Accessible Technology Bill Signed by Obama

On October 8, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into action the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act authored by Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.). This landmark legislation will make it easier for the blind and deaf to have access to the Internet, smart phones, television programming and other communications and video technologies.

Perkins President Steven Rothstein and Braille & Talking Book Library Director Kim Charlson in the White House.

Perkins President Steven Rothstein and Braille & Talking Book Library Director Kim Charlson were at the White House signing ceremony along with Markey and music legend Stevie Wonder. The signing marked one of the most significant victories for the disability community since the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed 20 years ago.  

Read news coverage about this historic event.

“The ADA mandated physical ramps into buildings. Today, individuals with disabilities need online ramps to the Internet so they can get to the Web from wherever they happen to be,” said Markey. “Passage of this bill is a landmark achievement in the fight for equal access to technology for all Americans. From the time of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan - through the Americans with Disabilities Act - to closed captioning for television programming and the ability of individuals who are deaf to make telephone calls - and now to the comprehensive communications and video accessibility bill that has passed both the House and Senate, we’ve made great strides.”

Watch Rep. Markey's video on the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act.

The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act will:

• Vastly enhance video description on broadcast and cable TV including emergency alerts
• Require text, cellphone, email and internet service to be fully accessible
• Make specialized communication equipment available to people who are deafblind
• Insure that TV remote controls and menus are accessible

Perkins President Steven Rothstein says, “The entire Perkins community applauds the U.S. Congress' passage of the 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act." Legislators and advocacy groups across the nation have worked tirelessly for many years to reach this historic turning point. Just hours before the measure passed the US House of Representatives on July 26, two dozen of Rep. Markey’s constituents, 18 of whom are visually impaired, blind or deafblind, convened at Perkins in Watertown, MA, to talk with him via video conference.

Megan Stanger, a student from Perkins Deafblind Program who has some vision told Markey that she already uses technology to enjoy life outside of the classroom, “I hope people have this when they grow up. When I grow up, I really want to have a large print cellphone.” The crowd cheered. Carroll Center for the Blind client Precious Perez who uses a talking screen reader for email and instant messaging said, “I’m excited to see what else is going to be accessible as I grow older."