Braille dots and read them to know the amount they are holding.

Solutions Done By Blind People
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Is Braille Still Useful Today?

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by Tom Babinszki
Recently, we have seen a significant decline in Braille literacy among blind people in the U.S, and also in some other countries. At the same time, we have seen instances wherein blind people attain success in education and employment. This led to the belief that blind persons can now do without Braille.

Let us find out if Braille is indeed something which the blind can live without.
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Using Braille in Modern Technologies

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by Tom Babinszki

After taking a look at what Braille is, let us find out its current status and the interesting innovations related to this reading and writing system for the blind.

Facts About Braille

Almost every country has adopted Braille as its official communications code for the blind. The United States, European countries such as Germany, Portugal, and Hungary, and Asian countries such as China, Japan, the Philippines, and Malaysia have their own distinct Braille codes. Presently, one of the newest Braille codes is the Tibetan Braille code.

In the U.S., around ten percent of the 1.3 million legally blind individuals can read and write Braille. This is according to a 2009 report done by the National Federation of the Blind (resource opens in new window). The vast availability of assistive technology and publications in audio format are believed to be the main reasons behind this small figure.

Braille literacy, however, increases the opportunities of the blind in employment. In the U.S., approximately thirty-two percent of the total blind community is employed. And in this figure, around ninety percent of blind people who have jobs can read and write Braille.
Incorporation of Braille in Various Facilities and Devices

Below are examples wherein Braille has been included in public facilities and specific products.
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A Day Through The Eyes of a Blind Woman: Part 2

by Tom Babinszki

In part 1, we followed Lisa, a blind woman and examined what kind of challenges she faces using everyday technologies, such as a coffee maker, an alarm clock or a microwave. In this part, we will follow Lisa to work and see how she uses her computer, her mobile phone, or how she orders from a restaurant.
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A Day Through the Eyes of a Blind Woman

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from Even Grounds blog

Let's look at an ordinary day with the eyes of a blind person. There is so much to take for granted which is not given to others, for example, because they can't see. What happens with people who are totally blind? All of a sudden, many things are done very differently. Sometimes, accessible technologies will solve the problem. This includes any technology which can be used equally well by those who can see and those who can't. In other cases, special technologies need to be used to achieve the same that others do just by using their sight. This is technology which is specifically developed for blind people.

Let's follow a blind person through a whole work day. For the sake of the example, we will call her Lisa.

We will examine how technology helps Lisa throughout her whole day. We will not discuss anything else, but instances, where information technology can help her. We won't look at any other issues she might be facing. There are many more challenges we could talk about, but in order to overcome those, information technology itself will not solve the problem. In this post, I will only demonstrate how much information technology can make a difference.

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Ordering from A Restaurant Without a Menu

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by Tom Babinszki

Imagine yourself going to your favorite restaurant. You like the ambience and you immediately find a comfortable spot for your own. Everything is going well until you receive the menu but you can’t read it. Think about it. What would you do? Would you ask the waiter about the available meals? Would you get frustrated and just look for another restaurant?

This is actually a common scenario for blind people. Oftentimes, they would go to a restaurant and they do not get a menu they can read.

How Some Restaurants Help Blind People:
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