Laura
04-22-2009, 06:01 PM
The American Council of the Blind has recently become aware of a very disturbing development at the Department of Education. We need your assistance in righting this wrong! We have worked on a letter that appears beneath this message with our colleagues in the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) in an attempt to not only make members of Congress and the Obama administration aware of the current situation but also to explain the critical need for the funding for video description to be restored. Please send letters to the individuals beneath this message as soon as possible. It would be helpful if you could send me electronic copies of your transmissions so we in the national office can keep track of the traffic. Please be aware that the national office is already taking action on this issue. We have been told that in order for the funding to be restored that there needs to be an out-poring of letters from the affected population. It would be quite helpful if you attempt in some way to personalize this letter by giving an example of how description has helped you in your TV viewing experience. Please feel free to give me a call with any questions or concerns you might have.
Eric
Date: April 23, 2009
To: Representative George Miller, Chair
House Committee on Education and Labor
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3725
Fax: 202-226-5398
Senator Tom Harkin, Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Personal Office: 731 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3254 Phone
(202) 224-9369 Fax
Senate Appropriations Committee
The Capitol, S-128
Washington, D.C.20510
Phone: 202-224-7363
Secretary Arne Duncan, U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Phone: 1-800-872-5327
Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
Email: kareem_a.dale@who.eop.gov
Re: Cancellation of Television Access Grants by the U.S. Department of Education
(CFDA 84.327C - OSERS/OSEP)
The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) is a coalition of over 230 national, regional, state, and community-based disability-related organizations. We advocate for legislative and regulatory safeguards that will ensure full access by people with disabilities to the wide range of evolving communications technologies.
It was recently brought to our attention that the U.S. Department of Education's Television Access grant program (CFDA 84.327C - OSERS/OSEP) will not be offered. This is the second year in a row that these three-year grant awards will not be offered. These grants are authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1474(c), and are the primary source of funding for broadcast television video description of educational media for children who are blind or who have low vision. There is a great deal at stake here: children who are blind or who have low vision will no longer have the same access to televised educational media that their sighted peers enjoy on a daily basis.
For television, video description provides access to on-screen visual elements through verbal descriptions that are provided during natural pauses in dialogue.[1] On analog televisions, video description has been passed through to viewers via a secondary audio channel; video description easily can be provided to viewers via digital television as well. Video description provides access to more than 21 million Americans with "significant vision loss."[2] On July 21, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules to make television more accessible to people with visual disabilities by mandating that a certain amount of programming contain video description. However, in November 2002, a Federal court struck down those rules. As a consequence, unlike closed captioning, there are no federal requirements for the provision of video description. Currently, only a limited number of television programs voluntarily provide video description for individuals who are blind or have low vision.
For many years, the Department of Education's Television Access grant program has provided limited funding to support and provide video description for televised educational video programming. It was with dismay that we learned that no funding was provided for the Television Access grant program for FY 2008. It is now with alarm that we have learned that no funding is being provided for the Television Access grant program for FY 2009. The Department of Education has taken this action without any input from the community that relies on these services, and for reasons not explained to the stakeholders. COAT and its member organizations, such as the American Council of the Blind and American Foundation for the Blind, whose members and constituents are directly affected by this action, are deeply concerned about this disturbing development.
COAT is actively working to achieve a legislative mandate for video description of televised programming. However, the wheels of legislative change turn slowly and, even if a mandate is passed, its implementation may still take years. For this reason, it is imperative that the Department of Education continue funding through its Television Access grant program. To cease funding at this time, when there is no mandate to provide access to any television programming for people who are blind, would result in a significant reduction in accessible educational television for children who are blind or visually impaired. COAT is gravely concerned that these children will not have access to televised educational media because of the elimination of this grant award program.
We seek your support and urge the reinstatement of this grant offering for the current fiscal year in time for its use during the 2009-10 television programming season. In preparation for the Television Access grant competition, video description producers have secured commitments from educational media producers for description of hundreds of hours of new educational programming.
COAT representatives are available to meet with you to discuss this critical situation. We welcome your prompt response and assistance toward this goal and stand ready to support you in any way. Time is of the essence!
Sincerely,
Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind (ACB)
Mark Richert
Director of Public Policy
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
Karen Peltz Strauss
Legal Consultant
Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD)
Rosaline Hayes Crawford
Director, Law and Advocacy Center
National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
Jenifer Simpson
Senior Director, Telecommunications and Technology Policy
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
On behalf of the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology
c/o AAPD, 1629 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006
www.COATaccess.org / 202-457-0046 Ext. 31 / info@coataccess.org
Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
2200 Wilson Blvd. Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (202) 467-5081
Fax: (703) 465-5085
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] For more information about video description, visit http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/video-description.html.
[2] This includes individuals who have trouble seeing (even when wearing glasses or contact lenses) and individuals who are blind. National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2006.
Eric
Date: April 23, 2009
To: Representative George Miller, Chair
House Committee on Education and Labor
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3725
Fax: 202-226-5398
Senator Tom Harkin, Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Personal Office: 731 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3254 Phone
(202) 224-9369 Fax
Senate Appropriations Committee
The Capitol, S-128
Washington, D.C.20510
Phone: 202-224-7363
Secretary Arne Duncan, U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Phone: 1-800-872-5327
Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
Email: kareem_a.dale@who.eop.gov
Re: Cancellation of Television Access Grants by the U.S. Department of Education
(CFDA 84.327C - OSERS/OSEP)
The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) is a coalition of over 230 national, regional, state, and community-based disability-related organizations. We advocate for legislative and regulatory safeguards that will ensure full access by people with disabilities to the wide range of evolving communications technologies.
It was recently brought to our attention that the U.S. Department of Education's Television Access grant program (CFDA 84.327C - OSERS/OSEP) will not be offered. This is the second year in a row that these three-year grant awards will not be offered. These grants are authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1474(c), and are the primary source of funding for broadcast television video description of educational media for children who are blind or who have low vision. There is a great deal at stake here: children who are blind or who have low vision will no longer have the same access to televised educational media that their sighted peers enjoy on a daily basis.
For television, video description provides access to on-screen visual elements through verbal descriptions that are provided during natural pauses in dialogue.[1] On analog televisions, video description has been passed through to viewers via a secondary audio channel; video description easily can be provided to viewers via digital television as well. Video description provides access to more than 21 million Americans with "significant vision loss."[2] On July 21, 2000, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules to make television more accessible to people with visual disabilities by mandating that a certain amount of programming contain video description. However, in November 2002, a Federal court struck down those rules. As a consequence, unlike closed captioning, there are no federal requirements for the provision of video description. Currently, only a limited number of television programs voluntarily provide video description for individuals who are blind or have low vision.
For many years, the Department of Education's Television Access grant program has provided limited funding to support and provide video description for televised educational video programming. It was with dismay that we learned that no funding was provided for the Television Access grant program for FY 2008. It is now with alarm that we have learned that no funding is being provided for the Television Access grant program for FY 2009. The Department of Education has taken this action without any input from the community that relies on these services, and for reasons not explained to the stakeholders. COAT and its member organizations, such as the American Council of the Blind and American Foundation for the Blind, whose members and constituents are directly affected by this action, are deeply concerned about this disturbing development.
COAT is actively working to achieve a legislative mandate for video description of televised programming. However, the wheels of legislative change turn slowly and, even if a mandate is passed, its implementation may still take years. For this reason, it is imperative that the Department of Education continue funding through its Television Access grant program. To cease funding at this time, when there is no mandate to provide access to any television programming for people who are blind, would result in a significant reduction in accessible educational television for children who are blind or visually impaired. COAT is gravely concerned that these children will not have access to televised educational media because of the elimination of this grant award program.
We seek your support and urge the reinstatement of this grant offering for the current fiscal year in time for its use during the 2009-10 television programming season. In preparation for the Television Access grant competition, video description producers have secured commitments from educational media producers for description of hundreds of hours of new educational programming.
COAT representatives are available to meet with you to discuss this critical situation. We welcome your prompt response and assistance toward this goal and stand ready to support you in any way. Time is of the essence!
Sincerely,
Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind (ACB)
Mark Richert
Director of Public Policy
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
Karen Peltz Strauss
Legal Consultant
Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD)
Rosaline Hayes Crawford
Director, Law and Advocacy Center
National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
Jenifer Simpson
Senior Director, Telecommunications and Technology Policy
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
On behalf of the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology
c/o AAPD, 1629 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006
www.COATaccess.org / 202-457-0046 Ext. 31 / info@coataccess.org
Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
2200 Wilson Blvd. Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (202) 467-5081
Fax: (703) 465-5085
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] For more information about video description, visit http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/video-description.html.
[2] This includes individuals who have trouble seeing (even when wearing glasses or contact lenses) and individuals who are blind. National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2006.